LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas schools have access to over $564,000 in grant funding to improve meal programs, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced Friday.
The funding is designed to expand access to nutritious meals, increase the use of locally sourced products, and enhance student participation in school nutrition programs. Governor Sanders highlighted the importance of this initiative, citing the state’s previous efforts to make school breakfast free for all public school students and promote Arkansas-grown products through the “Arkansas Plate” program.
“Student learning and success doesn’t happen without consistent access to healthy, nutritious meals,” Sanders said. “I’m proud to build on that work with these grants, helping schools serve more nutritious meals and partnering with the local farmers who help feed our nation.”
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward emphasized the dual benefits of investing in schools and local agriculture. “These grants will help schools expand participation, improve meal quality, and further incorporate Arkansas products into their menus,” Ward said.
Two grants are currently available for schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Applications for the Breakfast Equipment Expansion Grant are due by November 6, 2026, while the USDA Equipment Assistance Grant has a deadline of November 20, 2026.
The grants aim to support schools by funding equipment for food preparation, storage, transportation, and service. Beyond improving efficiency and safety, the equipment will help schools integrate more Arkansas-grown, raised, and processed foods into their meal programs. Projects will be selected through a competitive process based on factors such as equipment need, food safety efforts, impact on breakfast expansion, and service to students with the greatest need.
Schools selected for grants will also receive training and technical assistance to support implementation. More details, including application materials, are available on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s website.