Schools receive nutrition funds

Three local schools will be benefiting from the first round of grant awards coming from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). Ninety-eight local education agencies in 59 of the 75 Arkansas counties received notice this week of Equipment Assistance Competitive Grant for Child Nutrition Program funds totaling $1,243,866 federal dollars.

To be eligible for the funds, schools had to participate in the National School Lunch Program for the 2008-2009 school year.

Izard County Consolidated Elementary School was awarded $11,472 for the purchase of a new braising pan for the elementary cafeteria. Cave City Middle School received $13,231 for a new walk-in freezer; Mammoth Spring High School received $9,767 for a walk-in cooler; and Williford Elementary received $8,106 for a walk-in freezer.

These federal funds are for the purchase of new food preparation and service equipment for the federal child nutrition programs in public schools on an actual cost reimbursement basis.

Competitive awards were made to applicants based on a point system. The grant requests stipulated which of the four USDA focus areas -- Healthy Meals, Food Safety, Energy Efficiency and Expanded Participation -- were addressed for each item of equipment requested.