Federal Grant Award Summary

The District of Columbia Government received a Formula Grant award of $1,038,677 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program for Children (CFDA 10.646), effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This program provides nutrition assistance to low-income children who lose access to free and reduced-price school meals during summer months when school is not in session. The District administers the distribution of EBT benefits loaded onto electronic cards that eligible children use to purchase food from approved retailers throughout the summer period.

Under this award, the District of Columbia Government manages the Summer EBT Program's administrative and operational functions, including identifying and enrolling eligible children, distributing benefits via EBT cards, and maintaining compliance records for the three-year retention period required by the program. Eligible participants are children determined eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, with enrollment occurring either through automatic identification via state administrative data or through individual application and eligibility determination. The District may distribute benefits to eligible children either as lump sum payments or on a monthly basis throughout its designated summer operating period.