USDA Farm to School Grants Now Available!

From the USDA:

Today, USDA released a Request for Applications (RFA) for a new farm to school grant program. The RFA is now posted on grants.gov and the USDA Farm to School website.
There will be two types of grants available.

1. Planning grants are intended primarily for K-12 school food authorities who participate in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program that are in the beginning phases of their farm to school efforts. 
2. Implementation grants are geared towards advancing existing farm to school initiatives.  K-12 school food authorities who participate in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program, along with State and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, and non-profit entities working in partnership with school districts,  may apply for implementation grants.

The grants require at least a 25% funding match.  Applications are due June 15, 2012 and awards are expected to be made in October 2012.  Planning grants are expected to range from $20,000 - $45,000 and represent approximately 25 percent of the total awards. Implementation grants are expected to range from $65,000 - $100,000 and represent approximately 75 percent of the total awards. Given the HHFKA mandate that priority consideration be given to schools serving a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals, projects that serve school districts and schools that have high free and reduced price meal enrollment will receive extra points in evaluation scoring.

Two webinars will be offered in order for applicants to learn more about this grant opportunity.

• Tuesday, May 15^th, 1:00 EST Implementation grants
• Thursday, May 17^th, 1:00 EST Planning grants

For more information, please visit the USDA Farm to School website and the Farm to School grant program RFA.