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• Please introduce yourself in the chat as you settle
in! Name, preferred pronouns, and what
organization/school/town you’re with
• Please stay muted while the presentation is going
on- there will be time for questions at the end.
Please put questions in the Q & A box as you think
of them, as many as possible will be addressed at
WELCOME! the end.
• This session is being recorded.
• This presentation and recording will be posted to
the grant webpage at www.CTGrown.gov/grants >
CT Grown for CT Kids
A new statewide Farm to
School grant program
administered by the CT
Department of Agriculture
Logo design by Becca Toms, UConn
Extension
• Advocated and championed by the CT Farm
to School Collaborative. Passed in the 2021
legislative session
The Story of • State statute: CT Grown for CT Kids Grant
• Funded by ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act)
the Grant $500,000 divided between two years
• Working with CT Department of Education
Program and many other partners to do outreach
• Info about the Farm to School Collaborative
visit www.ctfarmtoschool.org. Meeting next
Wednesday at 9:30 am, information will be
sent out to registrants
Grant Purpose & Eligibility
Assist development and enhancement of farm-to-school programs that will increase the availability of local
foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students
about nutrition and farm-to-school connections, sustain relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich
the educational experience of students, improve the health of children in the state and enhance the state's
economy.
The following entities are eligible to apply:
• Local or regional board of education
• Regional educational service centers
• A cooperative arrangement pursuant to section 10-158a of the general statutes
• Childcare centers, group childcare homes and family childcare homes as such terms are described in section
19a-77 of the general statutes
• Any organization or entity administering or assisting in the development of a farm-to-school program CT
DoAg encourages school districts with pre-school programs to include those programs in their project.
Awarding Priorities
1) Applicants located in alliance districts and/or who are providers of school readiness programs
(early childhood)
2) To fund applicants who demonstrate a broad commitment from school administrators, school
nutrition professionals, educators, and community stakeholders.
• In the grant narrative, applicants are requested to describe both the support that they have for
the project and detail how input was gathered to formulate the idea. Additionally, applicants are
allowed to submit up to three letters of support, a template is provided on the grant webpage.
• If the applicant is not a school/district, then a partnership agreement from the school
administration the applicant proposes to work with must be submitted. A template is provided for
this on the grant webpage.
Funds and Payment
• The amount awarded to any applicant through the CTG4CTK Grant shall not exceed
$24,999.
• Combined employee salary and fringe paid to execute and directly administer the project
cannot exceed 25% of grant funds requested, or no more than $6,250.
• A 50% cash advance upon contract execution can be requested. The balance is paid, and
expenses are reimbursed, upon project completion and submission of final report with
documentation. Incomplete projects cannot be reimbursed.
• Please read the full guidance document for a list of ineligible expenses
• Projects must be completed within 18 months of contract execution.
• Application Deadline: December 20, 2021 at 4:00pm
We’ve broken down the grant into four
categories projects can be under:
Grant • Infrastructure
• Experiential Learning Opportunities
Categories • Farm to School Planning
• CT Grown Purchasing Program
Grant Categories: Infrastructure
• Purpose: This grant category provides financial resources to cover infrastructure costs
associated with projects that would create and/or further a long-term farm to school
program. Multiple pieces of infrastructure can be included in a proposal.
Examples of Projects in this category:
• Kitchen processing equipment such as a blast chiller, industrial chest freezer, vegetable
slicing equipment, etc.
• Materials and installation for a school garden. This could include, but is not limited to,
materials for raised bed construction.
Grant Categories: Experiential Learning
Opportunities
• Purpose: This grant category provides financial resources to cover costs of development
and/or implementation of farm to school learning opportunities which can be for
students, educators, and food service staff among others as outlined in the statute.
Examples of Projects in this category:
• Curriculum design and/or implementation of lessons to integrate a school garden into classroom learning
• Hands on culinary and nutrition education and taste testing with CT Grown products.
• Agricultural education and experiences such as farm field trips, gleaning on farms, stipends to bring a farmer to the
classroom.
• Professional development and skills training for food service staff in how to process and prepare fresh food. 25% of grant
funds could go towards paying staff for attendance at trainings.
