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Thursday, September 30, 2021

Re: Release: Michigan Department of Education Announces 2021-22 10 Cents a Meal Grantees!

Hi All, 

The hyperlink was a dud because it included a period in.

This clean link to the list of the grantees should work: https://www.tencentsmichigan.org/about

Apologies for the snafu. 

NLM
Nathan Luis Medina  | Policy Specialist
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

P   231-941-6584 ext. 714

T   @grndwk

A  148 E Front St, Suite 301  |  Traverse City, MI 49684


On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 1:07 PM Nathan Medina <nathan@groundworkcenter.org> wrote:
Hello all - MDE has announced the first round of 10 Cents a Meal grantees for the 2021-22 school year.

The following press release includes statements from:
  • Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
  • Michigan State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice
  • SNAM president-elect Jennifer Mattison
  • Michigan State Senator Wayne Schmidt
  • Ernie Birchmeier, Manager of Michigan Farm Bureau's Center for Commodities and Farm and Industry Relations
  • Diane Conners, Senior Policy Specialist at Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Michigan Department of Education Announces 2021-22 10 Cents a Meal Grantees


LANSING, Mich. (Sept. 30, 2021) - The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has announced 229 grantees for the initial round of 10 Cents A Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms grants for the 2021-22 school year. The state-funded farm-to-institution program provides matching incentive funding up to 10 cents per meal to purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes. With this first round announcement, the program will serve a total enrollment of nearly 554,000 children in the school, early childhood education and after school settings across the state, more than half of whom are eligible for free or reduced lunch.


Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the $17.1 billion K-12 budget into law in June. The bill accounts for the largest single-year School Aid Fund budget ever passed by the state, which included funding for 10 Cents a Meal at $5 million, more than doubling the funding from $2 million in 2020-21. 


"The 10 Cents a Meal program feeds our kids and supports family farmers and growers. Under the education bill I signed in June, which made the largest investment in education in state history, we more than doubled funding for this program that offers healthy, affordable meals to our kids," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "As we continue our economic jumpstart, we have to make sure everyone has the resources and support they need to succeed. I am grateful to the Michigan Department of Education and legislators for coming together to get this done for our kids."


Schools and early childhood settings are where children get up to two and sometimes even three meals a day. 10 Cents a Meal enhances those meals and also can support Michigan's emerging local food system infrastructure that delivers products from local farms to local customers, which has proven to be all the more important during the COVID-19 pandemic.


"Expanded access to fresh fruits and vegetables supports the health of our learners," said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. "Because of 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms, schools can welcome their students back into school buildings this fall with fresher menus that will help them to be healthy and to learn during these challenging times. Early childhood education centers can help our youngest school-age children begin healthy eating habits for a lifetime, and Michigan farms and our local food supply chain can be strengthened and assured of market demand. Once again, 10 Cents a Meal is a win in so many ways."


Grantees say that 10 Cents a Meal provides them much-needed flexibility to try new items with children and engage them in healthy eating within tight food service budgets. 


"The School Nutrition Association of Michigan (SNAM) applauds the expansion of 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms," said SNAM president-elect Jennifer Mattison, who also serves as Director of Food & Nutrition Services at Dexter Community Schools & Washtenaw ISD. "This important program helps school food service staff nourish our children so that they are really ready to learn. It also helps our food service professionals to invest in Michigan's economy and strengthen local food supply chains, which we have found--as a result of COVID--to often be more reliable than national food supply chains. Locally grown food for Michigan's children makes all the sense in the world."


The innovative program has gone from a modest state pilot program in northwest and west Michigan in 2016 to finally being available to applicants statewide for the 2020-2021 school year, and this latest investment from the state affirms the importance of 10 Cents a Meal in providing fresh, healthy, local fruits, vegetables, and dry beans for Michigan's students and children in early care settings.


"I have witnessed firsthand how important the 10 Cents a Meal program is for students, and it has been one of my top priorities to assist with the growth of this program," said Senator Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City), who chairs the Senate K-12 and Department of Education Appropriations Subcommittee. "Making sure students have proper nutrition from fruits and vegetables grown by local Michigan farmers has proven to be a successful tool in helping students remain healthy and focused on their schoolwork."


