Super Bowl 50 may be over, but an ongoing partnership between the USDA, National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC) used the big game to kick off a new program to boost school nutrition program equipment funding.
U.S. ag secretary Tom Vilsack, National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell and Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy farmer and leader of the National Dairy Council (NDC) announced the availability of $35 million in grants to help schools upgrade their kitchen equipment and infrastructure. The grant program is designed to equip schools to better meet updated national nutrition standards.
Three in five students – more than 30 million children – rely on USDA’s National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for one to two meals per day.
Like football, equipment plays a big role in performance and safety of nutrition programs. However, according to a 2014 survey, 88 percent of schools reported lacking at least one piece of equipment they needed in order to serve healthier foods.
The program builds on a partnership between USDA, NFL, NDC and GENYOUth, a health and wellness nonprofit, which coordinates Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60), an in-school nutrition and physical activity program.
Schools can apply for USDA funding through their state, or directly from FUTP through the organization's website. In both cases, funding will support the purchase of new equipment and/or the renovation/replacement of equipment.
Equipment may include large and small items: including utility carts, utensils, large-capacity food processors, industrial scales, steamers or freezers. Infrastructure elements may include building needs related to physical space, electricity, plumbing, ventilation and other remodeling needs.
Schools interested in learning more about these grants should visit the USDA Food and Nutriton Service.
PHOTO: From left: Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy farmer and chairman of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), which manages the National Dairy Council, joined NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and DMI chief executive officer Tom Gallagher in a milk toast to celebrate the announcement of $35 million in school grants during a news conference at Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California. Photo provided by Dairy Management Inc.
—Compiled by Progressive Dairyman staff
