CN nfsmi

The University of Mississippi received a $5.0 million Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the National Food Service Management Institute (NFMSI) Administration and Staffing Grant program (CFDA 10.587), awarded August 14, 2025, with a completion date of June 30, 2028. In cooperation with the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Mississippi operates the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), the only federally funded national center dedicated to strengthening K-12 school nutrition programs nationwide. Under this award, ICN provides comprehensive educational resources, applied research, training materials, and technical assistance to support child nutrition programs across the United States and its territories.

ICN's deliverables include developing and delivering training programs, creating scholarly and technical publications, conducting applied research on school food service management, providing consultant services to nutrition stakeholders, and preserving historical collections related to school meals. The institute works collaboratively with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, state agencies, and professional organizations to strategically plan activities and ensure high-quality resources and services for K-12 nutrition program decision makers, food service providers, children, and teachers. This non-competitive award represents continued federal investment in ICN's established mission to advance the quality and effectiveness of child nutrition programs nationwide.