Federal Grant Award Summary

The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services received a Formula Grant award of $34,013,927 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the National School Lunch Program (CFDA 10.555), effective October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2026. This award provides cash subsidies and USDA Foods to support the delivery of nutritionally balanced, low-cost, and no-cost lunches to school children throughout Missouri. As the designated state agency administrator, Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services is responsible for determining school eligibility, establishing written participation agreements with public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions, and ensuring compliance with federal nutritional requirements and meal pattern standards.

The grant funding enables participating schools and school food authorities to provide reimbursable meal services to eligible children while maintaining records of nonprofit food service operations and demonstrating adherence to federal meal patterns. The program operates under a standing federal-state agreement framework, with the state agency serving as the prime recipient responsible for sub-awarding portions of grant funds to local school districts, charter schools, and other participating entities to facilitate direct meal service delivery across the state.