Grant Categories: Farm to School Planning
• Purpose: This grant category provides funding for applicants to undertake a farm to
school planning process incorporating components of classroom education, CT Grown
procurement, and engagement with the community for input. Applicants must
demonstrate clearly how they will involve stakeholders such as students, school
administration, educators, school nutrition professionals, parents, etc. in their process
and create a plan with actionable steps. Funding requests should be proportional to the
scope of your plan, depth of community engagement, and size of population served.
Examples of Projects in this category:
• Example of a simple action plan
• Example of a detailed action plan
Grant Categories: Pilot CT Grown Purchasing
Program
• Purpose: This grant category provides funding for the purchase of whole and/or
minimally processed CT Grown products and the development of a purchasing program
with CT producers. Grant funds will cover 50% of purchase price of CT Grown products,
the remaining 50% must be covered by the applicant. Applications in this category that
are submitted with support of a producer(s) that the school will source from will be
prioritized.
• Please reach out if you would like help connecting with a producer!
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to incorporate engaging educational and marketing
activities. Resources for this are available from Put Local on Your Tray and others.
• Grantees will have additional training on
requirements once contracts are executed.
Which will include:
• Being matched with an advisory board
Technical member(s) to work with throughout the
project’s lifetime to receive support and
Assistance technical assistance as needed.
• Attending at least one convening with
other grantees during the duration of the
project for networking and resource sharing.
Virtual format or in person TBD.
Where to find all
information?
www.CTGrown.gov/grants and click on CT Grown for CT Kids Grant or
direct link is https://portal.ct.gov/DOAG/ADaRC/ADaRC/CT-Grown-
for-CT-Kids-Grant-Program
Please read the complete guidance document
How to Apply
• Please read the Application Instructions
linked on the grant webpage. Feel free
to reach out with any questions.
• Pay attention to the uploads!
A Complete Application Includes
• Required:
• 1.Excel Workbook with completed Budget, Budget Narrative, and Timeline. Template should be downloaded from the DoAg
Webpage and then uploaded to your application as an attachment.
• 2. Partnership agreement letter from school/program administration if the applicant is not the school. Template should be
downloaded from the DoAg Webpage and then uploaded to your application as an attachment.
• 3.If applicable, estimates/quotes for services and infrastructure uploaded to your application as attachments. ,
• Optional:
• 1. Up to three letters of support demonstrating that there is support for this effort from applicable stakeholders such as school
administration, school nutrition professionals, educators, producers, and community stakeholders. Template should be
downloaded from the DoAg Webpage and then uploaded to your application as an attachment.
• 2. Any additional conceptual drawings, stories, videos the applicant would like to share related to the project uploaded to your
application as an attachment.
Excel
Workbook
Project Evaluation
• The CTG4CTK is a competitive grant. Only complete applications which are
submitted on time, will be evaluated.
• Applications will be evaluated by an appointed advisory board after an
administrative review by DoAg. Advisory board members are ineligible to
receive a grant award.
• Applications due December 20, 2021
• Advisory Board will review in
January 2022
• Awards would be announced in
February 2022
The Timeline • Contracts written in March 2022
• Contracts Start April 1, 2022*
• Second round open in August 2022
*Please have all project
activities/expenses set to begin April 1
or after
Other Funding
Opportunities Open Now
• USDA Farm to School Grant: Due
January 10, 2022
• DEEP Urban Greens and
Community Gardens: Due
November 19, 2021
• To come: Viability and Transition
www.CTGrown.gov/grants
Need help with your CTG4CTK grant
applicant or the USDA Farm to School
grant?
Signup for 45-minute coaching
sessions with Jiff Martin of UConn
Extension
Link to sign up for a session HERE
**For any eligibility questions or for
help submitting applications using the
grant portal and the required
attachments, please contact Cyrena at
DoAg
Questions?
• This PowerPoint and recording will be
made available after the webinar on
the CTG4CTK Grant Page
• For further questions reach out to
Cyrena.Thibodeau@ct.gov or
860-895-3094
• Check out CT WNPR, Where We Live
to hear some backstory on the
program and hear from a few CT
schools!