Over 60 schools and child care centers to receive funding

ST. PAUL, MN - Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced nearly $1 million in grants through the Farm to School and Early Care Grants program to increase access to Minnesota-grown foods. The grants are administered through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

“Thanks to our free school meals program, more students than ever are eating breakfast and lunch at school. Now we’re making sure those meals are healthy and made with Minnesota-grown food,” said Governor Tim Walz. “These grants are a win-win.”

“Here in Minnesota, school breakfast and lunch aren’t just free, they are also healthy and nutrient packed,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “Through the Farm to School program, we are making it easier for schools to provide meals with Minnesota-grown and-raised ingredients which fuel our students for success.”

A total of 48 school districts and 14 early childhood education (ECE) centers around the state received funding this year. This was the first year that early care centers were eligible to apply for this grant program. These grants will increase youth access to Minnesota-grown food and expand market opportunities for Minnesota producers.

“The MDA thanks these schools and ECE centers for their efforts to offer more locally sourced menu items to their students, helping create connections to our state’s food systems while supporting Minnesota’s farmers and agricultural economy,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen.

Recipient were awarded one of two Farm to School and Early Care Grants:

• First Bite Grant : For school districts and ECE centers new to local purchasing and looking to start small.
• Full Tray Grant : For school districts and ECE centers with some Farm to School procurement experience and looking to take on larger projects.

These grant awards range in size from $2,500 to $30,000 and will support $724,000 in local food purchases by schools and ECE centers. Applicants were also able to apply for additional funding to purchase equipment to support their Farm to School initiatives. A total of $214,555 was awarded for equipment. A full list of recipients and award amounts can be found below.

Funding for this program is available through the MDA’s Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) program , which administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout the state of Minnesota. The AGRI Program exists to advance Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.

Farm to School Grant Recipients:

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
St. Paul
First Bite Grant: $5,000
Equipment Award: $7,050

BOLD FFA
Olivia
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Crosslake Community School
Crosslake
Full Tray Grant: $3,393

Dei Spring Academy & Childcare Center
Cold Spring
First Bite Grant: $3,350

First Evangelical Lutheran School
Glencoe
Full Tray Grant: $2,500

Fond du Lac Reservation
Cloquet
Full Tray Grant: $4,893

Glacial Hills Elementary School
Starbuck
Full Tray Grant: $2,914.80

Henning Public Schools
Henning
First Bite Grant: $5,000

Heritage ESTEM Magnet School
Mendota Heights
First Bite Grant: $5,000

Holy Trinity Catholic School
Pierz
Full Tray Grant: $2,803.20

Holy Trinity Catholic School
South St. Paul
Full Tray Grant: $2,500
Equipment Award: $1,706.28

ISD 0002, Hill City Public Schools
Hill City
Full Tray Grant: $5,622

ISD 0023, Frazee-Vergas Public Schools
Frazee
Full Tray Grant: $5,000

ISD 0196, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District
Eagan
Full Tray Grant: $30,000
Equipment Award: $25,000

ISD 0206, Alexandria School District
Glenwood
Full Tray Grant: $27,700
Equipment Award: $20,011

ISD 0252, Cannon Falls Public Schools
Cannon Falls
Full Tray Grant: $14,000
Equipment Award: $16,500

ISD 0270, Hopkins Public Schools
Hopkins
Full Tray Grant: $30,000

ISD 0281, Robbinsdale Public Schools
New Hope
Full Tray Grant: $30,000
Equipment Award: $24,800.50

ISD 0282, St. Anthony-New Brighton Public Schools
Roseville
Full Tray Grant: $25,552

ISD 0284, Wayzata Public Schools
Plymouth
Full Tray Grant: $30,000

ISD 0423, Hutchinson Public Schools
Hutchinson
Full Tray Grant: $30,000
Equipment Award: $15,000

ISD 0465, Litchfield Public Schools
Litchfield
Full Tray Grant: $29,448
Equipment Award: $15,000

ISD 0466, Dassel-Cokato Public Schools
Cokato
Full Tray Grant: $30,000
Equipment Award: $15,000

ISD 0623, Roseville Public Schools
Roseville
Full Tray Grant: $30,000

ISD 0659, Northfield Public Schools
Northfield
Full Tray Grant: $15,000
Equipment Award: $25,000

ISD 0719, Prior Lake Public Schools
Prior Lake
Full Tray Grant: $30,000

ISD 0726, Becker Public Schools
Becker
Full Tray Grant: $3,500

ISD 0738, Holdingford Public Schools
Holdingford
Full Tray Grant: $14,720

ISD 0742, St. Cloud School District
Waite Park
Full Tray Grant: $30,000

ISD 0858, St. Charles Public Schools
St. Charles
Full Tray Grant: $18,226.80

ISD 0861, Winona Area Public Schools
Winona
Full Tray Grant: $12,500

ISD 2134, United South-Central Public Schools
Wells
Full Tray Grant: $15,000

ISD 2164, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Schools
Dilworth
Full Tray Grant: $13,195

ISD 2165, Hinckley-Finlayson Public Schools
Hinckley
Full Tray Grant: $10,000

ISD 2168, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Public Schools
New Richland
Full Tray Grant: $20,020.80
Equipment Award: $1,984

ISD 2711, Mesabi East Schools
Aurora
Full Tray Grant: $15,150
Equipment Award: $12,038.16

ISD 2769, Morris Area Schools
Morris
Full Tray Grant: $8,600
Equipment Award: $1,644

ISD 2904, Tracy Area Schools
Tracy
Full Tray Grant: $10,400
Equipment Award: $21,990

Kato Public Charter School
Mankato
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Kid Zone Early Learning Center
Hopkins
Full Tray Grant: $6,259
Equipment Award: $851.50

Listos Preschool and Childcare
Rochester
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Little B's Learning Center
Barnum
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Little Cubs Hangout & Bertha-Hewitt Hangout
Bertha
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Metro Learning Center Inc.
Minneapolis
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Minneapolis Public Schools
Minneapolis
Full Tray Grant: $30,000

Murray County Central Schools
Slayton
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Minnesota Valley Action Council (Mankato Head Start)
Mankato
First Bite Grant: $5,000

Minnesota Valley Action Council (St. Peter Head Start)
Mankato
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Minnesota Valley Action Council (Waseca Head Start)
Mankato
First Bite Grant: $3,500

New Ulm Area Catholic Schools
New Ulm
Full Tray Grant: $6,444

Nisse Treehouse LLC
Mabel
Full Tray Grant: $2,500

Northwest MN Juvenile Center
Bemidji
Full Tray Grant: $3,625
Equipment Award: $668.50

Parkers Prairie School District
Parkers Prairie
First Bite Grant: $5,000
Equipment Award: $10,310.81

Reach-Up Inc.
St. Cloud
First Bite Grant: $5,000

Riverway Learning Community
Winona
Full Tray Grant: $2,700

Rothsay Public School
Rothsay
First Bite Grant: $5,000

St. Croix Preparatory Academy
Stillwater
Full Tray Grant: $12,914.40

St. Mary's Catholic School
Sleepy Eye
First Bite Grant: $5,000

St. Paul Public Schools
St. Paul
Full Tray Grant: $30,000

Stare Academy
Baxter
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Step By Step Montessori
Brooklyn Park
First Bite Grant: $2,500

Westwood Early Childhood Center
St. Louis Park
First Bite Grant: $5,000