Over $17 million is going towards the improvement of school lunch programs in Mississippi.
Recently announced by Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $17,161,128 to Mississippi public schools.
“USDA’s school meal programs have a wide-reaching impact on the health and well-being of our nation’s children,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, school districts have met extraordinary challenges to ensure that every child has the food needed to learn, grow and thrive. The food and funds USDA is distributing will help ensure schools have the resources they need to continue to serve our nation’s schoolchildren quality food they can depend on, all while building a stronger, fairer, and more competitive food system.”
The federal dollars will be used for the following:
- $11,296,031 for direct relief from COVID-induced supply chain issues, helping schools immediately purchase foods for their school meal programs.
- $3,605,891 for 100 percent domestically grown and produced food products, known as USDA foods, and their distribution.
- $2,259,206 for the purchase of domestic local foods, specifically from historically underserved producers and processors. This money will help expand local and regional markets.
Funds will be allocated based on enrollment. In total, $1.5 billion will be dispersed to the 50 states.
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