Free Lunch Schools Eligible for Equipment Grants

TRENTON – New Jersey school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program are being offered equipment grants to improve their school nutrition programs as part of a nationwide effort to stimulate activity within the American economy.
“The grants provided by President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package will put New Jerseyans to work while directly helping to feed New Jersey school children nutritious, safe meals,” said Governor Jon S. Corzine. “I encourage school districts to take full advantage of this opportunity to improve delivery of the school lunch program.”
Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by Obama in February, the Food Service Equipment Assistance Grants are designed to improve lunch program infrastructure and provide economic stimulus. The funds must be used to purchase, renovate, or replace equipment that is non-expendable, tangible personal property with a useful life of more than one year and a per unit acquisition cost greater than $2,000.
“The money will help schools purchase equipment that will improve the safety and quality of meals served in schools and also play a part in improving energy efficiency and expanded participation in the school meal programs,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher.
New Jersey was allocated a total of $1.8 million. As required by this Act, priority will be given to schools that have 50 percent or more students eligible for free or reduced price meals. In addition, selected schools must be able to expend the grant funds within three months of receipt. Efforts will be made to include as many district requests as possible throughout the state.
Applications must be submitted by May 1. The grants will be awarded by June 8, 2009.
To access the application and additional information on line, visit: www.nj.gov/agriculture/pdf/FoodEquipGrantsApp.pdf . Contact Jackie Bricker of the Division of Food and Nutrition at 609-984-0692 with any questions or concerns.
The federal recovery funds are an excellent complement to Governor Corzine’s Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan, announced in October during a joint session of the New Jersey Legislature. Since then, the Governor has advanced numerous efforts to stimulate New Jersey’s economy, create jobs, combat hunger, provide home energy assistance, and take proactive initiatives to prevent home foreclosures – all in response to the slumping national economy.
For additional information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit www.recovery.gov and www.nj.gov/recovery/ .