Federal Grant Award Summary

Montana's Public Health & Human Services Department, Business & Financial Services Division received a $119,450 formula grant award 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 represents administrative funding that supports Montana's management and operational costs associated with the Summer EBT program, which provides nutrition assistance to eligible low-income children during summer months when they lose access to free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

Under this program, Montana distributes EBT benefits loaded onto cards that eligible children use to purchase food from approved retailers during the summer break. The state identifies eligible beneficiaries through administrative data matching against prior school year meal eligibility determinations, with automatic enrollment where possible and application-based enrollment for children not identified through administrative records. Montana determines the distribution method—lump sum or monthly basis—during its designated summer period and maintains required administrative records for three years following fiscal year certification.