Federal Grant Award Summary

The Illinois Department on Aging received a Formula Grant award of $200,726.11 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the National School Lunch Program (CFDA 10.555), effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award provides cash grants to support the delivery of nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches to eligible school children through participating public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions across Illinois. The funding enables the state agency to administer program operations, including determining school eligibility, managing written agreements with participating institutions, and ensuring compliance with federal meal pattern requirements and nutritional standards.

As the state-level administrative entity, the Illinois Department on Aging utilizes these federal funds to coordinate meal service delivery and support local school districts, charter schools, and community organizations in providing reimbursable meals to children. The program operates under a standing federal-state agreement framework and includes provisions for schools to serve meals at free or reduced prices to eligible children, while maintaining comprehensive records of nonprofit food service operations for state and federal oversight.