Award Announcement for 2025 KIT and R&R Grants

Thank you to all applicants who applied for the 2025 Kitchen Infrastructure and Training (KIT) Grant and the Retention and Recruitment (R&R) Grant. The grant award lists are now posted to the California Department of Education (CDE) Funding Results web page.

KIT Grants

$145 million was appropriated from the State of California’s General Fund to the CDE to competitively award the 2025 KIT Grants. The CDE received 694 total KIT applications and all eligible school food authorities (SFA) will receive a portion of the funding.

R&R Grants

$10 million was appropriated from the State of California’s General Fund to the CDE to competitively award the R&R Grants. The CDE received 490 total R&R applications and all eligible SFAs will receive a portion of the funding.

Please note, all R&R grantees attested to having a plan in place to seek input from applicable unions/bargaining units, human resources, food service administrators, governing board or body members, staff, and parents on how the improved retention and recruitment initiatives will increase access to fresh, healthy school meals and address local priorities. Grantees are required to seek input from these groups before using the funding. All SFAs must have their R&R Plan with the required components and approvals available to the CDE upon request. Any SFAs found not to have a plan or to have sought input from the applicable groups will be required to return the R&R Grant funds.

Next Steps

Awarded agencies will receive direct email communication from the CDE Nutrition Services Division within the next 10 calendar days. This communication will provide instructions on the signing of the Grant Award Notification (GAN). Grantees should receive payment within ten weeks of submitting a signed GAN to the CDE.

2025 KIT and R&R Grant Web Page

For more information about the 2025 KIT and R&R Grants, visit the CDE KIT and R&R Grants web page.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact the CDE 2025 KIT Team by email at KIT2025@cde.ca.gov.