Harvest to Hallways: National School Lunch Program, Equipment Assistance Grants
🏛 Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS1)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 29, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for U.S. state agencies that administer the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The 54 state agencies with USDA Food and Nutrition Administration agreements are eligible.
In states with multiple NSLP administering agencies, only the primary agency (serving the majority of school food authorities) may apply.
State agencies receive grants to administer competitive subgrants to local education agencies (LEAs), school food authorities (SFAs), and schools. Subgrants support purchasing food service equipment valued over $1,000.
Equipment priorities include cold storage, stoves, and other items that enable serving whole foods, fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy.
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Program description
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Under the leadership of Secretary Brooke Rollins, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to a new school meals policy plan aligning the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030— providing real food, in every cafeteria. In support of this principle, the USDA Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) is pleased to announce the availability of $50 million to provide grants on a non-competitive basis to State agencies for the Harvest to Hallways National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants. Investing in cafeteria upgrades, including cold storage, stoves, and other equipment, will help schools serve healthier meals and expanded offerings.
State agency applicants should review this NOFA thoroughly to ensure full understanding of all application requirements and procedures.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the Harvest to Hallways NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant opportunity is to help ensure that schools have the equipment they need to serve more whole, nutrient-dense foods including protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy. These grants will support getting more real and local foods in school meals. For more than a decade, the FNA has provided NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants to State agencies to help modernize school kitchens across the country — supporting the delivery of much‑needed equipment to underserved and rural communities while advancing strategies that give students greater access to healthy, nourishing choices.
Funding for these grants is being made available under section §1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (P.L. 117-2). The fiscal year (FY) 2027 Harvest to Hallways NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants strengthen a critical link in the national food and agricultural supply chain by modernizing the capacity of school meal programs to handle, prepare, and serve nutritious, whole foods sourced from U.S. agriculture. Schools represent one of the largest and most consistent institutional food service channels in the country, and their ability to safely store, process, and cook a wide range of domestic agricultural products directly affects the stability and reach of that supply chain. By investing in durable, up‑to‑date equipment, these grants reduce operational vulnerabilities, improve throughput, and ensure schools can continue delivering high‑quality meals even during periods of disruption. As a result, the program enhances downstream resilience, supports reliable demand for American agricultural goods, and reinforces a more distributed, adaptable, and dependable food system—fulfilling the ARPA directive to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.
The objective of the FY 2027 Harvest to Hallways NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant opportunity is for NSLP State agencies to administer competitive subgrants to eligible local education agencies (LEAs), school food authorities (SFAs), and schools for the purchase of equipment valued at greater than $1,000. State agencies may consider any SFA, LEA, and school that operates NSLP as eligible to receive a grant award.
Selection criteria that State agencies should consider when awarding the subgrants, may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Opportunities to improve the nutrition and quality of meals, including supporting the implementation of updated nutrition requirements for school meals.
- Age or lack of appropriate food service equipment.
- Ability of food service equipment to increase the efficiency of SFA procurement, food storage, and distribution/service.
- The availability of existing State and local funding for equipment purchases.
- Strategies for adopting cafeteria changes that provide more convenience and appeal to the student.
Equipment purchased under the subgrant must directly support cafeteria improvements—such as upgrades to cold storage, cooking equipment, and other food service tools—to help schools serve healthier meals and expand their meal offerings. These grants must strengthen the school food service’s ability to prepare and present a wider range of whole, nutrient‑dense foods, including protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy.
A State agency may use up to five percent of its grant award for State-level administrative costs associated with awarding grants to eligible subgrantees. Administrative costs include direct costs within the budget such as personnel, supplies, and travel associated with managing the grant.
FUNDING LEVELS
As noted above, a total of $50 million is available for the 54 State agencies that administer NSLP to support their subgrant process. FNA will distribute $50 million in non-competitive grant funds proportionally, based on the FY 2026 Child Nutrition State Administrative Expense allocation formula. Please see Appendix A for each State’s maximum allocation amount. States may apply for grant funds up to, but not exceeding, the amount shown in the funding chart included with this announcement.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NOFA and Program Guidance
- State agency competitive subgrant application process/criteria
- State funding allocation information (Appendix A)
- Proposed equipment list and school recipients
- Budget and timeline for distribution
Program contact
- 👤 Carla Y Garcia Grant Officer
- 📧 carla.garcia@fns.usda.gov
- 📞 703-305-2760
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.579 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$10,573,829
-
$9,140,773
-
$6,220,702
-
$6,151,813
-
$5,819,473
-
$5,159,656
-
$4,999,448
-
$4,977,636
-
$4,910,449
-
$4,191,301
Top States by Funding
- TX 10 awards $30.3M
- CA 7 awards $24.4M
- OK 5 awards $20.7M
- FL 7 awards $10.4M
- MS 2 awards $10.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.579). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $21,409,314 | |
| 2026 est. | $20,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only the 54 state agencies with active NSLP administration agreements with USDA. In states with multiple agencies, only the primary one (serving the most school food authorities) qualifies.
What are the funds used for?
State agencies distribute competitive subgrants to schools and school districts for food service equipment purchases over $1,000. Equipment supports serving healthier, whole foods.
When is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is January 11, 2027.
How much funding is available?
Total pool is $50 million. Individual awards range from $1 to $6.2 million depending on state allocation.
Do I need to provide matching funds?
No. This is a non-competitive grant with no cost-sharing requirement.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review your state's allocation in Appendix A of the NOFA before starting. Awards are distributed by formula.
- Develop a clear competitive subgrant process for LEAs and SFAs. Document your selection criteria aligned with nutrition and equipment needs.
- Prioritize schools in underserved and rural areas. The program emphasizes reaching communities with limited food service capacity.
- Focus on equipment that supports whole, nutrient-dense foods. Examples: commercial refrigeration, ovens, food prep stations.
- Coordinate with school nutrition directors early. Understand their equipment gaps and project sustainability plans.
⚠️ Common mistakes
State agencies fail to establish clear, transparent competitive subgrant processes and miss application deadlines. Applications lack focus on serving underserved/rural schools or don't demonstrate connection to nutrition improvements. Proposed equipment projects don't align with ARPA's food supply chain resilience goals or lack sustainability plans.
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