USDA Provides Additional Funding for School Nutrition Programs

On June 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will provide nearly $943 million in additional funding to schools to help address the significant challenges child nutrition programs continue to face, such as high food costs and supply chain disruptions. The funding will be made available for the purchase of American-grown foods for their meal programs. 

The $943 million boost from the department is provided through USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation. Funds will be distributed by state agencies to schools across the country, so they can purchase domestically-grown foods for their meal programs. This assistance builds on the $1 billion in Supply Chain Assistance funds USDA previously allocated in December 2021, which states can use this school year as well as next to provide schools with funding for commodity purchases.   

Like the Supply Chain Assistance Funds, states will allocate funds based on enrollment but must set a base amount to ensure small districts aren't left out of the program.