# Nebraska RHTP 1.1: School Kitchen Modernization Grants

Nebraska Department of Education offers $2,234,048 in federal RHTP grants to rural and frontier school food authorities to modernize school kitchen infrastructure and equipment. Grants are available with no maximum individual award limit; equipment purchases must support increased scratch- and semi-scratch cooking, enhanced nutritional quality of meals, and greater use of minimally processed and locally produced protein. Schools/districts must document existing and proposed menus, provide at least three price quotes per equipment item (minimum $10,000 per item), and justify purchase choices. Projects funded should target at least a 5% monthly reduction in heat-and-serve menu items, a 5% increase in minimally processed/local protein menu offerings, and a 10% increase in student meal participation. Priority is for applicants in food deserts and high-poverty areas. No administrative or major construction costs are allowed. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through August 31, 2026, and all purchases must be completed by June 30, 2027. Funds are provided via reimbursement upon submission of procurement documentation. Post-award, recipients must submit final proof of purchase and updated menus by July 1, 2027.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: RFA
- Issued by: Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) (Nebraska)
- Posted: 2026-07-06
- Application due: 2026-09-01
- Funding: $10,000
- Eligible applicants: School District, School Food Authority, Educational Service Unit, Public School, Non-public School
- How to apply: Email completed application and all required documentation to Kayte.Partch@nebraska.gov.
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Grants%20and%20Contract%20Opportunity%20Docs/RHTP%201.1%20RFA%20Updated%208.26.2026.pdf

## Eligibility

Rural or frontier public and non-public schools, school districts, or educational service units in Nebraska are eligible.

## Requirements

To apply, applicants must: (1) Complete and submit the application form; (2) Provide four weeks of current SY2025-26 menus for all meal types served by the kitchen facility; (3) Include at least three price quotes with specifications per equipment item (minimum $10,000 value per item), and a justification if not selecting the lowest bid; (4) Outline menu changes and equipment's role in increasing scratch/semi-scratch/local protein offerings and reducing heat-and-serve items; (5) Describe staff training plans and methods for tracking menu change metrics (5% reduction heat/serve, 5% increase minimally processed/local protein items, 10% increase in participation); (6) Submit all required documentation electronically to Kayte.Partch@nebraska.gov. Administrative and construction costs are ineligible.

## Required attachments

- Completed application form
- Four weeks of current SY2025-26 menus (all meal types)
- Three price quotes with specifications for each equipment item (≥$10,000 per item)
- Justification for equipment choice if not lowest price

## Application package and source documents

- [NE - 2026 - RHTP RFA – Initiative 1.1 School Kitchen Modernization Grants (Superseded RFA (pre-8/26/2026 update))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/6fb03572-0b9f-4bd1-aed7-63aeca0a77b9/file) — official: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Grants%20and%20Contract%20Opportunity%20Docs/RHTP%20Initiative%201.1%20RFA_UPDATED%207-6-2026.pdf
- [NE - 2026 - School Kitchen Modernization Grants Informational/Question and Answer Session Announcement (Informational Q&A Session Announcement)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/0a29d080-0fb4-4674-9e1d-2c9e1dc28efc/file) — official: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Grants%20and%20Contract%20Opportunity%20Docs/RHTP%20Initiative%20%231.1%20RFA%20QA%20Session.pdf
- [NE - 2026 - RHTP Initiative 1.1 School Kitchen Modernization Grants Request for Application (Original RFA (pre-7/6/2026 update))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/8fb60556-d588-4cbd-ab97-36706a84cfed/file) — official: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Grants%20and%20Contract%20Opportunity%20Docs/RHTP%20Initiative%201.1%20RFA.pdf
- [NE - 2026 - Informational/Question and Answer Session Announcement for RHTP 1.1 School Kitchen Modernization Grants](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/1b943ca6-e594-40f6-b682-3ad2b9949e90/file) — official: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Grants%20and%20Contract%20Opportunity%20Docs/RHTP%20Initiative%201.1%20RFA%20QA%20Session.pdf
- [NE - 2026 - RHTP Initiative 1.1 School Kitchen Modernization Grants Request for Applications (RFA (updated 8/26/2026))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/d0af6abf-164c-4a5b-a765-dd68c74a0b01/file) (primary) — official: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Grants%20and%20Contract%20Opportunity%20Docs/RHTP%201.1%20RFA%20Updated%208.26.2026.pdf

More Nebraska RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ne (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ne.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/nebraska-rhtp-1-1-school-kitchen-modernization-grants--0865f39623 — data as of 2026-09-02.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.