February 9, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969 |
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| February 9, 2024
CONNECTICUT GROWN FOR CONNECTICUT KIDS GRANT INVESTS $50,000 IN EAST HARTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids grant program recently announced recipients of its grant funding to support availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections and help children build healthy habits from a young age. State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) was ecstatic to learn that a key recipient of these grants was East Hartford Public Schools, which will receive $50,000 for the East Hartford Farm to School Project.
This project, already helping students learn about the importance of agriculture and the science behind growing food, is seeking to expand programming and increase sustainability. This grant funding will support the program by funding a part-time farm-to-school coordinator, as well as updating existing gardens, aiding professional development, acquiring kitchen equipment and providing farm field trips for students.
“I’m excited by the increased possibilities these funds will provide to students in East Hartford and the growth they will support,” said Sen. Anwar. “By bringing on new staff, upgrading currently used gardens and allowing for students to take field trips and visit farms, this program will continue to benefit local students through hands-on exploration and education on agriculture’s important and local connections.”
State legislators have allocated funding in recent years to support this program; in the 2023 legislative session, it received a $1 million allocation in the state budget and a $2 million allocation through the American Rescue Plan Act for shipping container gardens supporting local schools and/or food pantries.
