Kimberly Shields
kimberly.shields@usda.gov

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. Turnkey grants are for schools or districts just getting started on farm to school activities.
3. State agency grants are intended to increase the amount of local food served in eligible schools by funding state agencies to support and grow farm to school efforts in their states.

Additional funding priorities for the 2020 grant cycle include:

• Applications from tribal organizations and entities serving native communities
• Applications from small to medium-sized agricultural producers or groups of small to medium-sized producers
• Projects that serve a high proportion of children (at least 40% or more) who are eligible for free or reduced price meals
• Projects located in or targeting Opportunity Zones

In selecting awards, USDA will seek to ensure geographical diversity and equitable treatment of urban, rural, and tribal communities.

Resources:

• USDA Community Food Projects program website
• Farm to School Grant Program applicant resource website
• Community Food Projects technical assistance website
• Summary of previous grant awards
• Reports on awards to date

Applications will be accepted from:

• State and local agencies
• Tribal organizations
• Agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers
• Nonprofit entities
• Eligible schools, school districts, and non-school based sites

Eligible schools are defined as schools or institutions that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

Award amounts:

• Implementation grants: $50,000 - $100,000
• State agency grants: $50,000 - $100,000
• Turnkey grants: Up to $50,000

Up to $25,000 is available for Turnkey grants to state agencies for Producer Training projects.

Expected Number of Awards: 150

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 will be found on the related documents tab.