Harvest to Hallways: National School Lunch Program, Equipment Assistance Grants

The purpose of the Harvest to Hallways NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant opportunity is to help ensure that schools have the equipment they need to serve more whole, nutrient-dense foods including protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy. These grants will support getting more real and local foods in school meals. For more than a decade, the FNA has provided NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants to State agencies to help modernize school kitchens across the country — supporting the delivery of much‑needed equipment to underserved and rural communities while advancing strategies that give students greater access to healthy, nourishing choices.

Funding for these grants is being made available under section §1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ( P.L. 117-2 ). The fiscal year (FY) 2027 Harvest to Hallways NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants strengthen a critical link in the national food and agricultural supply chain by modernizing the capacity of school meal programs to handle, prepare, and serve nutritious, whole foods sourced from U.S. agriculture. Schools represent one of the largest and most consistent institutional food service channels in the country, and their ability to safely store, process, and cook a wide range of domestic agricultural products directly affects the stability and reach of that supply chain. By investing in durable, up‑to‑date equipment, these grants reduce operational vulnerabilities, improve throughput, and ensure schools can continue delivering high‑quality meals even during periods of disruption. As a result, the program enhances downstream resilience, supports reliable demand for American agricultural goods, and reinforces a more distributed, adaptable, and dependable food system—fulfilling the ARPA directive to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.

The objective of the FY 2027 Harvest to Hallways NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant opportunity is for NSLP State agencies to administer competitive subgrants to eligible local education agencies (LEAs), school food authorities (SFAs), and schools for the purchase of equipment valued at greater than $1,000. State agencies may consider any SFA, LEA, and school that operates NSLP as eligible to receive a grant award.

Selection criteria that State agencies should consider when awarding the subgrants, may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Opportunities to improve the nutrition and quality of meals, including supporting the implementation of updated nutrition requirements for school meals.

• Age or lack of appropriate food service equipment.

• Ability of food service equipment to increase the efficiency of SFA procurement, food storage, and distribution/service.

• The availability of existing State and local funding for equipment purchases.

• Strategies for adopting cafeteria changes that provide more convenience and appeal to the student.

Equipment purchased under the subgrant must directly support cafeteria improvements—such as upgrades to cold storage, cooking equipment, and other food service…