NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant

The NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant supports equipment purchases for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. Funding originates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, which provides grant funds to the Illinois State Board of Education for distribution through competitive equipment assistance grants to eligible districts and sponsors. The stated purpose of the funding is to help schools purchase equipment that supports healthier meal service, improves food safety, and expands access to school meals. The Illinois State Board of Education Nutrition Department administers the program in Illinois. Grant funds are intended for equipment purchases connected to National School Lunch Program operations. The source directs applicants and awardees to Illinois State Board of Education procurement resources, including general procurement requirements, procurement rules and regulations, question-and-answer resources, procurement method fact sheets, and an Institute of Child Nutrition resource concerning facility design and equipment purchasing for school nutrition programs. Equipment purchasing resources include a list of pre-approved equipment and a process for requesting equipment that is not included on the pre-approved list. Documentation associated with equipment purchases must be completed and maintained for Procurement Reviews. The source does not state an award minimum, maximum award amount, total program funding amount, number of awards, or a required matching or cost-share contribution. The program is directed to districts and sponsors participating in the National School Lunch Program, with the reporting requirements specifically identifying School Food Authorities that receive awards. The provided material does not supply a more detailed applicant eligibility definition, organizational restrictions, school-level prioritization criteria, or geographic restrictions below the Illinois statewide program context. It also does not provide a current application form, application portal, application questions, narrative requirements, application opening date, application deadline, pre-application requirement, or evaluation and scoring criteria. Previously awarded schools are maintained by the Illinois State Board of Education in a Previously Awarded Schools listing covering schools that have received an NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant in any year since FY2009. Awarded School Food Authorities have both expenditure and programmatic reporting responsibilities. Grant expenditures for allowable costs are reported using the NSLP Equipment Grant Claim Form (69-75). A claim for reimbursement of grant expenditures must be submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education no later than 30 days after the end of the applicable grant spending period, although claims may be submitted sooner or more frequently during the grant period. Awardees must also report project performance each quarter throughout the grant period until project activities are complete. Programmatic reporting is completed through the NSLP Equipment Grant Periodic Performance Report. The source documents a long history of NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant funding. Listed rounds include FY2009, FY2010, FY2015, FY2016, FY2017, FY2018, FY2019, FY2020, FY2021, two FY2023 grant listings including an ARPA-funded round, FY2024, and FY2025. The FY2025 initial grant period ran from January 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025, and its reallocation grant period runs from January 1, 2026 through August 31, 2026. The FY2024 initial period ran from January 1, 2024 through August 31, 2024, followed by a reallocation period from January 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025. These historical rounds demonstrate repeated funding activity, but the provided source does not explicitly state an application schedule, annual recurrence commitment, or the opening or closing dates of a future application cycle. Program questions may be directed to the Illinois State Board of Education Nutrition Department. The listed program email is cnp@isbe.net, and the Springfield Office phone number is 217-782-2491. A toll-free Illinois number, 800-545-7892, and fax number, 217-782-0372, are also provided. Mark R. Haller is identified as Director. The Nutrition Department mailing address is Illinois State Board of Education, 100 N. First Street, W-270, Springfield, IL 62777-0001. The provided material does not contain a complete direct PDF URL for a current solicitation, guidelines document, or application package.

Follow applicable procurement requirements and maintain required equipment-purchase documentation. Use the pre-approved equipment resources or complete the request process for equipment not on the pre-approved list. Submit quarterly performance reports until project completion and reimbursement claims no later than 30 days after the grant spending period.