farmtoschool@usda.gov

The Farm to School Grant Program provides funding to plan, establish, and/or sustain a Farm to School program that improves access to local foods in schools.

Grants will be made under 3 tracks:

1. Implementation grants are to help schools or school districts expand or further develop existing farm to school initiatives.
2. Planning grants are for schools or districts just getting started on farm to school activities.
3. Training grants are intended for eligible entities to support trainings that strengthen farm to school supply chains, or training in the area of local procurement, food safety, culinary education, and/or integration of agriculture‐based curriculum.

Additional funding priorities for the 2019 grant cycle include:

• Applications from school districts
• Applications from tribal organizations and entities serving native communities
• Projects that reach more than one school
• Projects that serve a high proportion of children (at least 40% or more) who are eligible for free or reduced price meals

Resources:

• USDA Community Food Systems Website
• USDA grants and loans that support farm to school activities fact sheet
• Community Food Projects technical assistance website
• Farm to School Planning Toolkit
• Summary of previous grant awards

Applications will be accepted from:

• State and local agencies
• Tribal organizations
• Agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers
• Nonprofit entities
• Eligible schools

Eligible schools are considered K-12 school food authorities (SFAs) that participate in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs. K-12 nonprofit private schools, charter schools, tribal schools, and others that participate in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs, but are not associated with an SFA, are also eligible to apply.

Award amounts:

• Implementation grants: $50,000 - $100,000
• Planning grants: $20,000 - $50,000
• Training grants: $20,000 - $50,000

Expected Number of Awards: 105
Total Funding Available: $7,500,000

Applicants must provide a 25% non-federal match in the form of cash or in-kind contributions.

Links to the full announcement and online application process are available through grants.gov. The application instructions can be found on the related documents tab.