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FY 2019
Farm to School Grant RFA is Now Available!
October is Farm to School Month! And we are excited to
celebrate by announcing the official release of the FY 2019 Farm to School Grant Request for
Applications (RFA). Farm to School programs support local
communities through a variety of activities, including taste tests, farm
visits, local purchasing, and farmers and producer training.
USDA will award up to $7.5 million in competitive grants to
eligible entities through the Farm to School Grant Program in fiscal year (FY)
2019. Each grant helps implement Farm to School programs that increase access
to local food in eligible schools, providing students with quality meals at a
reasonable cost while also supporting local producers. In FY 2018, USDA awarded
73 grants across the United States.
The RFA includes three tracks—Implementation, Planning, and
Training. These will support a variety of projects and implementation stages. Each track provides funding for a specific
range of activities:
· Implementation grant
awards range from $50,000-$100,000. An implementation grant works well for eligible
entities with prior farm to school experience, helping scale up or further
develop existing farm to school initiatives. Some examples of activities in
implementation grants include (but are not limited to) training and technical
assistance, supply-chain development, evaluation activities, curriculum
development, creation of promotional materials or campaigns, and formation of
networks or coalitions.
· Planning grant awards
range from $20,000-$50,000. Planning grants help eligible entities build a
strong foundation for their efforts rooted in best practices, and are ideal for
applicants just getting started on farm to school activities. Some activities
may include collecting data, engaging stakeholders, identifying gaps in
knowledge and resources, pinpointing and developing solutions for obstacles
that hinder farm to school programming for a particular community, and more!
· Training grant
awards range from $20,000-$50,000 to help eligible entities conduct state,
regional, and national level trainings. Training grant activities strengthen
farm to school supply chains or provide technical assistance related to local
procurement, food safety, school gardens, culinary education, and/or
integration of agriculture-based curricula.
A wide variety of entities are eligible to compete for
funding through this grant opportunity. State
and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, small- and medium-sized
agricultural producers or groups of small- to medium-sized agricultural
producers, and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for planning,
implementation and training grants. Schools and school districts may apply for
either an implementation grant or a planning grant. Please see sections 3.0 through 3.3 of the
RFA and review the Frequently Asked Questions document for additional information
regarding eligibility requirements.
The Grant RFA can be found on grants.gov. Complete applications must be submitted on grants.gov by 11:59pm
ET on December 4, 2018.
Check out the OCFS resources for grant applicants and see a list of prior grantees’ project
descriptions for proposal inspiration!
Stay
tuned for a two-part webinar series on the FY 2019 Farm to School RFA
Join OCFS for a special two-part webinar this October 16th
and 17th at 1:00pm ET. These webinars will review the important
details of the FY 2019 Farm to School Grants and walk candidates through the application
process. Webinars will be recorded and
made available on the Grantee
Resources page .
October
16th – “Getting Familiar with the Farm to School RFA” Part 1 of 2: This webinar will provide an overview of how to apply for
the FY 2019 Farm to School Grant Program RFA. Get familiar with the
requirements of the RFA and how to submit your completed application on
grants.gov.
To register, please visit: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/ot168k7ysx68&eom
October 17th – “Getting Your Grant Package Together”
Part 2 of 2:
In part two, we explore the key characteristics of a competitive Farm to
School Application. Get an overview of how to develop an integrated farm to
school project that addresses the need of your target audience and aligns with
the intention of the grant program. Learn tips and tricks for writing a
succinct application that clearly outlines your project's objectives and
potential for success.
To register, please visit: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/hqmetus6lvru&eom
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