Skowhegan Development Group Receives $200,000 Grant to Help Maine Grains and Others

Maine Grains at 42 Court St. in Skowhegan in July 2022. Portland Press Herald Files

SKOWHEGAN – Skowhegan Economic Development Corp. received a $200,000 grant to support a partnership with Maine Grains, the University of Maine System and Sodexo’s Maine Course to provide grain-based packaged foods to schools.

Bags of flour are being stacked for shipment in July 2022 at Maine Grains at 42 Court St. in Skowhegan. Portland Press Herald Files

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry announced Monday the Henry P. Kendall Foundation’s 2024 New England Food Vision Prize, which awarded more than $1.2 million to support local food in local schools.

According to the state Department of Agriculture, the effort is a multi-year commitment to help build resilience, relationships and capacity within the New England regional food system.

According to officials, Maine System and Sodexo universities are seeking healthy, ready-to-eat, local, grain-based products on their menus.

The equipment funded by the award is expected to enable Maine Grains to convert its local mill, cheese, seaweed, berry and soy byproducts into packaged, high-fiber and protein products that will be sold to schools, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

The New England Food Vision Prize provides funding for collaborative projects that address the challenges of sourcing and serving local produce, fish, meat, dairy and grains in New England educational institutions.

Award-winning projects help connect public school districts and higher education institutions with farmers, distributors, fishermen, food hubs and others that aim to produce at least 30% of the region’s food by 2030. The 2024 awards are expected to support nine projects in five New England states that will reach more than 150,000 students in 2,019 schools.

“It is an honor to support transformational leaders in the pursuit of a stronger food system in New England,” said Andy Kendall, executive director of the Kendall Foundation. “More regional foods on campus and district menus mean stronger supply chains, more resilient farmers and distributors, and more informed students who will be the consumers of tomorrow. Congratulations to all the awarded teams.”

The Kendall Foundation launched its Regional Food Systems Grant Program in 2011. It partners with others dedicated to building a healthy, resilient food system in New England and seeks to support innovative approaches that leverage increased awareness and interest in the food system.