Concrete School District awarded nearly $150,000 to expand local procurement in the district’s food service program.
CONCRETE, Washington – The Concrete School District (CSD) has received a grant award from The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service Project SCALES (Supporting Community Agriculture and Local Education Systems).
The CSD is one of only 12 recipients nationwide to receive the Project SCALES funding. The $149,992 award over two years will enhance and expand the CSD local and seasonal procurement, as well as its Farm to School program. Concrete Farm to School is administered in partnership with United General District 304, the public hospital district serving the Concrete region. The CSD anticipates this two-year project will serve approximately 535 students.
As a subcontractor in this grant award, United General District 304 will receive nearly $70,000 to provide hands-on Farm to School education for K-12 students. United General District 304 (District 304) is the public hospital district serving north and east Skagit County and is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Skagit County residents. District 304 administers Farm to School programs in the Concrete and Sedro-Woolley school districts and has more than 10 years of experience connecting children and families to local food in the cafeteria, classroom, and community.
Ms. Crickmore, Superintendent of Concrete School District, expressed enthusiasm about the grant award: “This generous grant from Project SCALES will not only be a game changer for our school meal system, but it’s also an important validation of the high quality of our food service and Farm to School programs. It allows us to invest in critical areas that directly impact our students’ learning and overall well-being. We are deeply grateful for the support and excited to see the positive outcomes it will bring to the entire community.”
The grant will be allocated towards several key initiatives, including:
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A dedicated CSD employee, the Farm to Cafeteria Specialist, to manage and expand local procurement.
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Farm to School program development, including curriculum, garden planning, and cooking lessons for students.
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Participation by CSD and United General District 304 in nutrition and procurement education through the Healthy Meals Summit.
Learn more about United General District 304.
