Local Food for Schools

The Indiana Department of Health, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (IDOH, DNPA) is offering funding to Indiana distributors (broadline, food hubs, etc.) as part of Indiana’s implementation of the Local Food for Schools Program (LFS), Indiana Grown Food for Schools: A Collaboration to Develop Sustainable and Equitable Partnerships Between Indiana Farms and Schools, with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and partners. The LFS Program is designed to strengthen local and regional food systems, support local, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through building and expanding economic opportunities, and increase local food consumption, specifically within qualifying (NSLP-enrolled) Indiana K-12 schools. Indiana has been awarded $4.4 million for this project and this Request for Letters of Intent (RF LOI) seeks interest from Indiana-serving distributors to focus on the purchase and school-based distribution of food from local, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFRs) that promotes and develops long-term economic expansion strategies for participating producers.

An informational session about this funding opportunity will be held on Monday, Feb. 13 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET via Microsoft Teams. Access the meeting here.

LOIs (with W-9 and Direct Deposit forms) must be submitted to Megan Paskey (mpaskey@health.in.gov) by 11:59 p.m. EST on Feb. 22.

Please review the Call for Letters of Interest. For additional information and questions contact Megan Paskey at mpaskey@health.in.gov and Naima Gardner-Rice at ngardner1@health.in.gov.