Healthy Communities of the Capital Area Awarded $465,270 USDA Farm to School Grant to Strengthen Maine’s Local Food System

HALLOWELL, Maine -- April 17, 2026 --

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA) has been awarded a $465,270 FY 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), part of a historic $20 million national investment to expand access to nutritious, locally sourced food in schools while supporting American farmers and food producers.

HCCA’s two-year project, Strengthening the Maine Farm & Sea to School Network, will expand statewide capacity to bring more Maine-grown and minimally processed foods into child nutrition programs. The initiative will also strengthen the market infrastructure that supports Maine’s farmers, fishers, and food businesses through coordinated training, technical assistance, and producer–buyer connection strategies.

“This investment allows us to build on strong momentum across Maine,” said Alida Peterson, HCCA Food Systems Associate Program Manager. “By strengthening connections between schools and local producers, we can improve student nutrition while creating more reliable markets for Maine’s agricultural and seafood sectors.”

The project will align and advance several key statewide initiatives, including the Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network (MEFTI), the Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute, and the Maine Food Convergence Project’s Local Food Switchboard. MEFTI, a statewide network housed at HCCA, serves as the backbone for this work and leads the Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute while partnering on the Maine Food Convergence Project. Together, these efforts streamline local food procurement, strengthen supply chain coordination, and expand access to fresh, Maine-grown foods for students across the state.

HCCA is one of 52 projects funded in the first cohort of FY 2026 USDA Farm to School Grants, marking the largest investment in the program’s history.