Local Foods Fund

When funds are available payments, will be made as first received, first paid.
E-mail the Local Foods Fund Coordiantor for information
on receiving ADDITIONAL REIMBURSEMENT through a Child Nutrition Local Foods Training.
To file your Local Foods Claim, email the completed Summary Claim Form, signed by the Legal Agent to the Local Foods Fund Coordinator

Summary Claim Form
 

Program Year 2024

Directions and Description of the State of Maine Local Foods Reimbursement

S.P. 728 - L.D. 1858

An Act to Promote Local Seafood in Schools

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§12, as amended by PL 2023, c. 101, §1, is further amended to read:

12. Local Foods Fund. The Local Foods Fund is established within the department. The fund is authorized to receive revenue from public and private sources. The fund must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year must be carried forward to the next fiscal year. The fund must be used to match $1 for every $3 $2 a school administrative unit pays
for produce, value-added dairy, protein, including seafood, or processed foods purchased directly from a farmer, person who fishes commercially, aquaculture farmer, farmers' cooperative, aquaculture farmers' cooperative, local food hub, local food processor or food service distributor in the State, to a maximum state contribution of $5,000 $10,000 per school administrative unit in fiscal year 2021‑22 2025-26 and subsequent years or $5,500
$11,000 per school administrative unit if funding is received and the school administrative unit sends a food service employee to local foods training administered by the department under subsection 13. All foods purchased using the fund must be grown, caught or produced in the State, with the exception of processed and value-added food products produced in the State, which must meet standards set by the department. The department
shall create standards for allowable processed and value‑added food products produced in the State and provide guidance to school administrative units regarding which of those products are allowable for reimbursement under this subsection and subsection 12‑A. At the end of the fiscal year, the school administrative unit may provide the department with receipts documenting purchases pursuant to this subsection during that year. Reimbursement or partial reimbursement to school administrative units may only be made up to the amount available in the fund. Failure to reimburse does not constitute an obligation on behalf of the State to a school administrative unit. The department shall apply for federal grant funding to provide state contributions in excess of $5,000 per school administrative unit in fiscal year 2021-22 and subsequent years pursuant to this subsection if applicable grant funding is available. The department may accept grant funding from hospitals and other sources to provide state contributions in excess of $5,000 per school administrative unit in fiscal year 2021-22 and subsequent years pursuant to this subsection.
Any available unexpended balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year may be used for training and materials related to the Local Foods Fund programs.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§12-A, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 426, §2, is amended to read:

12-A. Local Foods Fund reimbursement. Reimbursement or partial reimbursement to school administrative units may be made only up to the amount appropriated to support the provisions of the Local Foods Fund as established in subsection 12. Funds appropriated for this purpose do not lapse but must be carried forward to the next fiscal year to be used for the same purpose or for training and materials related to the Local Foods Fund
programs.

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§13, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. OOO, §2, is amended by enacting at the end a new last blocked paragraph to read:

Funds received for the purposes of this subsection may be used to contract with 3rd-party entities to provide training.

Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§13-A is enacted to read:

13-A. Data collection; annual report to Legislature. The department shall collect data on the usage of the Local Foods Fund under subsection 12 and the local foods training program under subsection 13 by school administrative units, including the procurement of seafood. Beginning January 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters
and marine resources matters on program participation, seafood purchases made by school administrative units and recommendations for program improvement. Each of the joint standing committees may report out legislation related to the content of the report.

Local Foods Fund Simple Guidelines

• Cannot be for produce offered through the FFVP.
• Minimally processed as defined in law.
• Receipts are paid first in first out, until the money is gone by using the Local Foods Fund claim form (linked above).
• Items being requested for reimbursement must be listed on the claim form.
• Requests will be processed in the same timeframe as the monthly claim form; the 8^th of each month.
• Receipts do not have to be originals.
• Districts have a maximum of $5000 per year for SY2024 or $5500 if district participates in local foods training offered by the department.
• Summary page must be attached to refund request.
• DOE reserves the right to decline or prorate receipts to provide support to as many districts as reasonably possible.
• DOE Child Nutrition staff will notify districts, through the list serve, when funds are no longer available.

Allowable Processed and Value-Added Food Products in the Maine Local Foods Fund

State legislation designated the Maine Department of Education to create standards for allowable processed and value-added food products produced in the State and provide guidance to school administrative units regarding which of those products are allowable for reimbursement.

An allowable processed and value-added product, must meet the following definition:

Be produced in the State of Maine and contain 51% or more agricultural raw materials grown, harvested, or produced in Maine by weight or volume. Water is excluded from this requirement.

Procedure for Maine Producers/Processors to Apply

Maine producers and processors that would like to qualify their processed and value-added food products must take the following steps:

1. Complete an electronic application
2. Using the links below, complete the product formulation sheet and attestation statement. Email both forms and product labels you are applying for to Katie Knowles, Farm & Sea to School Coordinator: katie.knowles@maine.gov

The Maine Department of Education will follow up as needed and will notify the producer/processor or approval.

Product Formulation Sheet for Maine Processed Foods
Attestation for Maine Processed Foods

Frequently Asked Questions - Allowable Processed and Value Added Food Products

Why is a product formulation statement required?

To verify that the requirement of 51% or more agricultural raw materials grown, harvested, or produced in Maine by weight or volume, is met.

Who should complete the product formulation statement?

It should be completed by the processor and/or whoever has knowledge on where the ingredients are sourced from and the amounts.