The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has partnered with Action for Healthy Kids to implement the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. As part of this collaboration, Action for Healthy Kids is disbursing nearly $30 million in subgrants to 264 school districts across 44 states and the District of Columbia. This funding, provided by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, targets students in some of the highest-need schools in the nation.

“Students in every community deserve access to healthy and nutritious meals,” stated USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. “This initiative underlines the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication to ensuring healthier futures for our children.” The funding aims to assist small and rural school districts in modernizing their meal operations and enhancing meal quality, which is vital for student success both academically and beyond.

Each selected district will receive up to $150,000 for various improvements, such as innovative staff training, kitchen renovations, redesigning food preparation and service areas, and other locally-led initiatives.

USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Stacy Dean emphasized the significance of this funding: “These grants represent USDA’s largest targeted investment in school meal programs for small and rural communities. Our goal is to ensure every child in America has access to high-quality, nutritious school meals.”Rob Bisceglie, CEO of Action for Healthy Kids, highlighted the long-term benefits: “Healthier school meals are crucial for the immediate and future wellbeing of our nation’s children. This historic investment will empower districts to surmount challenges and provide nutritious meals.”

In addition to the grants, USDA and Action for Healthy Kids have opened applications for the Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards. This program honors districts that significantly improve their meal quality. The application deadline extends through June 30, 2025, with selected districts receiving benefits like national recognition and access to training resources.

Action for Healthy Kids, collaborating with The Chef Ann Foundation and Rocky Mountain Center for Health Promotion and Education, will oversee the grant management, Recognition Awards, and Healthy Meals Summits.
Furthermore, the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative includes the upcoming School Food System Transformation Challenge Grants. These grants, set to open for applications in late 2023 or early 2024, aim to foster innovation in school meals through enhanced collaboration among schools, food producers, suppliers, and other partners.