The Budget Narrative Checklist is a tool provided for grant applicants to ensure a comprehensive budget narrative as part of their application. It outlines crucial elements that must be addressed, including personnel details, fringe benefits, travel expenses, equipment needs, supplies, contractual costs, consultant services, and indirect costs. Each category requires specific justifications, such as identifying key personnel, itemizing travel expenses, and providing necessary documentation for indirect costs or sole-source contracts. The document emphasizes accuracy, clarity, and adherence to federal funding guidelines, including the Federal Agency Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) for cost calculations. The checklist serves to guide applicants in aligning their financial requests with their project descriptions, ensuring compliance with funding prerequisites and facilitating evaluation by the FNS. Overall, it plays a critical role in structuring budget narratives to secure federal grants effectively.

The document provides instructions for classifying locations as urban or rural using the National Center for Education Statistics Locale Lookup tool. Users must visit the tool's website, input a relevant school or district name, or address in the search field, and select from the dropdown menu. After pinpointing the location on a map, users should click on it to reveal a locale code, which must then be recorded on a Coversheet. For more detailed definitions and information, users are directed to the National Center for Education Statistics website. These instructions are crucial for federal RFPs, grants, and local requests for proposals to ensure consistent urban/rural designations across various projects. Proper classification impacts funding eligibility and resource allocation in educational contexts.

The document serves as a checklist for applicants seeking bonus priority points in a federal application process related to programs targeting specific racial equity and organizational priorities. Applicants can earn up to ten bonus points: seven points for meeting one or more racial equity priorities and three points for project alignment with certain organizational types. Racial equity priorities include being an organization led by or serving Black/African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, or other communities of color. Organizational priorities consist of serving a high percentage of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals, being a small- to medium-sized agricultural producer, or operating in rural areas. The inclusion of this checklist is crucial, as failure to submit it could render the application ineligible for these bonus points. The document is structured to encourage applicants to detail the priority groups their project will serve explicitly, reinforcing the federal focus on equity in funding distribution.

The Samplesville School District submitted a letter of commitment to support the "Growing Samplesville Together" project, in collaboration with the Samplesville Garden Club. The district aims to implement gardening initiatives across all six schools, expanding previous efforts to promote educational gardening and local food sourcing. The district will allocate at least 10 hours monthly of staff support for on-site garden development and collaborate with the Garden Club’s nutrition program director to source local foods for school meals that align with gardening education. With a total of 1,234 students served through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, the district believes the project will significantly benefit both the students and the wider Samplesville community. The letter, signed by Superintendent Jane Doe, emphasizes the partnership’s potential positive impact and expresses hope for favorable consideration of the initiative.

The Samplesville Garden Club has officially committed to providing $4,500 in in-kind matching funds for their project titled “Growing Samplesville Together.” This commitment is directed to Erica Antonson, Acting Branch Chief, Grants Management Operations Branch, and will support the project during its performance period from September 2023 to July 2024. The matching funds will consist of volunteer time from five individuals, each contributing 60 hours, calculated at a rate of $15 per hour. Any inquiries regarding this commitment can be directed to John Samples, the Executive Director of the Garden Club. The letter serves as an official acknowledgment of the financial support and is intended to fulfill requirements associated with federal grants or RFPs. This commitment underscores the organization’s engagement in community-driven projects and their alignment with federal funding objectives.

The Farm to School State Agency Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025 invites state agencies to apply for funding aimed at increasing local food availability in schools. The program offers grants of up to $500,000 for projects focused on local sourcing and agricultural education over a 24-month period, beginning July 1, 2025. To apply, applicants must register with Grants.gov and provide a 25% cash or in-kind match of the total project budget. Eligible entities are state agencies that administer Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs). The grant emphasizes collaboration with local producers and the inclusion of community input in project design. Applicants will submit a comprehensive narrative detailing project objectives, previous involvement in farm-to-school initiatives, and strategies for sustainability post-grant. Evaluation criteria will assess project relevance, community engagement, staff qualifications, and partner commitment. The RFA also outlines specific application requirements, including various forms, a project narrative, and a matching fund letter. Ultimately, this program reinforces the commitment to improving children's access to nutritious foods while promoting local agricultural engagement.

The FY 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, administered by the USDA, offers funding to improve access to local foods in Child Nutrition Program (CNP) sites over a 24-month period. Grant applicants must provide a 25% funding match from non-federal sources and, if not operating the National School Lunch Program or similar, must secure a commitment letter from a participating entity. There are three main grant tracks: 1. Implementation Grants: Designed for established programs focusing on local sourcing and agricultural education, with funding ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 (up to $500,000 for Indian Tribal Organizations). 2. Turnkey Grants: For those with limited experience or specific projects, featuring simplified applications with three types focusing on planning, edible gardens, or agricultural education, offering $5,000 to $50,000. 3. State Agency Grants: Targeting state agencies to enhance agricultural education and local food use in CNP operators, funding from $50,000 to $500,000 is available. Prospective applicants are advised to consult detailed Requests for Applications (RFA) for submission requirements after selecting the appropriate track. Overall, the program emphasizes enhancing local food access for children while promoting educational opportunities around agriculture.