Federal Grant Award Summary

The Virginia Department of Social Services received a Formula Grant award of $1,343,922 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service to administer the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program for Children (CFDA 10.646) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award funds both administrative costs and the delivery of nutrition assistance benefits to eligible low-income children during summer months when school is not in session. Under this program, Virginia will provide EBT benefits loaded onto cards that eligible children can use to purchase food from approved retailers, targeting children who lose access to free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program during the summer break.

The program serves children determined eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the prior school year or current summer, with some children automatically enrolled through state administrative data while others must apply for benefits. Virginia may distribute the EBT benefits as either lump sum payments or monthly distributions throughout the state's designated summer period. As a permanent, federally-funded program rather than a competitive grant, Virginia will submit management and administrative plans to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service for approval and receive funding through a Letter of Credit mechanism.