Best Food Safety Grants in Vermont

Vermont Agency of Education

The Agency of Education implements state and federal laws, policies, and regulations to ensure all Vermont learners have equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities. The Agency accomplishes this mission through the provision of its leadership, support, and oversight of Vermont’s public education system.

Local Foods Incentive Grant — Subsequent Year Grant

After the Baseline Year, SFAs may apply annually for Subsequent Year grants. SFAs are required to achieve a locally produced foods percentage of at least 15% in order to receive a grant award. The locally produced foods percentage is calculated by taking the total cost of foods qualifying as local and dividing that by your total food costs. If a SFA applies for a Subsequent Year grant one year, or chooses to skip a year, the SFA is still eligible to apply for a Subsequent Year grant in following years. After the SFA receives a Baseline Year grant, the SFA may choose to apply for a Subsequent Year grant in any following year.  

• There are three grant award tiers which are based for Subsequent Year grants:
  • 15% locally produced foods = $0.15 per lunch grant award
  • 20% locally produced foods = $0.20 per lunch grant award
  • 25% locally produced foods = $0.25 per lunch grant award 

Vermont Agency of Education

The Agency of Education implements state and federal laws, policies, and regulations to ensure all Vermont learners have equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities. The Agency accomplishes this mission through the provision of its leadership, support, and oversight of Vermont’s public education system.

Local Foods Incentive Grant — Baseline Year Grant

This Local Foods Incentive Grant was created by the Vermont Legislature in Act 67 and signed by Governor Scott on June 8, 2021. Section 4 of Act 64 expanded eligibility for the Local Foods Incentive. There is $500,000 per year appropriated to the Local Foods Incentive. Supervisory Unions (SUs), School Districts (SDs), and approved independent schools that qualify for the universal meals supplement are eligible to participate in the Local Foods Incentive. Independent schools that are not eligible for the universal meals supplement are not eligible for this grant. 

The first year a School Food Authority (SFA) applies for the Local Foods Incentive is considered the Baseline Year, in which there are four grant requirements. Achieving a specific local purchasing threshold is not required for the Baseline Year grant. SFAs may elect to apply for their Baseline Year grant of the Local Foods Incentive during any year. Whenever a SFA chooses to participate, they will begin in the Baseline Year. Once a Baseline Year grant is awarded, a SFA may not apply again for a Baseline Year grant.  

• Successful applicants in the Baseline Year of the Local Foods Incentive Grant will be awarded $0.15 per lunch served during the previous school year under the National School Lunch Program regardless of the amount of locally produced foods purchased by the SFA.
  • If grant awards exceed the total appropriated funds, awards will be prorated.