MAGIC VALLEY, Idaho — Federal grant funds have been awarded by the Idaho State Department of Education to 16 schools, including schools in the Magic Valley.
Oregon Trail Elementary received funds for a hot holding cabinet. Gooding Elementary’s grant will go towards a steam table and Kimberly Elementary’s money will help fund a new oven.
17 School Food Authorities took part in a competitive grant application process. When it came to choosing who would receive the grant, factors considered include the age of schools’ current kitchen equipment, opportunities to impact lunchrooms’ nutrition and food quality, available funding at state and local levels for equipment, and schools’ plans for updating their lunchrooms.
Applications requested over $167,761 for needed equipment.
“It is so important because food service equipment is so expensive and a lot of the schools have very old equipment and they have repaired it several times,” said Colleen Fillmore, Director of the USDA Child Nutrition Program.
Grant funding depends on the availability of USDA funds. Equipment purchases made possible by this grant will help schools improve their lunch and breakfast programs.
