Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant
Description:
The Iowa Department of Education received $900,000 for the Expansion of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF). Funds will support the enhancement and expansion of summer Child Nutrition Programs in currently underserved and eligible areas.
The SFSP and SSO are federal Child Nutrition Programs that provide nutritious meals and snacks to children and teens. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reimburses program operators for serving healthy, no-cost meals in low income communities during the summer months. School Food Authorities (SFA) may participate in either SFSP or SSO while private non-profit organizations, community and faith based organizations, colleges or universities and local government agencies may participate in the SFSP.
The Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant promotes new summer meal sites in eligible areas that are currently underserved by the SFSP and SSO summer meal programs. The funding will serve as an additional revenue source for summer meal programs beyond the federal meal reimbursement and can be used for allowable expenses including but not limited to: enhancing meal quality, incorporating more locally grown foods, updating program equipment, conducting program outreach, and operational or administrative personnel expenses not fully covered through meal reimbursement such as staff and non-food supplies.
Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant applications must be submitted in IowaGrants . IowaGrants provides an all-inclusive grant identification portal and a comprehensive enterprise-wide grant management system. It encompasses the entire life cycle of the grant including, application, selection, award/contracting, monitoring, communications, modification, reporting, close-out, and financial management processes.
IowaGrants has instruction guides and instructional videos available for users.
Applications are due on May 7, 2024.
Eligible Applicants:
The SFSP and SSO programs use local sponsors and partner organizations to manage summer meal services. Sponsors and eligible applicants for this grant include:
Public or nonpublic schools Public or private nonprofit colleges/universities Private nonprofit organizations Local, county, municipal, state, or federal agencies
Applicant Criteria:
Qualified applicants must be currently participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) if operating as a school sponsor. Nonprofit, non-school sponsors may apply in eligible areas not served by school sponsors. The grant intends to use the same sponsor eligibility criteria as USDA’s criteria for SFSP and SSO sponsors. The State agency will use the same priority system for approving applicants to operate sites that propose to serve the same area or the same enrolled children that is required for SFSP and SSO for this funding opportunity:
Public or nonprofit private School Food Authorities Public agencies and private nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated successful program performance in a prior year New public agencies New private nonprofit organizations If two or more sponsors that qualify under paragraph (b)(5)(ii) of 7 CFR 225.6(b)(5) apply to serve the same area, the State agency must determine on a case-by-case basis which sponsor or sponsors it will select to serve the needy children in the area. The State agency should consider the resources and capabilities of each applicant.
To qualify as a site, the meal service must be located in a low income neighborhood where at least 50 percent of the children are eligible for free and reduced price meals. Eligibility is determined by either census data or school data. Use the USDA’s Area Eligibilty Mapper to find census data eligible areas. Priority will be given to:
Open meal sites, however, applications for closed enrolled sites will be considered. See the “Award Amount” section for additional detail. Closed enrolled meal sites are eligible to apply. SFSP or SSO Sponsors that did not operate in 2023. Current SFSP and SSO Sponsors are eligible to apply. Counties with two or fewer meal sites. See the SFSP and SSO Open Sites in Iowa Counties form. Qualifying SFSP or SSO Sponsors that will open a site in an eligible area not currently served by other SFSP or SSO Sponsors. See the 2023 SFSP and SSO Site Locations .
Qualifying SFSP or SSO Sponsors that operated in 2023 and will open a site in an eligible area not currently served by SFSP or SSO Sponsors are also eligible to apply. See the 2023 SFSP and SSO Site Locations . Organizations that have never previously participated as a SFSP sponsor must submit all pre-approval documents as listed in the SFSP Initiation Instructions handout to the Department no later than May 1. Applicants must operate the new, approved meal site(s) a minimum of four weeks in the months of June, July and/or August when school is not in session. Applicants must identify a promotion plan to communicate the summer meals schedule with area food banks, pantries, or other community partners addressing food insecurity to coordinate seamless access to healthy meals throughout the summer months. Community partner organizations can strengthen the sustainability of summer meal programs. Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with community partners. This could include, but is not limited to a local food bank, library, volunteer groups, or civic organizations. Community partner organizations could strengthen your program in a number of ways, for example, providing a letter of support, helping with promotion of your program, providing an activity for the children at the meal site, providing weekend backpacks or food for supper, providing produce boxes, assisting with meal distribution, or others.
