With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SNAP Employment & Training Partnership Grant, the National Governors Association (NGA), in partnership with Third Sector, has launched the second cohort of the Policy Academy to Strengthen SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) Delivery. Cross-agency teams from Maryland, North Carolina, Idaho, and South Carolina have been selected to join this national initiative focused on expanding access to SNAP E&T services. Together with NGA and participating states, Third Sector will help advance strategies that improve service coordination and strengthen outcomes for SNAP E&T participants.

This announcement builds on the initial cohort selection in 2024, which supported four states in aligning SNAP E&T funding with state goals to improve employment outcomes and economic mobility. Idaho and North Carolina participated in the 2024 cohort, and are joining the second cohort to continue their work.

Through this second cohort, state teams will receive technical assistance to:

• Develop an action plan to expand access to SNAP E&T services;
• Participate in peer learning through facilitated cohort sessions; and
• Receive 1:1 coaching from NGA and Third Sector to advance implementation.

Selected teams include representatives from the state’s Governor’s offices, human services and/or workforce agencies, workforce development boards, and other key stakeholders involved in program delivery.

“We’re thrilled to support this next group of states as they take bold steps to expand access to employment and training,” said Caroline Whistler, CEO and Co-Founder of Third Sector. “By aligning SNAP E&T systems with the needs of communities, states can create lasting pathways to economic mobility, and we’re proud to help them turn that vision into action.”

SNAP E&T provides federal resources for states to help SNAP recipients build skills and secure employment. While every state operates a SNAP E&T program, many face barriers to fully leveraging available funding and flexibilities. This initiative helps states identify those barriers and create more effective, person-centered strategies to deliver services.

Reflecting on the expansion, Jess Prapath, Managing Director of Workforce Pathways at Third Sector, shared, “Working alongside a new and returning cohort of states gives us the opportunity to deepen our impact and build on what we’ve learned. The first group laid a strong foundation, and we’re excited to bring that momentum into this next phase, supporting states as they design SNAP E&T systems that truly meet the needs of their communities.”

The second cohort will kick off this summer and continue through early 2026.