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The Department has moved to 135 Santilli Highway in Everett. The Department's office and Licensure Welcome Center are open. The new location has free parking and is a short walk from the Wellington station on the MBTA's Orange Line.
Food and Nutrition Programs

FNP Funding Opportunities

  • Show me the Money! — A quick guide to funding opportunities available to School Meal Program Operators.
    *Note: this is not an inclusive list. Stay tuned to our newsletters for up-to-date funding opportunities.

Summer Food Service Program: Expansion, Access, Training and Start-Up (SFSP EATS) Grant for New and Existing Sponsors — Fund Code 542

The purpose of this State-funded Targeted grant program is to encourage new and existing Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors to increase participation in the program by serving more children per day, increasing total meals served, extending the length of the SFSP, and/or creating new sites. The creation of new sites will increase program availability to participants not currently receiving program services. New and existing Summer Food Service Program sponsors, including School Food Authorities, government and community-based organizations may apply. Applicants proposing sites serving a significant low-income population shall receive priority consideration. This is solely a planning and sustainability grant. All grant applications must be received electronically through the EdGrants Front Office by 5 PM on Friday, March 15, 2024.

Full RFP

MA Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health (MA FRESH)

The purpose of this state funded competitive grant program is to encourage National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and Child Adult Food Care Program (CACFP) sponsors to build or expand their capacity to purchase and prepare nutritious school meals with Massachusetts produced ingredients, educate students, staff, teachers and food service professionals about the food system and connect food literacy efforts with the availability of nutritious, locally sourced meals available in schools and early education programs. MA FRESH projects may also provide students with experiential learning opportunities in their school gardens, community and at Massachusetts farms, food businesses, and fisheries.

At this time, the FY24 MA FRESH Application Cycle is closed. FY24 MA FRESH Grantees will be notified in Winter 2024.

Check out the MA FRESH grant awardees for an up-to-date list of MA FRESH awardees, and descriptions of the work funded through MA FRESH.

For further information about MA FRESH priorities and eligibility, please review the most recent FY24 Fund Code 710 Request for Proposal — now closed. For MA FRESH resources and technical support, please visit DESE FNP's contracted partner Massachusetts Farm to School.

Stay tuned in Fall 2024 for the next funding opportunity.

School Nutrition Equipment Assistance Grants for Schools — Fund Code 722

The purpose of the competitive School Nutrition Equipment Assistance Grant for Schools is to allow School Food Authorities (SFA) to purchase equipment needed to serve healthier meals that meet the updated meal patterns, with emphasis on serving more fruits and vegetables in school meals, improving food safety, expanding access, and to help support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.

Stay tuned for 2023 for the next funding opportunity

Last Updated: March 4, 2024

 
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149

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