2009 Equipment Assistance Grants

NOTE: The application due date for this program has passed.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides a $12.8 million one-time appropriation to California for equipment assistance grants to school food authorities (SFA) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The NSLP equipment assistance grants are to improve the infrastructure in the NSLP; however, the authority for the grants was provided in the context of the overall effort to stimulate activity within the American economy. The program serves sponsors of the National School Lunch Program. This program focuses on sites in which 50 percent or more of the enrolled children qualify for free and reduced-price meals.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants	Local educational agencies, other organizations or agencies
Required Eligibility Criteria	Only agencies that participate in the National School Lunch Program are eligible to participate. Priority is given to sites in which fifty percent or more of the enrolled children qualify for free and reduced-price meals. SFAs must demonstrate their ability to spend the grant funds within three months of receipt. SFAs must demonstrate the need for the equipment focusing on four areas: 1) equipment lending itself to improving meal quality, 2) equipment that improves food safety, 3) energy efficient equipment, and 4) equipment that supports an increase in participation.
Other Eligibility Considerations	Not applicable
Eligible Grade Level(s)	Not applicable
Eligible Age Level(s)	Not applicable

Funding

Legal Authority	Public Law 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Grants will be issued pending authority for funding from the Legislature (target date: June 2009).
Source / Type	Federal / Grant
State Fiscal Year	2008-09
SACS Resource/ Revenue Codes	5315 / 8290
Total Available	$12,864,863
Recipient Amount	To be determined by competitive grant process.
Match Requirement	No
Allocation Formula	Unavailable

Important Dates

Date Application Available	April 22, 2009
Due Date	May 27, 2009
Expected Notification Date	June 30, 2009

Additional Information

Application	Unavailable
Background	Unavailable
Fiscal	Unavailable
Other	CDE American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Web page: http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/ar/ United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) School Meals Policy Memos: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/policy.htm (Outside Source) National Food Service Management Institute, Equipment Purchasing and Facility Design for School Nutrition Programs: http://www.nfsmi.org/documentLibraryFiles/PDF/20090312115009.pdf (Outside Source)

Contacts

Program	Rae Vant Phone : 916-445-6775 E-mail : equipmentgrant@cde.ca.gov
Fiscal	Michael Salazar Phone : 916-322-8310 E-mail : equipmentgrant@cde.ca.gov
Division	Nutrition Services Division Phone : 916-445-0850 Fax : 916-445-5731