Federal Grant Award Summary

The Rhode Island Department of Human Services received a formula grant award of $12.29 million from the Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (CFDA 10.646), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This award supports the state's administration and delivery of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that provide nutrition assistance 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.

The funded program enables eligible children to purchase food from approved retailers using loaded EBT cards during the summer period. Award activities include identifying eligible children through administrative data from prior school year meal eligibility determinations or through direct application processes, processing enrollments, distributing EBT benefits on either a lump-sum or monthly basis according to the state's designated summer period, and maintaining three-year record retention compliance. Funding supports both administrative costs and benefit distribution necessary to reduce childhood hunger and food insecurity during the school-free summer months.