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2021 CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program

The California Department of Education is pleased to announce that the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork (F2F) is now accepting applications for the 2021 California Farm to School (F2S) Incubator Grant Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. Is the 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program the same as the U.S. Department of Agriculture F2S Grant Program?

    No. The 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program is not the same as the U.S. Department of Agriculture F2S Grant Program. The funding for the 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program was made available by the California Budget Act of 2020, which includes a $10 million one-time General Fund allocation for Fiscal Year 2020–21 and $1.5 million annually thereafter for the CDFA to establish the 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program and provide ongoing support for the California Farm to School Network (CFSN). The CFSN works to align F2S efforts, share resources, and bring together farmers, schools, and distributors.

  2. When is the application deadline?

    Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Pacific time on Tuesday, February 16, 2021.

  3. What type of projects are funded?

    The 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program will award competitive grants to support innovative local and regional F2S projects in nutrition education, sustainable food production and procurement, and high quality student engagement through experiential learning.

    The 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program offers the following two funding tracks:

    • Track 1, or the California F2S Innovation Grant, will fund local educational agencies (LEA) to establish new or expand existing integrated F2S programs that: (1) procure California-grown or California-produced whole or minimally processed foods and integrate these foods into school meals; and (2) coordinate educational opportunities between the cafeteria, classroom, and community. The CDFA will provide approximately $6.5 million for Track 1 grants. The awards will range from $20,000 to $500,000 per project, and projects may last for up to 1 year and 10 months. Matching funds are not required. LEAs within California that operate the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are eligible to apply.
    • Track 2, or the California F2S Regional Partnerships Grant, will fund innovative F2S partnerships to expand existing F2S initiatives and increase collaboration and coordination between producers and the schools they serve. CDFA will provide approximately $2 million for Track 2 grants. The awards will range from $10,000 to $250,000 per project, and projects may last for up to 1 year and 10 months. Matching funds are not required. LEAs within California that operate the NSLP, as well as varying types of F2S partners, are eligible to apply.
  4. Where can I find additional information about the California F2S Incubator Grant Program and application process?

    For additional information about the 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program and application process, you can download the 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program Request for Applications External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF).

  5. How do I submit my application?

    Grant applications must be completed and submitted electronically through the online WizeHive submission portal. Applicants must first create a user account in WizeHive, then apply for one or both grant funding tracks by accessing the links below.

    Once a user account is created for one of the submission portals, the same user account can be used for the other submission portal. Applicants are limited to one application in each funding track.

Webinar

The CDFA F2F will host a webinar at 1 p.m. Pacific time on January 7, 2021, to provide an overview of the 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program, explain the application process, and answer questions. To register for the 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Application webinar, access the CDFA-F2F Meeting Registration web page External link opens in new window or tab..

Contact Information

For assistance and questions related to the 2021 California F2S Incubator Grant Program, please contact CDFA F2F by email at cafarmtofork@cdfa.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, December 30, 2020
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