Application information for Healthy Meals Incentives Grants
As part of a cooperative agreement to implement the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, Action for Healthy Kids is offering competitive grants to small and/or rural School Food Authorities (SFA) to support efforts to improve the nutritional quality of their school meals. Find out if your SFA is eligible to apply!
Is your School Food Authority (SFA) eligible to apply? See the Grant Eligibility Requirements below.
Small and/or rural SFAs participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program in the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the United States Virgin Islands and who serve food to K-12 students are eligible to apply. Download the complete Request for Applications (RFA).
Small School Food Authority
SFA with an enrollment of less than or equal to 5,000 students.
Rural School Food Authority
The majority of students within the SFA are enrolled in a rural school as defined by a locality code of 41, 42, or 43 according to the National Center for Education Statistics online tool.
Technical Assistance Webinars
Would you like more information? Tune into one of the upcoming webinars.
Pre-Launch Webinar: Watch it now or Download Slides
Launch Webinar: Watch it now or Download Slides
FAQ Webinar: Watch It Now or Download Slides
For questions, contact: support@healthymealsincentives.org
Download the complete Request for Applications (RFA).
Download the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
How to Set Up an Account on the Grant Portal – Watch Now
About Us
The Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative seeks to improve the nutritional quality of school meals through food systems transformation, school food authority recognition and technical assistance, the generation and sharing of innovative ideas and tested practices, and grants.
Action for Healthy Kids will lead the overall implementation and management of the cooperative agreement. In partnership, RMC Health will design, lead and manage the overall training and technical assistance strategy. In addition, Action for Healthy Kids will partner with Chef Ann Foundation to provide in-depth individualized technical assistance to support and guide school food authorities in implementing key strategies to improve school meal quality, meet the Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award, and mitigate any potential roadblocks to success.
Grant Portal
The Healthy Meals Incentives grant application will be available on April 10, 2023.
Key Dates
May 26, 2023 – Grant Application Portal closes; Applications are due no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
July 1, 2023 (estimated) – Recognition Awards application opens
July 14, 2023 (estimated) – Grant awardees notified
July 27, 2023 – Grant awardees participate in a Grant Kick-Off Event
August 1, 2023 – Grant Period of Performance (all grant funds must be expended by September 30, 2025)
August – October 2023 – Grant awardees conduct a school meal program assessment
October 15, 2023 – Grant awardees submit a Letter(s) of Intent on the Recognition Award(s) for which they intend to apply, including when they plan to apply (before the application period closes on June 30, 2025)
Research shows school meals are the healthiest meals in a day for most kids.
Let’s give kids the best chance at a healthy future.
Resources
Letter of Support (Template) - Partner
Letter of Support (Template) - Project Coordinator Supervisor
Letter of Support (Template) - State Agency
HMI Grants Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Sample Blank Proposal Template
How to Set Up a New Account
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This material is based upon work that is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.