Description
This grant program, administered by the Nebraska Department of Education’s Rural Health Transformation Program, provides up‑to‑$150,000 technical‑assistance awards to eligible Nebraska producers (farmers, ranchers, cooperatives, etc.) to purchase equipment that expands capacity for producing, aggregating, processing, and distributing locally sourced, minimally processed foods—especially proteins—to school kitchens. Recipients must purchase equipment items exceeding $10,000, submit three competitive quotes per item, and participate in NDE‑hosted technical‑assistance activities. The grant period runs from June 1 2026 through June 30 2027, with final documentation due July 1 2027.
• Eligible entities: local farmers, ranchers, producers, cooperatives, and food suppliers (priority to rural, tribal, and food‑desert areas).
• Funding purpose: acquisition of equipment (e.g., trailers, forklifts, refrigeration units, packaging machines) that supports farm‑to‑school supply chains; no funds for food purchases, construction, or administrative costs.
• Application requirements: three vendor quotes per equipment item, justification for non‑lowest‑priced selections, procurement documentation, proof of purchase/payment, and participation in mandated training.
• Reporting duties: financial tracking, equipment inventory, schools served, program‑income monitoring, and final expenditure reporting by the end of the performance period.