CNP summer EBT admin

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded the Maine Department of Health and Human Services $1,204,222 on October 1, 2025, under the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (CFDA 10.646) to administer Summer EBT benefits in Maine through September 30, 2026.

Summer EBT provides electronic benefit transfer cards loaded with nutrition benefits to children who lose access to free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program during summer school breaks. Eligible children are those determined eligible for free or reduced-price school meals in the prior school year or during summer; some are automatically enrolled based on administrative data, while others must apply and be determined eligible. Benefits can be used to purchase food from approved retailers.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services, a state administering agency for federal nutrition assistance programs, manages the program statewide. This is a formula grant under a permanent program structure; federal funding is determined annually, and the state may release assistance as a lump sum or on a monthly basis according to its determined summer period. The recipient must retain records for three years after submission of certification data for the fiscal year.