Request for Applications: RHTP 1.1 School Kitchen Modernization GrantsApplications Due: 08/31/2026

This grant program, administered by the Nebraska Department of Education, provides up to $100,000 per rural or frontier school district to purchase modern kitchen equipment that enables a shift from “heat‑and‑serve” meals to scratch‑cooked, higher‑quality, locally‑sourced food. The funding is fully federal (CMS) and must be expended between June 2026 and June 2027. Applicants must submit a single consolidated application that includes menu plans, three vendor quotes per equipment item, and a justification for any cost above the lowest quote. Successful grantees are required to demonstrate monthly reductions in heat‑and‑serve items (5 %) and increases in locally‑produced protein (5 %), as well as a 10 % rise in overall meal participation. • Eligible equipment must cost ≥ $10,000 per unit (e.g., blast chillers, salad bars, refrigeration units, greenhouses). • Maximum award per district is $100,000; total program funding $2.23 M. • Required deliverables: four‑week menu sample, three vendor quotes per item, annual financial report due 06/30/2027, and proof of equipment purchase. • Application deadline is 08/31/2026; a virtual Q&A session was held on 07/13/2026 for prospective applicants.