Federal Grant Award Summary

The Ohio Department of Education received a $488,458 formula grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Child Nutrition Division under the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (CFDA 10.646), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This award provides administrative funding to support the state's management and operational costs in implementing the Summer EBT program, including identifying and enrolling eligible low-income children, processing benefit distributions, and maintaining required records.

Through this award, Ohio will deliver electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to eligible children who lose access to free and reduced-price meals during summer months when school is not in session. Eligible children—those determined eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program during the prior school year—will receive nutrition assistance benefits loaded onto EBT cards to purchase food from approved retailers. The state will manage benefit distribution either as lump-sum payments or on a monthly basis throughout its designated summer period and maintain three-year record retention compliance as required by the program.