USDA-FNS-CN-EAG-FY26
The USDA is offering $20 million in competitive grants to state agencies for school kitchen equipment upgrades, supporting healthier meals and food safety in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program.
Funder: Food and Nutrition Service
Due Dates: May 28, 2026: Full application submission deadline
Funding Amounts: $20 million total; awards per state range from $24,000 to $2,362,417 (see Appendix A); project period: Sept 15, 2026 – Sept 30, 2028
Summary: Competitive grants for state agencies to support school meal equipment purchases that improve nutrition, food safety, and expand breakfast programs.
Key Information: Only primary NSLP State Agencies in 54 states/territories are eligible to apply; subgrants must be competitively awarded to LEAs/SFAs/schools.
Description
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) offers competitive grants to state agencies administering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to fund equipment purchases for schools. The goal is to help schools serve healthier meals, improve food safety, and support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of School Breakfast Programs (SBP). Funds are distributed to state agencies, which must then conduct a competitive subgrant process for local education agencies (LEAs), school food authorities (SFAs), and schools participating in the NSLP.
Eligible equipment must have a value greater than $1,000 and be used to enhance nutrition quality, support updated meal requirements, increase operational efficiency, or address equipment disparities. State agencies may use up to 5% of their award for administrative costs; the remainder must be distributed as subgrants.
