Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Tom Weber
St. Paul, Minn.

Education department awards school lunch grants

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Minnesota's Education Department has awarded grants to more than six dozen schools and groups so they can buy equipment for their lunch programs.

The federal stimulus package, which became law in February, includes $100 million for schools and other groups in the National School Lunch Program to buy equipment. Minnesota's share is $1.27 million.

Projects being funded range from a $5,100 salad bar for the Circle of Life school in White Earth, to a $235,000 'cook-n-chill' system for Minneapolis. Other grants will pay for commercial dishwashers, ovens, and refrigerators for 77 schools and groups. They'll have to buy the items first and get reimbursed later.

Other grants will pay for commercial-sized dishwashers, ovens, and refrigerators for 77 schools and groups. They'll have to buy the items first and get reimbursed later.

The stimulus law requires the grants to go to districts where more than half of the students are on free and reduced lunch, and where the new equipment would help improve the quality or delivery of school food.

Most education stimulus will be awarded based on pre-set formulas. But these food equipment grants were competitively bid - the first such competitive funds that Minnesota's education department has announced.

To see a complete list of funded grants, click here