October 4, 2022 | Montpelier, VT - October is National Farm to School Month! Schools and early childhood providers can celebrate by applying for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets’ Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant. This grant provides financial and technical assistance to schools and early childhood education providers to help develop or grow their farm to school and early childhood programs.
The Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant application deadline is November 3, 2022.
Eligible applicants are Vermont registered or licensed early childhood education providers, consortiums of early care providers, independent schools participating in any federal child nutrition programs, individual public schools, and supervisory unions (SU) or educational districts applying on behalf of a public school or consortium of schools. Awards will range from $5,000–$20,000 based on the total student/child population of all organizations involved in the application.
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is more excited than ever to announce this year’s Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant opportunity. In a huge win for farm to school and early childhood, the Governor and legislature authorized an increase of over $300,000 in the program’s budget in the most recent legislative session. This means financial and technical assistance will be available to help even more schools, early childhood education providers, and non-profits develop and enhance farm to school and farm to early childhood programs throughout the state.
“We are grateful for the increased support for farm to school and early childhood in Vermont” said Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts. “This additional investment will increase equitable access to healthy and nutritious food and strengthen markets for local food. The Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood program helps us protect the most vulnerable and grow the Vermont economy.”
The Rozo McLaughlin Farm to School Act of 2006 (6 V.S.A. § 4721) established the Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant program in 2006. The program has helped grow farm to school and farm to early childhood into a thriving movement throughout the state. In the fifteen-year history of the program, thousands of children, teachers, students, and farmers have benefited, and Vermont has established itself as a national leader in farm to school.
Apply for a Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant today! Please reach out to program manager Gina Clithero, gina.clithero@vermont.gov or 802-585-6225, with any questions.
For more information, please visit: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/grants/childnutrition.