The Farm to School and Early Childhood Capacity Building Grant is designed to help schools and early childhood education (ECE) organizations develop and expand farm to school and farm to early childhood programs that will foster relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich students’ educational experiences, improve the health of Vermont children, and enhance Vermont’s agricultural economy.
Donor Name: Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets (VAAFM)
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/14/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Farm to school and early childhood is a broad term that refers to a variety of initiatives that help address issues related to nutrition, agriculture and community engagement. Each farm to school and early childhood program is unique. This grant is intended to help build programs that reflect the values and respond to the needs of the grantee organization.
The Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant provides a combination of financial support and technical assistance to help schools and early care providers develop robust farm to school programs that:
- Increase the use of local foods
- Help teachers, administrators, and staff promote healthy eating habits
- Strengthen connections between schools/early childhood education providers and the Vermont agricultural community
- Increase the number of Vermont children participating in child nutrition programs
- Advance a school’s Local Wellness Policy goals (applicable to K-12 only).
Funding Information
The total amount of funds available for this grant cycle is $150,000.
Grant Period
February 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible to apply for this grant:
- Vermont licensed early childhood education centers
- A group of three or more registered family childcare home (FCCH) providers (the group can include a mix of FCCH and center-based programs)
- Independent schools participating in any federal child nutrition programs
- Individual public schools
- Supervisory unions (SU) or educational districts on behalf of a public school or consortium of schools.
For more information, visit VAAFM.
