New York State Awarded $10 Million for School Food Grants
The funding helps districts and local nonprofits build infrastructure to process and store fresh, regional food.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Organic Food
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Governor Kathy Hochul has opened the fourth round of the Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program, providing $10 million for capital projects across four New York regions. This initiative aims to expand the use of local produce in school meals while strengthening the regional agricultural supply chain.
Why it matters
By investing in on-site processing and storage capabilities, the program helps schools overcome logistical barriers to sourcing farm-fresh ingredients. This effort intends to simultaneously reduce food insecurity and create new market opportunities for local New York farmers.
This program provides $50 million in total funding over five years, with $30 million already distributed across six regions. The current $10 million allocation targets specific infrastructure projects that must support multiple school districts and include workforce development.
The players
Kathy Hochul
The Governor of New York who oversees state-level policy and funding initiatives for agricultural and educational programs.
The details
The grants support the construction of facilities dedicated to aggregating, storing, processing, and preparing food directly at schools or regional hubs. Beyond infrastructure, the funding mandates workforce training initiatives to teach students and staff skills in culinary arts, food logistics, and professional processing techniques.
Timeline
2023: The Regional School Food Infrastructure (RSFI) program was first announced.
September 25, 2026: Round 4 funding was officially announced.
January 22, 2027: The deadline for submitting proposals for Round 4.
Health Landscape
This initiative follows the ongoing state effort to integrate local agricultural production with public school nutrition programs. It marks a shift from simple procurement to building the physical processing and storage capacity required to sustain fresh, regional food in institutional settings.
These infrastructure improvements may increase the availability of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables in your local school district. If you are a parent or community member interested in school nutrition quality, consider discussing these local procurement trends with your school board.
The takeaway
This grant program demonstrates how large-scale infrastructure investments can bridge the gap between regional farms and school cafeterias. Readers interested in regional food security can track the progress of these facility projects as they are implemented across the state.
What happens next
Proposals for the fourth round of grant funding must be submitted by January 22, 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local food initiatives by visiting our Organic Food section.
More information
Eligible applicants can review the full requirements on the State grant application portal.
Live Poll
Should your local schools be required to prioritize sourcing food from local farmers?
