Vilsack announces $25 million in school equipment grants
March 06, 2015 |01:01 PM
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will provide $25 million to state governments for grants to schools to buy new kitchen equipment.
The states will conduct competitive processes to award the grants, which are to help the schools comply with the school meal rules under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. Schools have said they need new equipment in order to prepare meals without frying and to include more fruits and vegetables.
Vilsack said the announcement today brings the total in grants under the Obama administration to $185 million.
The secretary also announced that USDA would provide $5.5 million in “team” grants so that schools that have successfully implemented the healthier meals rules can help those struggling to update their systems.
These Team Nutrition grants are only open to state agencies administering the school lunch program and other nutrition programs, including the summer school feeding program and the child and adult care food programs.
Through a competitive grants process, Team Nutrition training grants will be funded for the period of September 30, 2015 - September 30, 2017.
State agencies may apply for up to $350,000 by visiting Grants.gov.
Cornell University has identified strategies for modernization of school nutrition programs and the University of Mississippi is also involved in the effort, Vilsack noted.
The School Nutrition Association has asked Congress to provide flexibility to schools and to roll back some of the healthier school meals rules, and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., has said he wants to provide flexibility as part of the reauthorization of child nutrition programs.
Vilsack said USDA is already providing flexibility on the sodium and whole grains credits, and that he is “deeply concerned” that flexibility could be used to roll back the regulations at a time that the healthier meal rules are gaining widespread acceptance.
National Parent Teachers Association President Otha Thornton, who participated in the call, said the underlying purpose of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act rules is to ensure access to healthier food in every school district across the country.
“Nutrition is a critical part of a child’s success,” Thornton said.
The states will conduct competitive processes to award the grants, which are to help the schools comply with the school meal rules under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. Schools have said they need new equipment in order to prepare meals without frying and to include more fruits and vegetables.
Vilsack said the announcement today brings the total in grants under the Obama administration to $185 million.
The secretary also announced that USDA would provide $5.5 million in “team” grants so that schools that have successfully implemented the healthier meals rules can help those struggling to update their systems.
These Team Nutrition grants are only open to state agencies administering the school lunch program and other nutrition programs, including the summer school feeding program and the child and adult care food programs.
Through a competitive grants process, Team Nutrition training grants will be funded for the period of September 30, 2015 - September 30, 2017.
State agencies may apply for up to $350,000 by visiting Grants.gov.
Cornell University has identified strategies for modernization of school nutrition programs and the University of Mississippi is also involved in the effort, Vilsack noted.
The School Nutrition Association has asked Congress to provide flexibility to schools and to roll back some of the healthier school meals rules, and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., has said he wants to provide flexibility as part of the reauthorization of child nutrition programs.
Vilsack said USDA is already providing flexibility on the sodium and whole grains credits, and that he is “deeply concerned” that flexibility could be used to roll back the regulations at a time that the healthier meal rules are gaining widespread acceptance.
National Parent Teachers Association President Otha Thornton, who participated in the call, said the underlying purpose of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act rules is to ensure access to healthier food in every school district across the country.
“Nutrition is a critical part of a child’s success,” Thornton said.