According to the 2020-2021 preliminary evaluation results from the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (MSU CRFS), nearly 64% of all grantees (91 of 143) reported that 10 Cents grants allowed them to try new products in their food service program that they would not have otherwise tried. The top ten new Michigan-grown foods reported by food service directors who utilized the grant included, in order: apples, asparagus, blueberries, dry beans/legumes, cherries, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, summer squash, and root vegetables.


"Providing healthy, nutritious, wholesome, and affordable food is the top priority of Michigan farmers. It's why they invest their time, money and sweat equity every day in the fields growing crops, fruits, and vegetables and in the barns caring for their dairy herd and livestock," said  Ernie Birchmeier, Manager of Michigan Farm Bureau's Center for Commodities and Farm and Industry Relations. "The 10 Cents a Meal program further enhances agriculture's ability to meet the nutritional needs of our communities, especially children. We look forward to continued growth and opportunities to contribute and collaborate as we feed our consumers and enhance our agriculture industry."


The program is open to school districts (public, public school academies, or private), and non-school sponsors of USDA Child Nutrition Programs such as residential childcare institutions (RCCIs), after-school programs, and child care centers participating in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).


The $5-million funding is a testament to the central strategic value of 10 Cents a Meal, said Diane Conners, senior policy specialist at Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities.


"That this innovative program can be a part of this unprecedented investment in our children also is a testament to the resilience of school food staff and early childhood education centers, and all of those dedicated individuals who tirelessly work for the benefit of children across the state," she said. "Healthy, locally grown foods help build the minds and bodies of our children, while the purchases support family farms and help to build the infrastructure of our local food supply." 


MDE is assisted in the program by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which provides expertise on Michigan-grown products; the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, which is the evaluation partner and supports trainings; and Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, which conducts stakeholder interviews, communications, and outreach.   


To learn more, please visit www.tencentsmichigan.org. For the list of 2021-22 award grantees, visit https://www.tencentsmichigan.org/about.


Results from 2017-2020 are now available in a newly released MSU CRFS report What a dime can do: An evaluation of the 10 Cents a Meal pilot: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/what-a-dime-can-do-an-evaluation-of-the-10-cents-a-meal-pilot 

###


Program Contacts:

Wendy Crowley, Michigan Department of Education, CrowleyW@michigan.gov 

Nathan Medina, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, nathan@groundworkcenter.org  

Colleen Matts, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, matts@msu.edu


Nathan Luis Medina  | Policy Specialist
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

P   231-941-6584 ext. 714

T   @grndwk

A  148 E Front St, Suite 301  |  Traverse City, MI 49684
MIFARMTOSCHOOL is a listserv that links farm-to-school stakeholders and practitioners in Michigan, from school food service directors and school administrators to growers and distributors. Content posted to MIFARMTOSCHOOL does not necessarily reflect the views of Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.

Release: Michigan Department of Education Announces 2021-22 10 Cents a Meal Grantees!

Hello all - MDE has announced the first round of 10 Cents a Meal grantees for the 2021-22 school year.

The following press release includes statements from:
  • Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
  • Michigan State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice
  • SNAM president-elect Jennifer Mattison
  • Michigan State Senator Wayne Schmidt
  • Ernie Birchmeier, Manager of Michigan Farm Bureau's Center for Commodities and Farm and Industry Relations
  • Diane Conners, Senior Policy Specialist at Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Michigan Department of Education Announces 2021-22 10 Cents a Meal Grantees


LANSING, Mich. (Sept. 30, 2021) - The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has announced 229 grantees for the initial round of 10 Cents A Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms grants for the 2021-22 school year. The state-funded farm-to-institution program provides matching incentive funding up to 10 cents per meal to purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes. With this first round announcement, the program will serve a total enrollment of nearly 554,000 children in the school, early childhood education and after school settings across the state, more than half of whom are eligible for free or reduced lunch.


Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the $17.1 billion K-12 budget into law in June. The bill accounts for the largest single-year School Aid Fund budget ever passed by the state, which included funding for 10 Cents a Meal at $5 million, more than doubling the funding from $2 million in 2020-21. 


"The 10 Cents a Meal program feeds our kids and supports family farmers and growers. Under the education bill I signed in June, which made the largest investment in education in state history, we more than doubled funding for this program that offers healthy, affordable meals to our kids," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "As we continue our economic jumpstart, we have to make sure everyone has the resources and support they need to succeed. I am grateful to the Michigan Department of Education and legislators for coming together to get this done for our kids."


Schools and early childhood settings are where children get up to two and sometimes even three meals a day. 10 Cents a Meal enhances those meals and also can support Michigan's emerging local food system infrastructure that delivers products from local farms to local customers, which has proven to be all the more important during the COVID-19 pandemic.


"Expanded access to fresh fruits and vegetables supports the health of our learners," said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. "Because of 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms, schools can welcome their students back into school buildings this fall with fresher menus that will help them to be healthy and to learn during these challenging times. Early childhood education centers can help our youngest school-age children begin healthy eating habits for a lifetime, and Michigan farms and our local food supply chain can be strengthened and assured of market demand. Once again, 10 Cents a Meal is a win in so many ways."


Grantees say that 10 Cents a Meal provides them much-needed flexibility to try new items with children and engage them in healthy eating within tight food service budgets. 


"The School Nutrition Association of Michigan (SNAM) applauds the expansion of 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms," said SNAM president-elect Jennifer Mattison, who also serves as Director of Food & Nutrition Services at Dexter Community Schools & Washtenaw ISD. "This important program helps school food service staff nourish our children so that they are really ready to learn. It also helps our food service professionals to invest in Michigan's economy and strengthen local food supply chains, which we have found--as a result of COVID--to often be more reliable than national food supply chains. Locally grown food for Michigan's children makes all the sense in the world."


The innovative program has gone from a modest state pilot program in northwest and west Michigan in 2016 to finally being available to applicants statewide for the 2020-2021 school year, and this latest investment from the state affirms the importance of 10 Cents a Meal in providing fresh, healthy, local fruits, vegetables, and dry beans for Michigan's students and children in early care settings.


"I have witnessed firsthand how important the 10 Cents a Meal program is for students, and it has been one of my top priorities to assist with the growth of this program," said Senator Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City), who chairs the Senate K-12 and Department of Education Appropriations Subcommittee. "Making sure students have proper nutrition from fruits and vegetables grown by local Michigan farmers has proven to be a successful tool in helping students remain healthy and focused on their schoolwork."


According to the 2020-2021 preliminary evaluation results from the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (MSU CRFS), nearly 64% of all grantees (91 of 143) reported that 10 Cents grants allowed them to try new products in their food service program that they would not have otherwise tried. The top ten new Michigan-grown foods reported by food service directors who utilized the grant included, in order: apples, asparagus, blueberries, dry beans/legumes, cherries, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, summer squash, and root vegetables.


"Providing healthy, nutritious, wholesome, and affordable food is the top priority of Michigan farmers. It's why they invest their time, money and sweat equity every day in the fields growing crops, fruits, and vegetables and in the barns caring for their dairy herd and livestock," said  Ernie Birchmeier, Manager of Michigan Farm Bureau's Center for Commodities and Farm and Industry Relations. "The 10 Cents a Meal program further enhances agriculture's ability to meet the nutritional needs of our communities, especially children. We look forward to continued growth and opportunities to contribute and collaborate as we feed our consumers and enhance our agriculture industry."


The program is open to school districts (public, public school academies, or private), and non-school sponsors of USDA Child Nutrition Programs such as residential childcare institutions (RCCIs), after-school programs, and child care centers participating in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).


The $5-million funding is a testament to the central strategic value of 10 Cents a Meal, said Diane Conners, senior policy specialist at Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities.


"That this innovative program can be a part of this unprecedented investment in our children also is a testament to the resilience of school food staff and early childhood education centers, and all of those dedicated individuals who tirelessly work for the benefit of children across the state," she said. "Healthy, locally grown foods help build the minds and bodies of our children, while the purchases support family farms and help to build the infrastructure of our local food supply." 


