Federal Grant Award Summary

The Department of Transitional Assistance, a Massachusetts state government entity, received a formula grant award of $70.7 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Child Nutrition Division for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program for Children (CFDA 10.646). The award, dated October 1, 2025, with completion by September 30, 2026, funds the administration and delivery of nutrition assistance benefits to 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 award, the Department provides Summer EBT benefits loaded onto electronic benefit transfer cards that eligible children use to purchase food from approved retailers during the summer period. The program identifies eligible children through administrative data from prior school year meal eligibility determinations or through direct application processes. The funding supports administrative operations including child enrollment processing, benefit distribution via EBT card infrastructure, and three-year record retention compliance. Benefits may be distributed as lump-sum payments or on a monthly basis according to the state's designated summer period.