Kitchen Infrastructure and Training Grant

The Kitchen Infrastructure and Training Grant is administered by the California Department of Education to support school food authorities (SFAs) in improving the quality of meals served through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). Established by Senate Bill 121, this initiative is funded with $145 million appropriated from California’s General Fund. The program reflects the state's commitment to advancing Universal Meals and enhancing student nutrition through targeted investment in food procurement, training, and kitchen infrastructure. The purpose of this competitive grant is to increase access to high-quality, freshly prepared school meals. Funding may be used for the procurement of California-grown, whole or minimally processed, organic, and sustainably grown ingredients intended for use in NSLP and SBP meals. The grant also supports kitchen infrastructure upgrades that expand on-site meal preparation capabilities, reduce reliance on ultra-processed foods, and promote environmentally sustainable practices. Equipment purchases should prioritize electric or induction appliances over those that use fossil fuels, when feasible. Eligible SFAs include public school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools that are approved to operate the NSLP and SBP and maintain good standing with the California Department of Education. Applicants must have a valid agreement with the department and an active Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) identification number. Eligibility is not contingent on applying for the Retention and Recruitment Grant; SFAs may choose to apply for one or both grants using a single online application. The submission process requires that applications be completed and submitted online by January 30, 2026, at 4:00 PM Pacific Time. Only authorized representatives listed in CNIPS may submit the application. Late, incomplete, faxed, mailed, or emailed applications will not be accepted. The grant will be awarded based on a scoring rubric that evaluates factors such as prior use of KIT funding, participation in CEP or Provision 2, compliance with federal cash resource requirements, and the presence of strong plans for transitioning to self-operated food service models. Following submission, 50 percent of the awarded funds will be disbursed upon grant acceptance. An additional 25 percent will be distributed after submission of a mandatory progress report, with the final 25 percent released upon approval of a final report. All grant funds must be fully encumbered by June 30, 2028. Indirect costs are not allowable, and SFAs are advised to deposit funds into general accounts to avoid federal fund restrictions that apply to cafeteria funds. The grant program is expected to recur annually. Applications are scored competitively, and awards are capped based on student enrollment, with tiered ceilings for SFAs with enrollment up to 60,000, between 60,001–100,000, and over 100,000. Contact for inquiries is KIT2025@cde.ca.gov.

Emphasize detail in scoring narrative; plans to self-operate food services and minimize ultra-processed foods improve application scores.