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    HomeJoin the Challenge: Grant Opportunities Now Open
      An opportunity to transform local and regional food systems for school in Maine.
Press Release
    Release No.
              NERO 021324

      **Contact:**FNS Press Team
    Contact Us
**Contact:**FNS Northeast Regional Office Public AffairsSm.fn.ne-pa@usda.gov**BOSTON., Feb. 13, 2024** -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Northeast Region announced a new grant opportunity available through the School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants, which is part of USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives initiative.This opportunity is available from Full Plates Full Potential and continues the work of USDA to transform the school food system to support local and regional food systems, expand school food procurement pathways, and engage supporting organizations. Full Plates Full Potential will fund collaborative projects in Maine.“This grant continues the work of USDA to transform the school food system to support local and regional food systems, expand school food procurement pathways, and engage supporting organizations,” said USDA Food and Nutrition Service Northeast Region Administrator Lizbeth Silbermann.Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for this grant opportunity.**The School Food System Innovation Grant**: Full Plates Full Potential (Full Plates) will provide $7.4 million in funding to collaborative food system partners to increase the use of local ingredients in Maine school meals. The School Food System Innovation Grant supports innovative and collaborative pilot projects that may be regional or statewide in scale, addressing unique barriers faced by schools in increasing their use of local items in school meal programs. This grant was created to ensure that Maine schools have the necessary support to make significant and sustainable increases in the amount of Maine-sourced foods they are using.An informational webinar for the School Food System Innovation Grant will be held on March 7, 2024. The application for this grant opportunity will open on March 4, 2024, and close on May 1, 2024, with grant awards announced in June 2024.To learn more about the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative and the School Food System Transformation Challenge Grants, visit the School Food System Transformation Challenge webpage.USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) leverages its 16 nutrition assistance programs to ensure that children, low-income individuals, and families have opportunities for a better future through equitable access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food, while building a more resilient food system. Under the leadership of Secretary Tom Vilsack, FNS is fighting to end food and nutrition insecurity for all through programs such as SNAP, school meals, and WIC. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To learn more, visit www.fns.usda.gov.###*USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.*Page updated: March 05, 2024 Return to top

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