The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has chosen its 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids & Farms grantees for 2020-2021, which includes several grantees in Washtenaw County. 

Grantees include: Ann Arbor Public Schools ($60,000); Dexter Community School District ($35,000); Manchester Community Schools ($5,000); Whitmore Lake Public School District ($2,000); and, Ypsilanti Community Schools ($15,000).

10 Cents A Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms is a state-funded program providing schools and early childhood education centers with match incentive funding up to 10 cents per meal to purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

The Michigan legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer increased funding from $575,000 to $2 million for 10 Cents a Meal in the 2021 budget. Initially a pilot program launched in 2016, 10 Cents has been expanded so that it is available to schools statewide for the first time ever. Additionally, the program has been expanded to include early childhood centers as also eligible for the grant funding.

In this time of greater food insecurity due to the pandemic, food service programs are playing an essential role in delivering healthy, nutritious meals to Michigan’s children. The 10 Cents a Meal program amplifies local purchasing power while also providing a market for small-to-medium scale growers.

“As many families have turned to rely on our schools for meals and proper nutrition during this pandemic, it’s critical that our students have access to fresh, Michigan-grown produce,” said House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township). “Ensuring the health of our students benefits all of Michigan. I’m proud to see Ann Arbor, Dexter, Manchester Community Schools and Whitmore Lake Public Schools among the 10 Cents a Meal grantees, and I look forward to continue supporting our schools and this great program.”

To learn more, please visit www.tencentsmichigan.org.

For the list of 2020-21 award grantees, visit https://www.tencentsmichigan.org/about.

For the Michigan Department of Education press release on the new 10 Cents a Meal grantees, please click here.