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Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2019 Fund Code: 722

School Nutrition Equipment Assistance Grant for High Need Districts

Funds Allocated:$469,569 (Federal)
Funds Requested:$872,963
Purpose: The purpose of the School Nutrition Equipment Assistance Grant for High Need Districts is to encourage eligible schools to increase their capacity to serve healthier meals that meet the 2018-2019 USDA meal pattern as part of participating in the National School Lunch Program.

Grants are recommended to school districts for specific schools. The school districts must have participated in the National School Lunch Program during the 2017-2018 school year and be in good standing with the Child Nutrition Program reporting requirements, including being in compliance with the meal pattern regulations.

Priority was given to schools that have 50 percent or more students eligible for free and reduced- priced meals and did not receive a School Nutrition Equipment Assistance for High Need Districts grant in 2010 (ARRA), 2011 (USDA), or FY14, FY15, FY16, FY17, FY18 (USDA).

The Office for Food and Nutrition Programs received thirty-four grant proposals (representing 56 schools); a total of twenty-two grants for $469,569 are recommended. Twelve LEA proposals scored too low to receive a grant from the limited funds available. For more information please see the RFP.

Number of Proposals Received:34
Number of Proposals Recommended:22
Number of Proposals Not Recommended:Schools and districts that we not funded scored lower than those that were funded, most commonly because the school had received a prior School Nutrition Equipment Assistance for High Need Districts grant in 2010 (ARRA), 2011 (USDA), or FY14, FY15, FY16, FY17, FY18 (USDA) or requested funds for items deemed ineligible by the USDA. There were twelve such proposals.
Result of Funding: Twenty-two school districts representing thirty-six schools are recommended for grants ranging in amounts from $5,121 to $91,080.

In general, the funds may be used for purchasing equipment for the implementation of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in (and only in) the specific school requesting the grant. Examples include equipment for heating, cooking, holding, serving, and refrigeration of foods used in the NSLP. The grant funds can be used for installation and delivery costs of the equipment purchased. If the equipment purchased for the school is ever sold, the proceeds must be returned to the School's Nutrition Program Account. All equipment purchased with these grant funds must be tagged with a label identifying it as being purchased with FY19 USDA School Nutrition Assistance Grant Funds.

The goal of the competitive grant is to enhance and improve the school breakfast and national school lunch programs so that all students will receive the nutrition they need to achieve in school. Equipment such as a refrigerator, freezer, or cold and hot serving counters increases the capacity of schools to store and offer a wider variety of fruits and vegetables from which the students can choose. Investing in cooking equipment such as tilt skillets, steamers, and convection ovens enhances the quality, safety, and appeal of meals offered to students by improving cooking methods, such as batch cooking closer to when the meal is served. The equipment also helps the school meet the USDA meal pattern requirements.

Schools with fewer hungry students benefit from students that are more engaged in learning; visit the school nurse less for hunger pains; and have improved attendance. Reducing these barriers to learning and increasing the overall health of students supports the effectiveness of the school.


RecipientsAmounts
Adams Cheshire Regional School District$20,000
Barnstable Public Schools20,000
Belchertown Public Schools7,939
Berkshire Arts & Technical Charter School13,884
Boston Public Schools91,080
Cambridge Public Schools17,948
Fall River Deaconess Home9,857
Freetown Lakeville Regional School District33,979
Greenfield Public Schools6,450
Haverhill Public Schools8,913
Home for Little Wanderers6,800
Kipp Academy Lynn Charter School14,635
Norwood Public Schools6,462
Old Rochester Regional School District33,810
Orange Public Schools32,050
Phoenix Charter School11,386
Salem Academy Charter School15,380
Southbridge Public Schools56,190
St. Vincent's Home16,303
Triton Public Schools30,011
Waltham Public Schools11,371
Westfield Public Schools5,121
Total Federal Funds$469,569

Last Updated: March 1, 2019

 
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