Federal Grant Award Summary

The Center For An Agricultural Economy LTD received a $497,474 Project Grant award dated May 1, 2026, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service's Child Nutrition Division under the Farm to School Grant Program (CFDA 10.575). The award, with a completion date of June 30, 2028, will support the organization's efforts to improve access to local foods within Child Nutrition Programs in the Hardwick, Vermont area. Based on the Farm to School program's eligible activities, the Center is expected to deliver services that may include local food procurement coordination, school garden development, agricultural education integration, producer training on food safety and procurement regulations, infrastructure improvements to accommodate local ingredients, and experiential learning opportunities connecting students to local agricultural systems.

Given the Center's existing expertise in agricultural business development and cooperative services across New England, this award leverages the organization's established capacity to strengthen the intersection of local agriculture and school nutrition. The 24-month performance period aligns with standard Farm to School Implementation Grant timelines, and the funding reflects the program's emphasis on comprehensive initiatives that improve food access in schools while supporting local agricultural economies.