USDA FNS Grant for Farm to School Institute Replication and Development

The FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations Senate Report (S.R. 115-259) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to use $500,000 to form at least one cooperative agreement with an established entity, such as a regional Farm to School institute, for the creation and dissemination of information on farm to school program development and to provide practitioner education, training, ongoing school year coaching, and technical assistance.” This cooperative agreement announces the availability of funds to establish a new three-year cooperative agreement focused on training state or regional level teams, or other teams serving specific populations that may not be bound by geography (such as tribal nations, refugee communities, etc.) to create farm to school institutes for the communities they serve.

FNS awarded two Regional Farm to School Institute Grants in FY 2020. The grantees currently provide and conduct regular, ongoing trainings and technical assistance to schools, school districts, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and/or non-profit organizations. This is done with the intent to support and enhance eligible CNP (NSLP, SBP, CACFP, SFSP and FFVP) operators in developing robust, sustainable, and integrated Farm to School programs. The intent of this cooperative agreement is to replicate the success of the farm to institute model more widely across the county and provide ongoing technical assistance to new institutes as they are created and implemented.

This cooperative agreement will be made on a competitive basis. An award may be made to more than one entity. The applicants may sub award, by contract or sub-grant, tasks to other organizations to complete or provide aspects of training and technical assistance.

Applicants must provide a 501(c)(3) Determination Letter to indicate nonprofit status, as well as a current copy of the organization’s bylaws that details, at a minimum, the organization’s official name, mission, and purpose. Applicants must clearly describe how their organization(s) satisfies the criteria for an “eligible entity” as stated above.

The FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations Senate Report (S.R. 115-259) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to use $500,000 to form at least one cooperative agreement with an established entity, such as a regional Farm to School institute, for the creation and dissemination of information on farm to school program development and to provide practitioner education, training, ongoing school year coaching, and technical assistance.” This cooperative agreement announces the availability of funds to establish a new three-year cooperative agreement focused on training state or regional level teams, or other teams serving specific populations that may not be bound by geography (such as tribal nations, refugee communities, etc.) to create farm to school institutes for the communities they serve.

FNS awarded two Regional Farm to School Institute Grants in FY 2020. The grantees currently provide and conduct regular, ongoing trainings and technical assistance to schools, school districts, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and/or non-profit organizations. This is done with the intent to support and enhance eligible CNP (NSLP, SBP, CACFP, SFSP and FFVP) operators in developing robust, sustainable, and integrated Farm to School programs. The intent of this cooperative agreement is to replicate the success of the farm to institute model more widely across the county and provide ongoing technical assistance to new institutes as they are created and implemented.