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USDA awards $17,161,128 to Mississippi...

USDA awards $17,161,128 to Mississippi school meal programs

By: Anne Summerhays - December 28, 2021

These funds will aid in disruptions in the supply chain.

Earlier this month, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Department of Agriculture will provide up to $1.5 billion to states and school districts to help school meal program operators deal with the challenges of supply chain disruptions brought on by the pandemic.

Over $17 million will be given to Mississippi school meal programs.

Secretary Vilsack said the food and funds USDA is distributing will help ensure schools have the resources they need to continue serving students quality food they can depend on, and to build a “stronger, fairer, and more competitive food system.”

“USDA’s school meal programs have a wide-reaching impact on the health and well-being of our nation’s children,” the Agriculture Secretary said. “Now, more than ever, America’s children need access to healthy and nutritious foods and our school nutrition professionals play a huge role in making that happen. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, school districts have met extraordinary challenges to ensure that every child has the food needed to learn, grow and thrive.”

The Supply Chain Assistance Funds are expected to provide a boost in resources for up to 100,000 schools across all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In Mississippi, $11,296,031 in Supply Chain Assistance funds are provided for schools to purchase food for their meal programs while $3,605,891 are to be used in order to purchase USDA Foods to distribute to schools and $2,259,206 for cooperative agreements to purchase local foods for schools, focusing on historically underused producers.

About the Author(s)
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Anne Summerhays

Anne Summerhays is a recent graduate of Millsaps College where she majored in Political Science, with minors in Sociology and American Studies. In 2021, she joined Y’all Politics as a Capitol Correspondent. Prior to making that move, she interned for a congressional office in Washington, D.C. and a multi-state government relations and public affairs firm in Jackson, Mississippi. While at Millsaps, Summerhays received a Legislative Fellowship with the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi where she worked with an active member of the Mississippi Legislature for the length of session. She has quickly established trust in the Capitol as a fair, honest, and hardworking young reporter. Her background in political science helps her cut through the noise to find and explain the truth. Email Anne: anne@magnoliatribune.com
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