Tampa, FL – A new federal grant program will provide millions of dollars to help schools serve healthier meals while updating kitchens, staffing and food purchasing systems.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the $32.5 million Dietary Excellence for Promoting Education and Nutrition program Wednesday at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School. U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody joined Kennedy for the announcement in Hillsborough County.
Known as DEPEND, the initiative will distribute one-time competitive grants to eligible schools and organizations.
Awards are expected to range from about $75,000 to $2.5 million, depending on each proposal and the scope of planned improvements.
Federal officials said the funding will support four areas: food purchasing and supply, workforce development and food production, student demand and meal economics, and upgrades to operations and infrastructure.
Kennedy said some schools lack functioning kitchens or the equipment needed to prepare fresh meals.
The program is intended to help those campuses expand access to nutrient-dense food while working within existing meal budgets.
Hillsborough County Public Schools, identified during the announcement as the nation’s seventh-largest school district, hosted the event.
Moody noted that she grew up in the county and attended local schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The grants are part of a broader federal effort to improve the nutritional quality of school meals and strengthen local food preparation capacity.
Detailed application guidance is expected to become available in mid-September.
Interested schools and eligible organizations will be able to register for program information and submit proposals after the application period opens.