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Applications for the new Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant program are now open through May 7!
The Iowa Department of Education received $900,000 to support the enhancement and expansion of summer meal programs in currently underserved and eligible areas.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) two reimbursable summer meal programs, Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO), ensure Iowa children ages 18 and under have access to healthy meals and snacks during the summer break. The expansion grant opportunity will allow additional summer meal sites to serve children in underserved areas across the state for both programs.
The Expansion Grant funding will serve as an additional revenue source for summer meal programs beyond the federal meal reimbursement, and can be used for allowable expenses, including but not limited to: enhancing meal quality, incorporating more locally grown foods, updating program equipment, conducting program outreach, and operational or administrative personnel expenses not fully covered through meal reimbursement.
Possible new meal site locations include schools, community buildings, libraries, apartment complexes, parks, swimming pools, splash pads, churches and other public sites where children gather. Non-congregate distribution may also be an option for State agency approved sponsors in rural areas unserved by a congregate meal service.
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Applications for the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant must be submitted to IowaGrants no later than May 7. The application and full details about this grant can be found on IowaGrants.gov.
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IowaGrants.gov provides an all-inclusive grant identification portal and a comprehensive enterprise-wide grant management system. It encompasses the entire life cycle of the grant including, application, selection, award/contracting, monitoring, communications, modification, reporting, close-out, and financial management processes.
IowaGrants has instruction guides and instructional videos available for users.
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