20266703746004
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Many schools struggle to provide healthy, freshly cooked meals for students because there aren't enough skilled professionals trained in nutrition-focused culinary arts.
This shortage of qualified staff makes it difficult for schools to move away from processed foods and embrace scratch cooking, which benefits student health, academic performance, and local economies.
The overarching idea behind this design-phase project is that by developing a specialized training pathway for school food professionals, we can address staffing gaps, enhance job quality, and make it easier for schools to serve healthy, locally sourced meals.
The project aims to design a comprehensive workforce training program for school food professionals in New York, with on-ramps for culinary students through a partnership between Erie Community College (ECC), the Chef Ann Foundation (CAF), and local school districts.
This work involves creating hands-on learning experiences that integrate into ECC's culinary arts programs, developing industry-recognized credentials, and forming a strong coalition of partners.
Expected outcomes of the design-phase project include new earn-and-learn career pathways for culinary students, expanded participant recruitment and access, increased school district engagement, a robust funding strategy to ensure long-term program stability, and the establishment of an effective advisory committee to guide program success during implementation.
Ultimately, the project's impact will be healthier students, stronger communities, and a more resilient food system across New York, as well as a program model that can be replicated in culinary arts programs or in other states where Chef Ann Foundation will expand this work.
This shortage of qualified staff makes it difficult for schools to move away from processed foods and embrace scratch cooking, which benefits student health, academic performance, and local economies.
The overarching idea behind this design-phase project is that by developing a specialized training pathway for school food professionals, we can address staffing gaps, enhance job quality, and make it easier for schools to serve healthy, locally sourced meals.
The project aims to design a comprehensive workforce training program for school food professionals in New York, with on-ramps for culinary students through a partnership between Erie Community College (ECC), the Chef Ann Foundation (CAF), and local school districts.
This work involves creating hands-on learning experiences that integrate into ECC's culinary arts programs, developing industry-recognized credentials, and forming a strong coalition of partners.
Expected outcomes of the design-phase project include new earn-and-learn career pathways for culinary students, expanded participant recruitment and access, increased school district engagement, a robust funding strategy to ensure long-term program stability, and the establishment of an effective advisory committee to guide program success during implementation.
Ultimately, the project's impact will be healthier students, stronger communities, and a more resilient food system across New York, as well as a program model that can be replicated in culinary arts programs or in other states where Chef Ann Foundation will expand this work.
Awardee
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Boulder,
Colorado
80304-0796
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Chef Ann Foundation was awarded
Project Grant 20266703746004
worth $250,000
from the Institute of Youth, Family, and Community in March 2026 with work to be completed primarily in Boulder Colorado United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 3/6/26
Period of Performance
3/1/26
Start Date
2/29/28
End Date
Funding Split
$250.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$250.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
20266703746004
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Other
Awarding Office
12348V Institute of Youth, Family, and Community (IYFC)
Funding Office
12348V Institute of Youth, Family, and Community (IYFC)
Awardee UEI
GJN4LMJ6HVG8
Awardee CAGE
6VLD4
Performance District
CO-02
Senators
Michael Bennet
John Hickenlooper
John Hickenlooper
Modified: 3/6/26