ARRA - Cafeteria Equipment Assistance

Category Recipient Funding Description Application Deadline
Cafeteria Equipment Assistance School Food Authorities Competitive PAST *

* The application period for the award has expired. Please contact recovery@ode.state.oh.us to request information on additional application periods that may be offered

If you suspect the abuse or fraud of any tax dollars, including federal stimulus funds, you can contact the Auditor of State at 866-FRAUD OH or by filing a report. You may also file a report with the Ohio Inspector General by clicking here, or with the Office of Inspector General, Washington D.C., by clicking here. In addition, for fraud related specifically to federal stimulus funds, a complaint can be filed with the federal Recovery Board by clicking here.

 Description of Fund

Competitive grants to school food authorities based upon participating schools' need for equipment assistance. Priority is given to schools in which no less than 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

Who is eligible?

Each SFA participating in the National School Lunch Program is eligible to submit an application to receive equipment assistance grant with priority given to school in which not less than 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Application Process

Currently, the application process for this grant has closed.  Each SFA participating in the NSLP was eligible to submit an application to receive a NSLP equipment assistance grant. Application templates were available for download beginning April 6, 2009, from the following site.

Guidance and Uses of Funds

State

In keeping with the dual goals of improving program infrastructure and providing economic stimulus, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities (SFAs) encourages prompt purchase of equipment under this grant program. In order to make the most effective use of the NSLP equipment assistance grant funds, the following areas will be the focus of the grant:

  1. Equipment that lends itself to improving the quality of school food service meals that meet the dietary guidelines. (e.g., purchasing of an equipment alternative to a deep fryer);
  2. Equipment that improves the safety of food served in the school meals programs. (e.g., cold/hot holding equipment, dish washing equipment, refrigeration, milk coolers, freezers, blast chillers, etc.;
  3. Equipment that improves the overall energy efficiency of the school food service operations (e.g., purchase of an energy-efficient walk in freezer replacing an outdated, energy-demanding freezer);
  4. Equipment that allows SFAs to support expanded participation in a school meal program. (e.g., equipment for serving meals in a non-traditional setting or to better utilize cafeteria space)

Allocations/Awards

Quarterly Reports

1512 Quarterly Reporting is no longer required for this grant  

Reporting Requirements

The NSLP Equipment Assistance grant provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has closed.  The final report was submitted to FederalReporting.gov on December 31, 2010. No more quarterly reporting as defined by section 1512 of the Act is required for this grant. Click on the link above to see reports from prior quarters.

The Ohio Department of Education collects data from ARRA Program subrecipients on a quarterly basis and reports that data to the federal reporting Web site on behalf of LEAs. The data that is collected consists of the calculated FTE  and description of jobs created or retained and funded by that program, the identity of any vendor who received a single payment from a single ARRA fund in excess of $25,000.00 and the amount and description of Infrastructure expenditures for applicable programs. Updated reporting guidance for each quarter can be found on the ODE Stimulus Updates – ARRA main page under the heading Data and Reporting Guidance.

Category Fund # CFDA ARRA SCC:  
FY10,  FY11
Cafeteria Equipment Assistance 006 10.579 932N, 932O

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For more specific stimulus funding inquiries, please contact us at recovery@ode.state.oh.us.