USDA-FNS-CN-EAG-FY26
🏛 Food and Nutrition Service
Can you apply?
This grant is for state agencies that administer the National School Lunch Program. Only the 54 US states and territories with active NSLP agreements with USDA are eligible to apply. In states with multiple NSLP administrative agencies, only the primary agency (serving the majority of schools) may apply.
State agencies use grant funds to administer competitive subgrants to local education agencies, school food authorities, and schools. Subgrants support equipment purchases over $1,000 that improve meal nutrition, food safety, and school breakfast programs.
Equipment must align with USDA nutrition standards and food service efficiency goals. Grant awards range from $25,000 to $2.3 million.
This grant is for state agencies that administer the National School Lunch Program. Only the 54 US states and territories with active NSLP agreements with USDA are eligible to apply. In states with multiple NSLP administrative agencies, only the primary agency (serving the majority of schools) may apply.
State agencies use grant funds to administer competitive subgrants to local education agencies, school food authorities, and schools. Subgrants support equipment purchases over $1,000 that improve meal nutrition, food safety, and school breakfast programs.
Equipment must align with USDA nutrition standards and food service efficiency goals. Grant awards range from $25,000 to $2.3 million.
Program description
Under the leadership of Secretary Brooke Rollins, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to strengthening strategies to encourage healthy choices, healthy outcomes, and healthy families. In support of this principle, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to announce the availability of $20 million to provide grants on a competitive basis to State agencies for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants, as authorized under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4), and the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-37).
The NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant provides funds to 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. The purpose of the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant is to help ensure that schools have the equipment they need to serve healthier meals, improve food safety, and to support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the School Breakfast Program (SBP).
Since 2010, the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants have been used to modernize school kitchens nationwide, address equipment disparities in underserved areas, and promote strategies that foster healthy choices for students. In previous years, the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants have been provided on a non-competitive basis through the FNS Regional Offices. This competitive Request for Applications (RFA) is a new process, and State agency applicants should review the RFA thoroughly to ensure full understanding of the updated requirements and procedures.
As part of the application to this grant, State agency applicants must develop and submit the RFA they will use to competitively award the subgrant. State agencies may consider any LEA, SFA, or school participating in NSLP as eligible to receive an NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant award (subgrant).
Selection criteria that State agencies are encouraged to 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 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.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for state agencies that administer the National School Lunch Program. Only the 54 US states and territories with active NSLP agreements with USDA are eligible to apply. In states with multiple NSLP administrative agencies, only the primary agency (serving the majority of schools) may apply.
State agencies use grant funds to administer competitive subgrants to local education agencies, school food authorities, and schools. Subgrants support equipment purchases over $1,000 that improve meal nutrition, food safety, and school breakfast programs.
Equipment must align with USDA nutrition standards and food service efficiency goals. Grant awards range from $25,000 to $2.3 million.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant RFA (state's subgrant process)
- Project narrative describing equipment priorities and allocation strategy
- School-level needs assessment or equipment gap analysis
- Proposed evaluation and performance metrics
- Budget and state funding allocation table
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
-
$5,819,473
-
$4,999,448
-
$4,977,636
-
$4,910,449
-
$4,191,301
-
$3,897,295
-
$3,548,245
Top States by Funding
- TX 9 awards $25.2M
- CA 7 awards $24.7M
- OK 4 awards $14.6M
- 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?
The primary state NSLP administrative agency in each of the 54 states and territories with NSLP agreements. Only one agency per state may apply.
What is the funding available?
$20 million total in competitive grants. Awards range from $25,000 to $2.3 million, depending on state allocation.
What can equipment funds be used for?
Equipment purchases over $1,000 that support healthier meals, improve food safety, or expand breakfast programs. Funds also cover state administration of competitive subgrants.
What is the application deadline?
May 28, 2026. This is a single fixed deadline with no rolling acceptance.
Do we need matching funds?
No. Cost sharing is not required to apply or be awarded.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Develop a clear, detailed subgrant RFA upfront. Your application must include the competitive process you'll use to award subgrants to schools.
- Prioritize underserved schools and districts lacking modern equipment. Target schools with greatest disparities and highest need.
- Emphasize nutrition improvements and breakfast program expansion. Connect equipment purchases to USDA nutrition standards and student meal quality.
- Gather data on current equipment gaps across your state. Use school audits and maintenance records to justify funding allocation to specific regions.
- Plan for sustainability beyond the grant period. Explain how schools will maintain equipment and continue meal improvements after federal funds end.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to submit your own RFA process for awarding subgrants to schools. USDA requires this as part of the state application. Not demonstrating how equipment purchases will improve student nutrition or meal quality. Awards go to states that show clear connection to USDA goals, not just equipment needs.
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