Pursuant to Section 722 of PL 116-260, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, Title VII, Chapter 3 (the Act), the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is offering additional funds to state agencies administering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to provide local operators of those programs with additional reimbursements for emergency operating costs they incurred during the public health emergency. These additional funds will be provided by way of two temporary reimbursement programs, the School Programs Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Program.
These reimbursement options provide additional funding for local child nutrition program operators whose revenues declined or were temporarily interrupted during the early months of the pandemic due to COVID-19 related restrictions and closures. Throughout this exceptionally challenging time, program operators experienced widespread and significant gaps in funding, and in many cases were forced to expend their savings, draw funds from other sources, and cut or even suspend operations. The relief provided by these reimbursements is intended to help address such shortfalls and ensure that program operators are in the best position to rebuild while continuing to serve their communities.
In order to participate in these reimbursement programs, state agencies must have an implementation plan approved by FNS.
Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Program plans have been approved in the following states:
“Refer to individual state Waivers & Flexibilities pages (linked above) for specific information on which Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs implementation plans have been approved in each state. Please note that the date of implementation plan approval by FNS and the date upon which states make Emergency Operational Costs payments available to local program operators may vary.”