Grant Opportunity: Farm to School Grant Program FY16
The USDA’s Farm to School Grant Program Competition is now open!
From the USDA:
“The purpose of the USDA Farm to School Grant Program is to assist eligible entities in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. On an annual basis, USDA awards up to $5 million in competitive grants for training, supporting operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs.”
Types of Grants and Funding:
Support Service grants – awards range from $65,000 to $100,000. The funder states, “Support Service grants are intended for eligible entities working with schools or school districts to further develop and provide broad reaching support services to farm to school initiatives.” An estimated 50% of allocated funds for the program are expected to go to Support Service grants this year.
Implementation grants – awards range from $65,000 to $100,000. The funder states, “Implementation grants are intended to help schools or school districts scale or further develop existing farm to school initiatives.” An estimated 25% of allocated funds for the program are expected to go to Implementation grants this year.
Planning grants – awards range from $20,000 to $45,000. The funder states, “Planning grants are for schools or school districts just getting started on farm to school activities and are intended to help these entities organize and structure their efforts for maximum impact by embedding known best practices into early design considerations.” An estimated 15% of allocated funds for the program are expected to go to Planning grants this year.
Training grants – awards range from $15,000 – $50,000. The funder states, “Training grants are intended for eligible entities to support trainings that strengthen farm to school supply chains, or trainings that provide technical assistance in the area of local procurement, food safety, culinary education, and/or integration of agriculture-based curriculum.” An estimated 10% of allocated funds for the program are expected to go to Training grants this year.
Priority consideration will be given to projects that serve a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals.
Who Can Apply:
Support Service Grants: Only state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, and non-profit entities are eligible to receive support service grants.
Implementation Grants: Only pre-K-12 School Food Authorities (SFAs), non-profit private schools, charter schools, Indian tribal schools, and others that participate in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs, and/or operate USDA’s Summer Food Service Program/Seamless Summer Option or Child and Adult Care Food Program on-site, are eligible to receive implementation grants.
Planning Grants: Only pre-K-12 SFAs, non-profit private schools, charter schools, Indian tribal schools, and
others that participate in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs, and/or operate USDA’s Summer Food Service Program/Seamless Summer Option or Child and Adult Care Food Program on-site, are eligible to receive planning grants.
Training Grants: Only state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of
agricultural producers, and non-profit entities are eligible to receive training grant funds. Cooperative Extension Service programs are ineligible to apply for these grant projects.
Key Dates: Training Grant Letter of Intent due 4/30/15, Applications for Support Service, Implementation, and Planning Grants due 5/20/15
Where to Get Complete Details: Visit the USDA Farm to School Grant Program section of usda.gov to access he application.
