Organizations Receive Money to Connect Farmers with Schools

From the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

Several new initiatives to better connect New York schools to local growers and producers across the state to ensure the use of fresh, healthy foods in school meals across the state and boost the agriculture industry were announced Friday.  

A total of $6.7 million in grants to 26 organizations statewide will help increase access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity in high need communities.

Through the Department of Health's new Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program, the department is working with local organizations to implement strategies to combat obesity and other chronic diseases in high-need school districts and their surrounding communities. 

Six organizations in Western New York will receive grants totaling $1,448,001. Grant awardees will work directly with school districts and food retailers in these areas to improve access to nutritious foods as well as increase opportunities for daily physical activity.

Those obtaining grants are:

Onondaga County Health Department, Syracuse, $250,000

Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES, $250,000

St. Lawrence County Health Initiative INc., Clifton-Fine, Gouverneur, $250,000

Clinton County Health Department, $250,000

Chautauqua County Health Network, $250,000

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County, $198.001

Erie 1 BOCES, $250,000

Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, Rochester, $250,000

Genesee, Livingston, Steuben, Wyoming BOCES, $250,000

Capital District Community Gardens, $250,000

Glens Falls Hospital, $250,000

North Country Healthy Heart Network, Malone, Salmon River, Brushton-Moira, $250,000

Research Foundation for SUNY Cobleskill, $250,000

Seton Health Foundation, Hudson, Rensselaer, Troy, Schenectady, $250,000

County of Broome, $250,000

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County, Fallsburg, Liberty, Monticello, $249,718

Nepperhan Community Center, Yonkers, $250,000

Orange County Department of Health, Newburgh, Port Jervis, $250,000

Rockland County Department of Health, East Ramapo, $250,000

Western Suffolk BOCES, Wyandanch, Shinecock, Glen Cove, $250,000

Fund for Public Health in New York, North and Central Brooklyn, $249,945

Fund for Public Health in New York, East Harlem and Brooklyn, $249,845 

The Institute for Family Health, Bronx, $250,000

JSI Research and Training, $504,120