MDE is assisted in the program by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which provides expertise on Michigan-grown products; the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, which is the evaluation partner and supports trainings; and Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, which conducts stakeholder interviews, communications, and outreach.   


To learn more, please visit www.tencentsmichigan.org. For the list of 2021-22 award grantees, visit https://www.tencentsmichigan.org/about.


Results from 2017-2020 are now available in a newly released MSU CRFS report What a dime can do: An evaluation of the 10 Cents a Meal pilot: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/what-a-dime-can-do-an-evaluation-of-the-10-cents-a-meal-pilot 

###


Program Contacts:

Wendy Crowley, Michigan Department of Education, CrowleyW@michigan.gov 

Nathan Medina, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, nathan@groundworkcenter.org  

Colleen Matts, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, matts@msu.edu


Nathan Luis Medina  | Policy Specialist
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

P   231-941-6584 ext. 714

T   @grndwk

A  148 E Front St, Suite 301  |  Traverse City, MI 49684
MIFARMTOSCHOOL is a listserv that links farm-to-school stakeholders and practitioners in Michigan, from school food service directors and school administrators to growers and distributors. Content posted to MIFARMTOSCHOOL does not necessarily reflect the views of Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

How has 10 Cents a Meal benefited Michigan kids, farmers, and food businesses?

Explore evaluation findings for the 10 Cents a Meal pilot
The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund are pleased to share new evaluation findings for the 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids and Farms (10 Cents) program.

This nationally-recognized farm to school program has expanded from a regional pilot in northwest Lower Michigan to a statewide initiative with $5 million in state funding.
10 Cents is designed to improve daily nutrition and eating habits for Michigan children and invest in Michigan’s agriculture and local food business economy by matching what schools spend on Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes with grants of up to 10 cents per meal.
10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids and Farms
Nine topic-specific summaries present findings from 10 Cents data collected between 2017 and 2020, focusing primarily on the pilot phase of the program (2016-2019). The topics include:

  • What kinds of farms and food businesses were involved in the 10 Cents food supply chain 
  • Which fruits, vegetables, and legumes were served to students  
  • How school food service directors use 10 Cents differently 
  • How previous experience with farm to school affects how 10 Cents grants are utilized 
  • How local food purchasing helped some school food service directors in the pandemic 
  • Recommendations for future evaluation 

Farm to school advocates, policymakers, school food service directors, and researchers can use this evaluation to understand and describe the impacts that 10 Cents makes, explore recommendations for program design and implementation, and review questions to consider in future evaluation.

Farmers and local food suppliers can use this information to guide conversations with school food service directors about market opportunities, as they can learn more about Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes of interest and how local foods get to participating schools.

Explore and share the evaluation findings with your networks! 

September
30
Thursday
Webinar: 10 Cents a Meal Program Impacts
Join us to learn more about impacts of the first three years of the pilot program. We will also discuss how this information can be used to build sustainable and successful farm to school programs. This online session will be beneficial to any previous, current, and future 10 Cents participants and anyone who supports these programs.
Registration is required to participate in this free virtual meeting.. More Info
For more information about 10 Cents a Meal evaluation, contact Colleen Matts at matts@msu.edu.

To learn more about 10 Cents a Meal, visit the 10 Cents a Meal website.

Visit the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems website to learn more about 10 Cents evaluation and farm to school in Michigan.

This work was funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Ongoing 10 Cents evaluation is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 
Please help us spread the word!
Forward this message and share on social media. Tag @MSUCRFS and @mihealthfund on Facebook and Twitter.

How has 10 Cents a Meal benefited Michigan kids, farmers, and food businesses? Find out with new findings from @MSUCRFS and @mihealthfund. foodsystems.msu.edu/10-cents-eval-2021

Nearly 200 farmers and food businesses were involved in the food supply chain in the 10 Cents a Meal pilot years. Learn more about the benefits of 10 Cents: foodsystems.msu.edu/10-cents-eval-2021
EMAIL CRFS@msu.edu
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