USDA Awards Grant to Help MI Build Its School Nutrition Workforce

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The Michigan Department of Education has received a nearly $1 million grant for building and retaining a strong school nutrition workforce, improving standards for school meals, and partnering with farmers and producers to access local food. It’s from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Samia Hamdan with the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Agency’s Midwest Office says the grant supports the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.

“There’s been a lot of labor shortages across the country and we’ve experienced a lot of turnover in the school nutrition professions, so this will really help support coaching and mentoring, but ultimately with the goal of providing nutrition education and nutritious meals to kids across the state of Michigan.”

The state also plans to award sub-grants to local school food authorities, for purchasing supplies and small kitchen equipment for food demonstrations and tastings, and for printing educational materials. Hamdan says some of the funding will go to increasing access to the information for students.