Program Purpose
The purpose of this grant is to help schools and early childhood education (ECE) organizations develop and expand farm to school and farm to early childhood programs that will foster relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich students' educational experiences, improve the health of Vermont children, and enhance Vermont's agricultural economy. This competitive grant program is offered annually.
In addition to financial support, grantees also receive technical assistance from the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network and partner organizations to help them implement comprehensive farm to school and farm to early childhood strategies using the “3-C” approach, which incorporates Classroom, Cafeteria, and the Community.
FY2025 grant applications are now closed. Applications will re-open in October 2025.
Eligibility
The following entities are eligible to apply for this grant:
- Vermont licensed early childhood education centers
- A group of three or more registered family childcare home (FCCH) providers (the group can include a mix of FCCH and center-based programs)
- Independent schools participating in any federal child nutrition programs
- Individual public schools
- Supervisory unions (SU) or educational districts on behalf of a public school or consortium of schools
How to Apply
- Read the Farm to School & Early Childhood Capacity Building Grant Request for Applications (RFA).
- Review the WebGrants Application Guide.
- Submit your application in WebGrants by November 14, 2024 at 1:59 PM.
Note: New WebGrants users must complete the WebGrants Registration Form to create an account. Registrations are typically processed within two business days. Please register for an account well in advance of the application deadline.
Informational Webinar
VAAFM hosted an informational applicant webinar for this grant opportunity on October 17, 2024. The webinar was recorded and posted below.
Grant Details
The Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant provides a combination of financial support and technical assistance to help schools and early care providers develop robust farm to school programs that:
- Increase the use of local foods
- Help teachers, administrators, and staff promote healthy eating habits
- Strengthen connections between schools/early childhood education providers and the Vermont agricultural community
- Increase the number of Vermont children participating in child nutrition programs
- Advance a school’s Local Wellness Policy goals (applicable to K-12 only)
Project Team
As part of the grant requirements, each grantee will establish a project team made up of diverse stakeholders within the organization or consortium. The project team is responsible for growing the Farm to School program within the school/provider community and meeting grant objectives and requirements. Examples of stakeholders include educators, administrators, food service staff, students, and community members. Engaging multiple stakeholders across an organization has proven to be the most effective method of building and embedding lasting programs.
Grant Coaching
Each grantee will be assigned a coach who will work with them throughout the duration of the grant. Coaches are experts from within the Vermont farm to school and farm to early childhood community. Coaches will participate in online or in-person project team meetings, conduct research and planning offline on behalf of the team, and share useful documents, tools, and communications materials over email.
Technical Assistance
The technical assistance component of the grant includes customizable trainings in four key areas of farm to school and early childhood: meal programs, local purchasing, curriculum, and school gardens. These services are provided at no cost to grantees.
Each of the four technical assistance offerings will be customized based on the needs and goals of individual grantees. Technical assistance trainings and consultations will be scheduled to meet the availability of the grantee and the relevant members of their project team. Participation in technical assistance activities by at least some of the project team members is a requirement of the grant.
Capacity Building Grant Technical Assistance Overview