FY 18 Farm to school Grant

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) amended Section 18 of the Richard B.

Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to establish a Farm to School Program in order to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that improve

credit:


access to local foods in eligible schools.

To fulfill the farm to school mandate in the HHFKA, $5 million is provided to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on an annual basis to support grants, technical assistance, and the Federal administrative costs related to USDA’s Farm to School Program.

The USDA Farm to School Program is housed within the Food and Nutrition Services’ (FNS) Office of Community Food Systems (OCFS).

This request for applications (RFA) provides additional details regarding the grants component of the USDA Farm to School Program.

Authorizing language in the HHFKA directed the Secretary of Agriculture to award competitive grants for:
(i) Training; (ii) Supporting operations; (iii) Planning; (iv) Purchasing equipment; (v) Developing school gardens; (vi) Developing partnerships; and, (vii) Implementing farm to school programs.

The Secretary of Agriculture was also directed through the HHFKA to ensure geographical diversity and equitable treatment of urban, rural, and tribal communities, as well as give the highest priority to funding projects that, as determined by the Secretary – (a) Make local food products available on the menu of the eligible school; (b) Serve a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches; (c) Incorporate experiential nutrition education activities in curriculum planning that encourage the participation of school children in farm and garden-based activities; (d) Demonstrate collaboration between eligible schools, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, agricultural producer groups, and other community partners; (e) Include adequate and participatory evaluation plans; (f) Demonstrate the potential for long-term program sustainability; and, (g) Meet any other criteria that the Secretary determines appropriate.

Authorizing language also states that as a condition of receiving a USDA Farm to School Program Grant, each grant recipient shall provide matching support in the form of cash or in-kind contributions, and agree to cooperate in an evaluation of the program carried out using grant funds.

Grant Tracks:
Grant funds will be made available on a competitive basis, subject to availability of Federal funds, using three grants tracks:
Implementation grants are intended to help schools, school districts, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers or groups of small- and medium-sized agricultural producers, and non-profit entities working with schools or school districts to scale or further develop existing farm to school initiatives.

Implementation awards range from $50,000 - $100,00 0. Planning grants are for schools or school districts, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers or groups of small- and medium-sized agricultural producers, and non-profit entities working with schools or school districts that are just getting started on farm to school activities.

These funds are intended to help these entities organize and structure their efforts for maximum impact by embedding known best practices into early design considerations.

Planning awards range from $20,000 - $50,00 0. Training grants are intended for state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers or groups of small- and medium-sized agricultural producers, and non-profit 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.

Training awards range from $20,000 - $50,00 0.
Related Programs

Farm to School Grant Program

Department of Agriculture


Agency: Department of Agriculture

Office: Food and Nutrition Service

Estimated Funding: $5,000,000


Who's Eligible





Obtain Full Opportunity Text:
Farm to School Grants - FY 2018

Additional Information of Eligibility:
Planning and Implementation Grant Eligibility: Eligible schools, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers or groups of small- and medium-sized agricultural producers, and non-profit entities are eligible to receive planning and implementation grants.

Eligible schools are defined as 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.

Eligible SFAs may apply for funding that spans the entire SFA, for a specific group of schools (e.g.

only K-5 schools within an SFA), or for an individual school.

In the case where an SFA exists, the application must come from the SFA, and only one application per SFA is allowed.

Funding is available to support school-based programs only.

If a proposal seeks to increase local foods in the Child and Adult Care Program or the Summer Food Service Program, target sites must be located at a school.

Training Grant Eligibility: Only state and local agencies, Indian Tribal Organizations, small- and medium-sized agricultural producers or groups of small- and medium-sized agricultural producers, and non-profit entities are eligible to receive training grant funds.

Training grants may support projects that impact CACFP and SFSP operators that have sites beyond schools.



Full Opportunity Web Address:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/fy18-farm-school-grant

Contact:


Agency Email Description:
anna.arrowsmith@fns.usda.gov

Agency Email:


Date Posted:
2017-10-04

Application Due Date:


Archive Date:
2018-01-07



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