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 start or expand their capacity to grow or procure local food and educate students, teachers, school nutrition professionals and staff about the local food system. Furthermore, this grant seeks to connect food system education to the local community and to the availability of local foods served in school or early education meal programs.
Competitive priority will be given to schools and early education providers with high percentages of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch and shall aim to promote geographic equity.
Additional competitive priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.
Eligible MA FRESH applicants include licensed early education programs that offer meals through the Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP) and schools or school districts that offer meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) that serve students anywhere between kindergarten and 12th grade. MA FRESH applicants that have received MA FRESH grant funding in the past are eligible to apply.
Family Day Care providers participating in CACFP are not directly eligible for MA FRESH. Only Sponsoring Organizations are eligible to apply on behalf of a Family Day Care or a collection of Family Day Cares.
If an organization would like to apply to become a sponsor of NSLP or CACFP email Nutrition@doe.mass.edu . For more information on the Department of Early Education and Care's Child Care Program licensing, visit Child Care Program Licensing | Mass.gov.
Eligibility to receive MA FRESH funds is contingent on the applicant's good standing within the Office for Food and Nutrition Programs. Moreover, the impact of grant activities must be associated with the location where NSLP/CACFP meals are served.
Information about your NSLP/CACFP program required for application completion should be obtained from the Food Service Director, Program Operator, ESE Liaison or Business Manager.
State Line Item 7010-1192
Grant awards are contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it will comply with the Massachusetts General Laws, including G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act.
Approximately $500,000 is available.
Applicant proposals must be submitted in one of the follow categories. Only one application will be accepted per Child Nutrition Program sponsor. Sponsors of both the NSLP and CACFP may only submit one application for consideration.
Applicants may apply for funding between $5,000 and $30,000 in one of the following categories:
* 'New" farm to school/early education initiatives engage in none or only one of the farm to school three "C's": Classroom (such as curriculum and school garden engagement), Cafeteria (such as local menu offerings) and Community (such as farm field trips or non-profit food system partnerships). Applicants that have been dormant in all farm to school activities for the last three years also qualify as "new."
This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.
Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.
The program is designed to support K–12 and early education programs in food literacy initiatives that connect local food system education to the availability of local foods served in school or early education meal programs. Applicants will be asked to indicate all activities their MA FRESH application seeks to fund. Project activities may include, but are not limited to:
Funds cannot be used to purchase food served as part of a reimbursable meal in Child Nutrition Programs or sold as a competitive food and beverage or fundraiser. Grant awards may not be used to fund existing activities, projects or staff positions (including current Farm to School Coordinators). Funds can only be used to fund new staff time or salaries because of new or expanded initiatives.
Upon Approval – 6/30/2025
Office for Food and Nutrition Programs
Maggie Nowak
(781) 338-6475
Friday, October 11, 2024*
Completed grants must be received at the Department via GEM$ by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
*All responses must be fully submitted by the due date listed above. Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the Superintendent / Chief Executive approves the grant application in GEM$. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application through the LEA Superintendent Approved stage by the due date listed in the RFP.
Child Nutrition Program Sponsor awardees will adhere to all Federal, State, and Local procurement laws and standards, including, if applicable, as found in 7 CFR Part 210.21 and 2 CFR 200.317 through 2 CFR 200.326
All equipment competitively procured using these grant funds must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable.
State Contract User Guide
Questions and Answers — Applicants can find questions asked and answered regarding this funding opportunity and DESE's response. All RFP questions must be received no later than Friday, October 4 and can be emailed to Grant Contact Maggie Nowak .
The FC 0710 MA Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health (FRESH) will be submitted in our new GEM$ system.
Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)
Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the Superintendent / Chief Executive approves the grant application in GEM$. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application by the due date listed in the RFP.
The Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved Step allows for the organization lead to review and approve the grant application. Removing the requirement for the Part I Standard Contract Form, this step signifies Superintendent /Chief Executive sign off. Any grant budget changes requiring signature, will re-execute this step when amended signifying the organization lead is approving these changes.
New Organizations: Grant Submission requires applicants to have their organization established in GEM$. Entities that do not have an organization established in GEM$ must contact the Office for Food and Nutrition Programs Grant Contact, Maggie Nowak, at a minimum 5 business days prior to the grant due date for temporary organization access.
Failure to provide DESE with GEM$ Temp Organization Access Request at least 5 business days prior to the due date may result in not meeting the submission due date listed above. DESE cannot accept or review applications after the due date.
Please Note: Grant submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for a Grantwriter for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal representative for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off. All roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, maintained at the LEA level or sent in to the DESE RFP contact as described on the individual forms. The user guidance documents and forms are found on the GEM$ homepage under DESE Resources. These forms can be accessed without logging in to the system.
Last Updated: September 3, 2024
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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