The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant Program, hereafter referred to as CTG4CTK Grant, provides funds to Connecticut local or regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, cooperative arrangements child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes, or any organization or entity administering or assisting in the development of a farm-to-school program.
Donor Name: Connecticut Department of Agriculture
State: Connecticut
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/14/2023
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The CTG4CTK Grant shall, “assist schools, school districts, childcare centers and homes, and organizations to develop farm-to-school programs that will increase the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections, sustain relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich the educational experience of students, improve the health of children in the state and enhance the state’s economy.”
These funds are intended to provide a combination of resources to build capacity for long-term Farm to School Programs in schools, school districts, childcare centers and homes
Tracks
The one-time Shipping Container Growing grant program has a funding cap of $250,000 and a 24-month timeline to complete.
- Track 1: Farm to School (K-12) Local Procurement Assistance Grant
- Track 2: Farm to School (K-12) Experiential Learning Grant
- Track 3: Producer Capacity Building Grant
- Track 4: Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Grant
- Track 5: Shipping Container Growing Grant
Priorities
- To fund applicants located in alliance districts, as defined in section 10-262u of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or who are providers of school readiness programs, as defined in section 10-16p of the general statutes
- To fund applicants who demonstrate a broad commitment from school administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, and community stakeholders.
- In the grant narrative, applicants are requested to describe both the support that they have for the project and detail how input was gathered to formulate the idea
Funding Information
- DoAg has approximately $900,000 in funds to award for CT Grown for CT Kids Grant projects in 2024.
- An additional $2 million dedicated to Shipping Container Growing Grants is available for projects connected to Farm to School.
- The maximum amount awarded to any applicant through the CTG4CTK Grant shall not exceed $50,000.
- The maximum amount awarded through the one-time Shipping Container Growing Grant shall not exceed $250,000.
Project Duration
- CTG4CTK Grant projects must be completed within 18 months of contract execution.
- Shipping Container Grant projects must be completed within 24 months of contract execution.
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible to apply:
- Local or regional board of education
- Regional educational service centers
- A cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a of the general statutes
- Childcare centers, group childcare homes and family childcare homes as such terms are described in section 19a-77 of the general statutes
- Any organization or entity, including CT farmers, administering or assisting in the development of a farm-to-school program
For more information, visit Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
