The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced nearly $20 million in grants to help schools invest in modern food service equipment that supports preparation and serving of fresh, local foods.
The National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants will provide funds to all states that participate in the program and received a competitive grant. States will competitively award subgrants to school districts for purchase of equipment valued at greater than $1,000.
School districts can use the funds to purchase upgraded equipment that will support serving healthier meals including those from local foods, improving food safety, increasing scratch cooking, storing fresh food, and expanding or maintaining school breakfast programs.
The funding aligns with recent changes to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which center on real food, according to USDA Food and Nutrition Administration Acting Administrator Shiela Corley. "Higher-quality food demands better resources, and America's children deserve it," Corley said.