Federal Grant Award Summary

The Maryland Department of Human Services received a formula grant award of $3.03 million 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 award provides funding to administer the Summer EBT program, which delivers electronic benefit transfer payments to eligible low-income children during summer months when they lose access to free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

Under this formula grant, the Maryland Department of Human Services provides nutrition assistance by loading EBT benefits onto cards that eligible children can use to purchase food from approved retailers throughout the summer period. The department manages program operations including beneficiary identification and enrollment, benefit distribution (either as lump-sum or monthly payments), and administrative oversight. Eligible children are those determined eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the prior school year or summer, with automatic enrollment available for children identified through state administrative data and application-based enrollment for others who cannot be identified through existing data systems.