In spite of Follet’s best efforts to accept Electronic Benefit Transfer and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments by the beginning of the winter term there is still no clear date as to when the Titan Store will be accepting EBT and SNAP cards.
The time-consuming application process began at the beginning of fall term in 2019.
Changing management over summer required Follet – the new managing company of the Titan Store – to apply for EBT card acceptance. This application process is a long process that requires a number of inspections in addition to special card-readers.
Lane Community College’s Chief-of-Staff Deborah Butler was on the committee that recommended Follet to the Board of Education.
“We didn’t totally understand this either but the deal is that because they are taking over as a new store, they had to start the federal application process from the very beginning.”
Butler explained that, “There is a federal application, and then there is a state approval process, and then somebody physically has to come to the site and inspect it.”
As of Feb. 14, the Titan Store had passed its required health inspection before submitting the application for a representative from SNAP to inspect the store’s electronic equipment.
According to David Frederick, the Titan Store’s manager, there is no clear timeframe for when the representative will come. He suspected that they will arrive two-or three-weeks after the application was submitted.
The final piece to this puzzle will be the EBT card-readers.
Tony Sanjume, the previous Director of Retail Services, has allowed Follet to use card readers from the previous store.
“Tony was kind enough to say that if we needed to use or purchase his machines as long as we can convert them over, we will be able to do that,” Frederick said.
The plan, according to Frederick, is to have EBT acceptance by spring term however, the exact timeframe is unknown as Follet waits for the results of the applications.
