Farm to School and Early Childhood Capacity Building Grant 2025

The Farm to School and Early Childhood Capacity Building Grant aims to enhance farm to school programs in Vermont, helping schools and early childhood education (ECE) centers build relationships with local farmers, improve student health, and support the state’s agricultural economy. This competitive annual grant program is designed to expand access to local foods in educational settings, promote healthy eating habits, and increase participation in child nutrition programs. In addition to financial support, the grant provides technical assistance to help recipients implement strategies using the “3-C” approach, which integrates activities across the Classroom, Cafeteria, and Community. This multifaceted approach aims to create a comprehensive farm to school experience, enriching both the educational curriculum and the nutritional offerings available to students. For the fiscal year 2025, grant applications are accepted from October 3, 2024, to November 14, 2024, with a strict submission deadline of 1:59 PM on the closing date. Eligible applicants include Vermont-licensed early childhood centers, groups of three or more registered family childcare homes, independent schools participating in federal nutrition programs, individual public schools, and supervisory unions or educational districts representing public schools. All applicants must submit their proposals through the WebGrants system, and new users are encouraged to register well before the deadline to ensure timely application processing. Grant recipients will benefit from comprehensive technical assistance tailored to their specific needs, covering key areas such as meal programs, local food procurement, curriculum development, and school gardening initiatives. The technical assistance is designed to be flexible, with training sessions and consultations scheduled based on the availability and objectives of the grantee's project team. These teams, composed of educators, administrators, food service staff, students, and community members, are crucial to achieving the grant’s goals and must actively participate in the technical assistance activities. Each grantee will also be assigned a coach, who will guide them throughout the grant period by attending meetings, assisting with planning, and providing resources to support the program’s growth. This coaching aims to enhance the program's sustainability and embed farm to school principles within the school or ECE center's culture. Coaches are drawn from the Vermont farm to school network and bring expertise that ensures the grantees can meet their project objectives effectively. The grant promotes the integration of local foods into meal programs, advances local wellness policies in K-12 schools, and strengthens connections with the agricultural community. Schools and ECE centers can use the funding to develop new initiatives or expand existing programs to increase the use of Vermont-produced foods. By fostering these connections and embedding local food systems into education, the grant seeks to create lasting changes in how students interact with food and understand the agricultural process. An informational webinar on October 17, 2024, will offer an overview of the application process, requirements, and important deadlines. The session includes a live Q&A and will be recorded for future reference. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend to gain insights into the grant’s expectations and submission procedures.