Grow Ohio Grant
Grow Ohio Grant
- The Grow Ohio Grant is funded through the 2022 State Agency Non-Competitive Farm to School Formula Grant awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The objectives of the formula grant are:
- To build and increase the capacity of participating institutions to procure and use local food in program meals; and/or
- To provide agricultural education opportunities for participating children.
Purpose
The purpose of the Grow Ohio Grant program is to support National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors in providing innovative, local level activities that create agricultural education opportunities for participating children through farm to school projects such as outdoor or indoor school gardening, hydroponics, collaborations with local food producers, and food literacy activities.
The goals of the Grow Ohio Grant program include the following:
- Create opportunities for students to gain knowledge of potential careers in agriculture.
- Increase relationships between Ohio food producers and child nutrition program sponsors.
- Increase the amount of school-grown foods served in USDA meal programs.
Priorities
The Grow Ohio Grant program will prioritize applications meeting one or more of the following:
- Proposed project promotes the purchase or on-site growing of at least one Ohio Harvest of the Month item for a taste test, meal, or snack.
- The proposed project incorporates a literacy activity aligned with the Read Ohio campaign.
- Applicants serve a high proportion (50% or greater) of children eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Funding
Grant awards range from $5,000 to $40,000. Applicants will include a Grant Budget Table detailing the anticipated costs of all grant-funded purchases in the final grant submission.
A cash match is not required.
Grant Timeline and Deadlines
Invitation to Submit Grant Applications: April 1, 2025
Grant Application Webinars*
April 10 from 9–10 a.m.
April 29 from 2–3 p.m.
May 14 from 9–10 a.m.
Grant Applications Due: May 28, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Award Notification and Announcement: August 2025
Grant Term Begins: August 2025
Grant Term Ends: June 30, 2026
* Each webinar will include an overview of the grant program and time for questions and answers. They will occur on the above dates via Microsoft Teams.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Katie Barnes, ADA coordinator, at ADAaccommodation@education.ohio.gov or (614) 387-7716 (voice) no later than three days before scheduled webinar.
Last Modified: 4/1/2025 9:21:39 AM
