Nebraska Thursdays

Applications must be submitted by Friday, August 30, 2019 (11:59 pm MST).

Purpose of Funding:

Nebraska Department of Education Office of Nutrition Services is partnering with schools statewide to expand Nebraska Thursdays.  Mini-grants will assist schools with implementation and promotion of Nebraska Thursdays, and are funded by the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission.

Each applicant will receive $250-500 for proposed projects. Projects must provide expansion of local food, agriculture, and/or garden-based education, and should promote a school’s Nebraska Thursdays program.

Eligibility:

All Nebraska schools that participate in Nebraska Thursdays must also participate in the National School Lunch Program. All registered Nebraska Thursdays schools are eligible to apply for the Nebraska Thursdays mini-grant. Schools must be registered for Nebraska Thursdays by the grant application deadline (August 30, 2019).

Allowable Use of Grant Funds

This list is not exclusive. Schools are encouraged to evaluate their farm to school needs and priorities in order to determine creative and tailored projects to further their Nebraska Thursdays programs. 

Cafeteria

• Materials, equipment and supplies for expansion of local food use in the cafeteria
• Materials, supplies and labor required for taste testing foods and recipes that feature and promote local foods
• Materials, supplies, and labor required for hosting farmer-networking activities/events that build relationships between the school cafeteria and local growers
• Staff development and training
• Awards for students for student competition

Garden

• Materials, equipment and supplies for school garden activities
• Garden-based curriculum

Experiential Education

• Travel and related expenses associated with farm to school field trips
• Chef-visits and demonstrations for students in the school cafeteria
• Nutrition-education materials or children’s books related to nutrition

Funds may be used for outreach and marketing of farm to school programming to parents or the community.

Grant funds may NOT be used to…

• Purchase reimbursable meal components
• Purchase larger equipment and/or permanent structures
• Indirect Costs

Date

Activity

By August 1, 2019

Release of Request for Applications

August 30, 2019

Applications Due to Nebraska Department of Education Nutrition Services. *Applications must be complete and submitted online. Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

By September 10, 2019

Grant award notification by the Nebraska Department of Education Nutrition Services.

October 31, 2019

Deadline for grantees to purchase all grant-approved items.

November 22, 2019

Report of Expenditures and receipts showing grant-approved expenses have been paid due to the Nebraska Department of Education Nutrition Services. *Grant reimbursement documentation will not be accepted after November 22, 2019. Documentation received after this deadline will not be processed for reimbursement.

By December 31, 2019

All mini-grant funds sent to school’s non-profit SFS account.

Note: Grant proposals must be submitted online. Please complete each section of the application entirely. Use the printable version of this application to gather your answers.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, August 30, 2019 (11:59 pm MST).

For further clarification or more information, please contact:

Sarah Smith at sarah.e.smith@nebraska.gov or (402) 471-3655