Meal Site Types in Eligible Areas:
This funding opportunity will use the following definitions for meal site types to align with the USDA SFSP and SSO definitions:
Open - sites that serve all children 18 and under. To be eligible the site must be located within an area where at least 50 percent or more of the children are certified eligible for free or reduced price meals based on school or census data. Closed Enrolled - sites that serve only an identified group of children, such as the students enrolled in a summer enrichment program. At least 50 percent or more of the children enrolled at the site must be approved for free or reduced price meals or the site is located in an area eligible region based on school or census data.
Possible Meal Site Locations :
Schools, community buildings, libraries, apartment complexes, parks, swimming pools, splash pads, churches and other public sites where children gather. Non-congregate distribution may also be an option for approved sponsors in rural areas underserved by a congregate meal service.
Grant Scoring Criteria
Scoring Criteria Category Maximum Points
Establishing sites in counties with two or less open sites in 2023
40
Distance from the nearest operating site in 2023
25
Operating weeks
10
Implementation plan (promotion and collaboration)
10
Review of budget narrative
10
Meal quality
5
Total 100
Grantee Expectations:
Awarded grantees will have training and technical assistance provided by the State agency. If awarded funding through this opportunity, grantees must meet federal requirements for the SFSP or SSO and additional requirements listed below, including but not limited to the following:
Organizations that have never previously administered the SFSP must work directly with the Department to complete the pre-approval documents noted in the SFSP Initiation Instructions . Complete an annual application for approval in IowaCNP by May 1, 2024. An application deadline extension can be requested up to the federal deadline of June 15. Please note that IowaCNP applications must be fully approved prior to the first day of Program operations. Provide meals following the established meal patterns for the SFSP or SSO and maintain documentation of menu plans. Grantees must operate the new, approved meal site(s) a minimum of four weeks in the months of June, July and/or August when school is not in session. Keep daily meal count records. The meal count tally or point of service system collection must be taken during the meal service. For closed enrolled, non-needy sites, maintain records of enrolled child participation. Claims for reimbursement for this grant opportunity will be entered into the IowaGrants system. Awardees must continue to submit monthly claims for federal reimbursement within 60 calendar days of the claim month in IowaCNP. Participate in training and webinars provided by the Department. Training webinars are often recorded, and if made available, viewing a recording at a later date would meet the requirements for participation. Conduct sponsor level site monitoring, as required.
Sponsors must conduct pre-operational visits for new sites, sites that experienced operational problems the previous year and existing sites that are new to providing a non-congregate meal service. Sponsors must complete a site visit in the first two weeks of operation for new sites, existing sites that are new to providing a non-congregate meal service and sites with operational problems in the prior year. Sponsors must conduct a full site review of food service operations at each site at least once during the first four weeks of Program operations.
Participate in sponsor and site visits conducted by the Department. For this funding opportunity, expense records and program documents must be saved for a minimum of five years plus the current year. Charge for adult meals. Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant funding will serve as an additional revenue source beyond the federal meal reimbursement. These funding streams must be coded separately (code will be provided). Submit monthly invoices in IowaGrants that have been coded to the grant award. Public schools will use a code provided by the Department. Nonpublic schools and other nonprofit organizations will use a unique code to identify their grant’s funding stream. Invoices will contain actual expenses from the approved grant budget and are submitted to the Department via IowaGrants claims. Grantees will be reimbursed for approved expenses based on invoices provided. This is in addition to the monthly claims for meal reimbursement that must be submitted in IowaCNP. Submit quarterly reports and a final report that describes the meal quality, the impact that the new site made on the community including the number of meals served, community engagement and partnerships developed, communication methods with community partners that addressed food insecurity to coordinate seamless access to healthy meals, success stories, challenges encountered and best practices discovered. In addition to the above, reports must also include:
Number of new meal sites created. A new site means an open congregate site, closed enrolled congregate site or non-congregate site which did not participate in the Program in the prior year. Number of meals and snacks served per month (from the monthly claim). Number of meals and snacks served per month at the new sites (from the monthly claim). Number of households served, if known. This applies to closed-enrolled sites and potentially non-congregate sites that use a registration list.
