The OA-BCIG Community School District is one of 33 districts or schools to receive a grant to participate in the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Program for Schools.
The recipients were announced yesterday (Thur) by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
The one-year pilot program, authorized during the 2024 legislative session, connects Iowa schools with Choose Iowa members to encourage school food service programs to purchase and serve more ingredients and products sourced from local farmers and small businesses.
The pilot program is an initiative of Choose Iowa, the state’s branding and marketing program that identifies and promotes Iowa-grown, made and raised food, beverages, and ag products.
The school pilot program has a total budget of $75,000. Each school was eligible to apply for up to $1,000 per school building. Both public and private schools were encouraged to apply. Selected schools are required to provide a minimum one-to-one financial match.
