Federal Grant Award Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded the Missouri Department of Social Services $63 million under the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (CFDA 10.646) for the period October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This formula grant funds the administration and delivery of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) benefits to eligible low-income children during summer months when school meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are unavailable. The award enables Missouri to identify eligible children based on prior school year meal eligibility determinations or direct application, enroll participants in the program, distribute Summer EBT cards, and maintain the necessary administrative infrastructure to support benefit distribution and compliance activities.

Under this award, Missouri will provide nutrition assistance to eligible children who can use their Summer EBT cards to purchase food from approved retailers during the state's designated summer period. The program supports both administrative operations and benefit costs, with Missouri required to submit an approved management and administrative plan to the Department of Agriculture and maintain records for three years following each fiscal year's certification. As a permanent federal initiative rather than a competitive grant program, Summer EBT funding is distributed annually through established federal formulas to all participating states and Indian Tribal Organizations that administer the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.