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MDE Dairy Group Award Almost $1 Million in School Nutrition Equipment Grants to 95 Schools

October 14, 2016

LANSING – Students at 95 schools statewide are eating healthier thanks to almost $1 million for food-service upgrades, according to a joint announcement today by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM).

The MDE awarded $639,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance (NSLP) grant funds to the 45 schools in 18 districts, while the UDIM added $250,000 for a total of nearly $990,000.

The districts are using the funds to improve school meals through upgrades to their kitchen equipment and infrastructures.

“Tens of thousands of students at these schools are, or will be, benefiting from more nutritional foods because of this funding,” State Superintendent Brian Whiston said. “I’m so glad to see partnerships like this because they’re able to pool resources and expand their reach to help more of Michigan’s kids.”

In February, the USDA and National Dairy Council (NDC) announced the availability of $35 million in federal and private grants to help schools upgrade their kitchen equipment and infrastructure. Eligible school districts nationwide could apply for funds to support the purchase of items such as utility carts, utensils, large-capacity food processors, industrial scales, steamers, and freezers. 

“The United Dairy Industry of Michigan and Michigan dairy farm families have supported school nutrition for more than 100 years, and we are excited to work with the USDA to continue that tradition,” said UDIM Chief Executive Officer Sharon Toth.

Since 2009, the USDA has awarded $215 million in school nutrition equipment grants. The USDA provides this funding to states, which then competitively award grants to school districts for the purchase of necessary equipment. Priority is given to high-need schools where 50 percent or more of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced price meals.

This year, the NDC and its network of local dairy councils across the country joined the USDA’s efforts by kicking in an additional $5 million through a separate, but simultaneous, grant application process.

District and School (if applicable)

Grant Amount

Anchor Bay School District

 

       Anchor Day High School

$2,000

       Anchor Bay Middle School North

$1,775

Bay City School District

 

     Handy Middle School

$23,500

Bendle Public Schools

 

     South Bendle Elementary School

$16,550

       Bendle Middle School

$160

Benton Harbor Area Schools

 

     Arts & Communications Academy at Fair Plain

$22,350

       International Academy at Hull

$24,000

     Steam Academy at MLK

$24,000

Birmingham Public Schools

 

     Harlan Elementary School

$1,550

Bloomfield Hills School District

$8,100

Breckenridge Community Schools

$10,914

Breitung Township Schools

$9,000

Caseville Public Schools

$439

Cedar Springs Public Schools

$3,241

Coldwater Community Schools

$2,000

Coopersville Public School District

$9,100

Clio Area School District

 

     A.C. Edgerton Elementary School

$2,800

       George A. Lacure Elementary School

$ 2,800

     Glen Garner Elementary School

$2,800

     Connor Creek Academy East - Elementary

$18,000

Detroit Achievement Academy

$9,479

Detroit Public Schools Community District

 

       Academy of the Americas

$20,000

     Clemente, Roberto Academy

$20,000

     Dixon Elementary School

$25,000

       Dossin Elementary - Middle School

$25,000

       Edward "Duke" Ellington at Beckham

$20,000

       Garvey Academy

$25,000

     Harms Elementary School

$20,000

       Ludington Magnet Middle School

$20,000

       Neinas Dual Language Learning Academy

$25,000

       Priest Elementary - Middle School

$20,000

       Pulaski Elementary - Middle School

$20,000

     Wayne Elementary School

$25,000

       Young, Coleman A. Elementary

$20,000

Dexter Community School District

$1,700

Dundee Community Schools

$980

Edwardsburg Public Schools

$7,500

Evart Public Schools

 

     Evart Elementary

$17,130

     Evart Middle School

$19,503

Fairview Area School District

 

       Fairview School

$600

Fenton Are Public Schools

$10,800

Forest Park School District

 

     Forest Park School

$1,427

Grand Haven Area Public Schools

$2,000

Greater Heights Academy

$8,600

Gwinn Area Community Schools

$4,425

Hartland Consolidated Schools

$15,000

Holton Public Schools

$3,500

Homer Community Schools

$2,500

Imlay City Community Schools

$5,000

Ingham Academy/Family Center

 

       Ingham Academy

$17,649

Ingham County Youth Center

$584

Kaleva Norman Dickson School District

 

       Brethren Middle School

$3,789

Kent City Community Schools

 

     Kent City Middle School

$2,500

Kentwood Public Schools

$5,000

Lansing Public School District

$41,757

     North School

$5,000

Lincoln Park Public Schools

$2,000

Littlefield Public Schools

 

     Littlefield School (K-12)

$1,800

Marshall Public Schools

 

     Marshall Middle School

$2,700

Morley Stanwood Community Schools

 

     Morley Elementary School

$3,000

     Morley Stanwood High School

$3,000

Muskegon Catholic Schools

$2.124

Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System

 

       Muskegon Heights Academy

$15,000

North Adams-Jerome Schools

$2,100

Northstar Academy

$1,500

Northwest Community Schools

$2,200

Orchard View Schools

$4,350

Pellston Public Schools

$3,260

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

$6,300

Portage Public Schools

 

     Moors Bridge Elementary School

$2,500

Quincy Community School District

$3,100

Reeths-Puffer Schools

$5,350

Rogers City Area Schools

 

Rogers City High School

$5,000

School District of the City of Saginaw

 

       Arthur Eddy Academy

$5,500

       Arthur Hill High School

$5,500

       Chester F. Middle School

$5,500

     Herig School

$5,500

       Jessie Loomis School

$5,500

       Kempton Elementary School

$5,500

       Merrill Park Elementary School

$17,500

       Saginaw High School

$5,500

     Stone School

$5,500

       Zilwaukee K-8 School

$5,500

Shelby Public Schools

 

     Shelby Middle School

$1,800

St. Louis Public Schools

$3,510

Stanton Township Public Schools

 

       E.B. Holman Elementary School

$760

Tekonsha Community Schools

$350

Traverse City Area Public Schools

 

       Traverse City High School

$16,000

       Traverse Heights Elementary School

$6,400

Union City Community Schools

 

     Union City High School

$3,509

Waterford School District

$15,500

Watervilet School District

$4,000

       Watervilet Senior High School

$25,000

Wayland Union Schools

$12,500

White Pigeon Community Schools

$3,110

For more information on the School Nutrition Equipment Grant, go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/2016-nslp-equipment-assistance-grants