Quarterly report deadlines:
July 15, will use data through June 30 October 15, will use data through September 30 January 15, will use data through December 31 April 15, will use data through March 31
Final report deadline: October 15, 2026
Project End Date: 08/31/2026
Award Amount:
The number of awards may vary depending on the number of applicants in each category. If not all funds are awarded, the funding may be reallocated and awarded to the next highest scoring applicant(s) or to awardees adding qualifying sites. The State agency reserves the right to offer multiple rounds of this funding, as funding allows. The funding per site may be utilized for allowable costs as determined by the program sponsor and not necessarily at the added site.
Sponsor and Site Type Estimated Award Amount
Eligible Sponsors that did not operate the SFSP or SSO in 2023 and added one new open site in an eligible, underserved area. $10,000 for the first new, open site and $5,000 for each additional site with an estimated maximum of four new sites per Sponsor depending on availability of funding.
Eligible Sponsors that did not operate the SFSP or SSO in 2023 and added one new closed enrolled site in an eligible, underserved area. $2,500 per new, closed enrolled sites with an estimated maximum of two new sites per Sponsor depending on availability of funding.
Sponsors who participated in SFSP or SSO in 2023 and added a new open meal site in an eligible, underserved area. $10,000 for the first new, open site and $5,000 for each additional site with an estimated maximum of three new sites per Sponsor depending on availability of funding.
Budget:
The grant application will include the expense items and amounts the sponsoring organization plans to use for their summer program operation. The grant funding will serve as an additional revenue source for SFSP or SSO, beyond the federal meal reimbursement. Therefore, projected expenses must be different from the items and services that are paid for with SFSP or SSO federal meal reimbursement funds. Invoices for items purchased using grant funds must be coded to the grant using the grant’s revenue code. Public schools will be provided a revenue code by the Department, if awarded. Nonpublic schools and other nonprofit organizations will use a unique code to identify their grant’s funding stream.
Examples of allowable costs include:
Food items needed for enhanced meal quality including locally grown or locally raised foods Program equipment, supplies and smallwares. See the Pre-Approved Equipment List for more information on allowable equipment. Program outreach or promotional materials Operational or administrative expenses not fully covered through federal reimbursement such as staff labor Professional development and training resources Point of service software Hot or cold insulated food carrier for transporting food Staff retention payments. A local sponsor policy must be available to support this expense. Rental vehicles Transportation costs
Gas or mileage reimbursement up to $0.50 per mile
Questions :
Questions regarding the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant must be entered into IowaGrants in the Questions tab by April 16, 2024. Answers to questions will be posted around April 23, 2024.
Civil Rights:
Refer to the attached document Assurance of Compliance with Civil Rights Requirements.
The sub-grantee, contractor, subcontractor, successor, transferee, and assignee shall comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from excluding from a program or activity, denying benefits of, or otherwise discriminating against a person on the basis of race, color, or national origin (42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.), as implemented by the Department of the Treasury’s Title VI regulations, 31 CFR Part 22, which are herein incorporated by reference and made a part of this contract (or agreement). Title VI also includes protection to persons with “Limited English Proficiency” in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., as implemented by the Department of the Treasury’s Title VI regulations, 31 CFR Part 22, and herein incorporated by reference and made a part of this contract or agreement.
