Connecticut awards $108,255 in grants for school kitchen equipment upgrades

Charlene M. Russell-Tucker Commissioner | Connecticut Department of Education

The Connecticut State Department of Education has announced the recipients of the 2025-26 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant awards. Ten schools have been selected from a pool of 55 applicants to receive grants totaling $108,255. The funding will be used to purchase kitchen equipment such as steamers, ovens, freezers, refrigerators, food slicers, and stand mixers.

According to the department, these equipment upgrades are intended to help schools serve fresh and healthy meals more efficiently while maintaining food safety standards. The initiative aims to support long-term improvements in school meal programs and contribute positively to student health across Connecticut.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service as part of a broader $10 million federal program focused on modernizing school kitchens and improving meal quality nationwide. The grant is part of ongoing efforts by the USDA to help school food authorities upgrade their facilities and increase participation in school meal programs.

Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Education, stated, "These upgrades will provide schools with the tools needed to serve fresh, healthy meals efficiently while ensuring food safety standards. The investment will have a long-term impact on the success of school meal programs and the overall health of Connecticut’s students."

The department emphasized that this investment will not only modernize school kitchens but also enhance the capacity for schools to meet nutrition goals set by federal guidelines.