Monday, January 22, 2024
Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)
Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Informational Webinars: USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants: Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub
Join the Illinois Public Health Institute, one of the four cooperators for USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants, and the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub (Innovation Hub) for an informational webinar on their Request for Applications (RFA) for two grant opportunities. There are two webinar opportunities, each in English and Spanish.
Pre-Launch Informational Webinar
English: January 24, 2024 from 10 - 11:00 AM CST [Register]
Spanish: January 24, 2024 from 11 - 12:00 PM CST [Register]
The webinar provides an overview of the two grant opportunities and the RFA process including information on who is eligible to apply, application requirements, and evaluation and scoring criteria. The RFA will open to prospective grantees in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin on February 1, 2024 and close on April 30, 2024.
Release of Request for Applications for the Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs Cooperative Agreement
Today, USDA announced a Request for Applications for the Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs Cooperative Agreement on Grants.gov. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, USDA FNS will award $2 million in total grant funding to up to four (4) organizations to provide regionally focused training and technical assistance (TA) to school nutrition professionals on procurement, preparation, and crediting of traditional Indigenous foods, including the use of cooperator and FNS-developed resources and tools. The cooperators, with FNS guidance and approval, will also develop culturally relevant nutrition education materials for students to accompany the traditional Indigenous foods that are served, and the cooperators will train school nutrition professionals and other school staff on providing nutrition education to students.
The Lead Applicant entity must be led and staffed primarily by members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians, but may have partners that are not. Eligible entities include non-profit organizations; School Food Authorities that participate in National School Lunch Program; tribal government owned entities, arms, or instrumentalities; Native Hawaiian Organization as recognized by the Department of the Interior; and/or other non-governmental entities including Tribal Colleges & Universities. Applicants must demonstrate existing relationships, experience and expertise in training, TA, school nutrition, Indigenous foods, and nutrition education. Fiscal sponsorships of eligible entities are allowed.
Additional Information:
- Two informational webinars about the RFA are scheduled for February 8 (12:00 PM CST) and February 13, 2024 (2:00 PM CST). Register for the Webinar Here.
- USDA FNS requests that entities planning to submit applications provide a Letter of Intent by February 19, 2024.
- The deadline for submitting proposals is March 18, 2024.
Grant applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.
Other Updates and Information
2024 School Breakfast Champion Nominations Open!
Is there someone in your school who has worked tirelessly to ensure students start each day with a healthy meal? Then complete the Nomination Form to enter your School Breakfast Champion to be recognized across the state for the amazing work they do! Those selected and their nominators will each receive prize funds to recognize their contribution.
A champion is anyone who takes action to improve school meals programs and helps kids get the nutrition they need to fuel their learning. It can be from any part of the district or school — a student who facilitates a taste test, a principal who promotes the program, a superintendent who supports a new breakfast service model, a teacher who lends a hand, or a school nutrition staff member who goes above and beyond. We know it takes a village to ensure every student is ready to learn each morning.
Nominations will be accepted until February 16, 2024. Winners will be selected in time for National School Breakfast Week (March 4-8, 2024). Check out the Hunger Task Force Webpage for more information.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Jill K. Underly, PhD, State Superintendent
125 S Webster Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-3390 • (800) 441-4563