FY27 MA Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health with Coordination and Optimization of Resources and Partnerships (MA FRESH CORP) Grant

FY27 MA Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health with Coordination and Optimization of Resources and Partnerships (MA FRESH CORP) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: March 13, 2026

Summary

Overview

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provides leadership, oversight, funding, support, and accountability for the Commonwealth's approximately 400 school districts that educate close to 1 million public school children each year. We also oversees programs that serve 20,000 adult learners each year. MA Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health with Coordination and Optimization of Resources and Partnerships (MA FRESH CORP) Purpose The purpose of this state-funded targeted grant program is to support MA FRESH CORP affiliates to ensure local food system activities - including local food system education and local procurement in Child Nutrition Programs - are strategically integrated into the classroom, cafeteria and community through investment in internal personnel or contracted partnerships that support institutionalized programs that promote food literacy. Grant funds will support further off-boarding technical assistance and guidance to support the retention of internal personnel and food system education workplans past the grant period. Fund Use MA FRESH CORP is designed to ensure local food system activities — including local food system education and local procurement in Child Nutrition Programs — are strategically integrated into the classroom, cafeteria and community through investment in internal personnel or contracted partnerships that support institutionalized programs. This funding seeks to support the retention of internal personnel and food system education workplans as awardees work to transition their programming model to other sustainable funding models. Funding will be prioritized for the budget areas described below. Applicants may apply for up to 50% of the total funding expended for FY26 Massachusetts Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health Coordination and Optimization of Resources and PartnershipsMA FRESH CORP in the following budget categories. Total funding requests may not exceed $50,000. Professional Salaries: For the coordination and implementation of local food system education and/or local procurement by full-time, salaried and benefited positions, part-time positions, or for the expansion of hours/stipending of internal personnel - such as nutrition professionals, educators, or community/family stakeholders.Contracted Services: To provide technical assistance, coaching, professional development, the development of resources such as program protocols or curriculum and/or strategic planning consultation. The hiring of a contracted partner should be in service of cultivating program structures that elevate internal staff capacity and should not be used primarily to support the direct execution of direct farm to school programming by the contracted partner.Professional Development Expenses (Other Expenses): To attend farm to school, food literacy, agricultural or culinary oriented workshops, trainings, or conferences. Associated costs may include registration fees, travel fees, mileage, compensation/stipends for out-of-work time, or the cost of substitutes required to provide coverage for personnel attending professional development opportunities. Equipment, supply, and infrastructure costs capped at 10% of the total budget request are allowable but will be contingent on budget availability once priority budget areas described above are funded for eligible applicants. MA FRESH CORP awardees will be required to: participate in periodic grant meetings, professional development opportunities and technical assistance track local spending (dollar value) within Child Nutrition Programs during the grant period complete a funding succession plan

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. MA FRESH CORP eligible applicants include National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and Child Adult Food Care Program (CACFP) sponsors that are MA FRESH CORP affiliates with current full-time, part-time, or stipended farm to school personnel and/or a contracted partner(s) that elevates internal staff capacity to implement food literacy initiatives. The impact of grant activities must be associated with the location where National School Lunch ProgramNSLP/Child and Adult Care Food ProgramCACFP meals are served. Eligibility to receive MA FRESH funds is contingent on the applicant's good standing within the Office for Food and Nutrition Programs, including former responsible stewardship of Office for Food and Nutrition Programs grant funding.

Ineligibility

Funding is not intended to fund additional, new personnel or project initiatives not previously planned or part of a transition of MA FRESH CORP programming to a sustainable model. Funding may not be used to cover (a) clerical or administrative costs associated with managing and executing the grant itself, (b) costs associated with the supervision of professional salaries resulting from MA FRESH CORP funding, (c) clerical or administrative costs associated with conducting a procurement or managing a contracted partner or (d) indirect costs. Grant awards may not be used to fund staff positions, including Farm to School or Food Literacy Coordinators, in existence prior to MA FRESH CORP funding. Funds cannot be used to purchase food served as part of a reimbursable meal in Child Nutrition Programs or sold as a competitive food and beverage or fundraiser.