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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Good afternoon,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">On Friday, March 7, Maine Department of Education Child Nutrition received a termination notice for Maine’s Local Food for Schools and Childcare (LFSCC) Cooperative Agreement from USDA Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS). According to the notice, AMS determined the agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">In October 2024, USDA AMS announced funding for their Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement (LFSCC). Maine was to be allocated a combined $2,782,434 in funding ($2,245,556
for NSLP and $536,878 for CACFP). The program was to provide funding for schools and childcare institutions participating in NSLP and CACFP to purchase local foods from Maine producers, targeting historically underserved producers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">We understand that this news may come as disappointment to many. Rest assured; our department continues to support and provide Farm & Sea to School resources for CACFP providers across the
State. Please reach out to Farm & Sea to School Coordinator, Katie Knowles, with any related questions or concerns at
<a href="mailto:katie.knowles@maine.gov" target="_blank">katie.knowles@maine.gov</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">________________________________________ <br>
<br>
<b>Troy Fullmer</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">CACFP, Nutrition Consultant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Child Nutrition<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Maine Department of Education<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">136 State House Station<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Augusta, ME 04333-0136 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Email:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> <a href="mailto:Troy.fullmer@maine.gov">Troy.fullmer@maine.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Phone:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> 207-816-2312<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.maine.gov/doe" target="_blank" title="Original URL: http://www.maine.gov/doe. Click or tap if you trust this link.">Maine DOE</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/. Click or tap if you trust this link.">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/mdoenews" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://twitter.com/mdoenews. Click or tap if you trust this link.">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en. Click or tap if you trust this link.">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://mainedoenews.net/" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://mainedoenews.net/. Click or tap if you trust this link.">Maine
DOE Newsroom</a> <br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="190" height="69" style="width:1.9791in;height:.7187in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DB9286.79363430"></span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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