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2022 Equipment Assistance Grants for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Operator

2022 Equipment Assistance Grants for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Operator

This grant provides funds for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Operators to purchase equipment to serve healthier school meals, improve food safety, and expand access to school meals. Equipment requests may include new equipment, renovation of equipment, or replacement of equipment.

For FY 2022 Equipment Assistance Grants, Congress has specified that the threshold for the purchase of equipment must be greater than $1,000. All individual items requested under this grant must have a value greater than $1,000. Cost(s) incurred prior to the approval of the grant may not be funded through the award.

Priority will be given to:
  • High-needs schools where 50 percent or more of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
  • Additional factors include, but are not limited, to the following:
  • Opportunities to realize meaningful impacts on nutrition and quality of meals
  • Strategies for adopting lunchroom changes that provide more convenience and appeal to the student population
  • The age of food service equipment or lack of appropriate items
  • The availability of existing State and local funding for equipment purchases
  • Priority is also given to schools that have not previously received an NSLP Equipment Grant.


National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Operator Grant Application Files

Click the links below to access grant materials.


Refer to the Grant Information Guide for instructions, timelines, and submission requirements. Questions may be emailed to Sara Brandt, Program Specialist, sara.brandt@maryland.gov.

Learn More

The MSDE will hold two virtual customer service support sessions for interested applicants. During these sessions, MSDE personnel will review the grant application requirements and be available to answer questions about the grant. Customer service support sessions will be held on:

January 9, 2023 and January 18, 2023 Customer Service Support sessions for the
2022 Equipment Assistance Grant for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Operator
2022 Equipment Assistance Grant for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Operator










  • January 9, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
2022 Equipment Assistance Grant Customer Support Session 1
Monday, January 9 · 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Google Meet joining info:
or dial: ‪(US) +1 513-818-0914‬ PIN: ‪343 456 237‬#‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
  • January 18, 2022, from 10:00 am to 11:00 a.m.
2022 Equipment Assistance Grant Customer Support Session 2
Wednesday, January 18 · 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Google Meet joining info
or dial: ‪(US) +1 470-655-0339‬ PIN: ‪653 744 849‬#‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Application Submission Date:

Wednesday, February 1, 2023. No later than 5:00 p.m. EST