Kitchen equipment grants: Arkansas offers $564K in school kitchen equipment grants, due Nov. 6 and Nov. 20
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced more than $564,267 in grants for schools in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to buy equipment that improves food preparation, storage, transportation and service and uses more Arkansas-grown products. Eligible items include blenders and freezers for smoothies, ovens, warmers and rice cookers for breakfast bowls, and refrigerated storage and cold-holding units for fresh produce. Breakfast Equipment Expansion Grant applications are due Nov. 6, 2026, and USDA Equipment Assistance Grant applications are due Nov. 20, 2026.
Why it matters for directors: Equipment grants can fund the gear that makes grab-and-go breakfast and fresh local produce workable without touching the operating budget. Check your state agency for open equipment grants and have a short equipment-need list ready to submit.
Original source: Arkansas Department of Agriculture ↗