Stimulus Bill Includes School Kitchen Equipment Funds

The stimulus bill passed by Congress in February included a school food equipment assistance grant program. It consists of $100,000,000 available to carry out a grant program for National School Lunch Program equipment assistance with the funds provided to states agencies administering the school lunch program based on the proportion of meals served per state.

According to the stimulus package language, states will have to provide competitive grants to school food authorities based upon the need for equipment assistance in participating schools with priority given to schools in which 50 percent or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced price. The funds would be made available through fiscal year 2010.