The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) is proud to announce an $837,900 investment through the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant program, which will support 21 innovative projects across the state. These initiatives are expected to positively impact more than 58,500 children by increasing access to fresh, locally grown foods and enhancing farm-to-school connections.
Through this latest round of funding, the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant program continues to strengthen Connecticut’s local food system by fostering partnerships between schools, early childhood education centers, farmers, and community organizations. The 21 selected projects span urban, suburban, and rural communities, and include efforts such as school gardens, nutrition education, farm field trips, and procurement of CT Grown farm products for school meals.
“This investment reflects our commitment to nourishing both the minds and bodies of Connecticut’s youth,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “By connecting children with fresh, local food and agricultural education, we’re cultivating healthier communities and a stronger local economy.”
This highly competitive grant program received 41 applications for the full grant awards with funding requesting exceeding $1.6 million. Projects were reviewed by committee and those moving forward have individual award amounts ranging from $12,323 up to $50,000. The fiscal year 2026 CT Grown for CT Kids full grant awardees are:
Track 2: Farm & Family Learning (ECE & Beyond Grant)
- Green Village Initiative, Inc., Bridgeport, $49,500: Install indoor hydroponic systems in ten Bridgeport ECE centers, training educators and engaging families in year-round nutrition education using CT-grown produce to promote healthy eating and food literacy.
- Mansfield Discovery Depot, Storrs/Mansfield, $36,170: Enhance the gardening, farming and nutritional education opportunities for preschool aged children, families, MDD staff, and local community through experiential learning, and partnerships with local CSA, farmers, master gardeners.
- Riverfront Children’s Center, Groton, $12,323: Fostering multi-generational, community-based food literacy and agricultural awareness through thoughtfully designed, age-appropriate kitchen, garden, and livestock activities that will engage and delight both children and adults.
- Stepping Stones Museum for Children LLC, Norwalk, $50,000: Connects young learners, families, and farms with CT-grown food education, hands-on gardening, and family workshops promoting wellness, cultural connection, and sustainable community growth.
- The Cozy Den Childcare LLC, New Haven, $46,296: Kidz Kook is a literacy and STEM-based wellness enrichment project that turns storytime into hands-on learning for children and families through cooking, gardening, reading, and exploration. It makes education interactive, fun, and nourishing.
- Women’s League Child Development Center, Hartford, $49,687: Establish vegetable gardens and a greenhouse that will provide fresh, healthy produce for our children and their families while fostering meaningful educational opportunities, to further enhance our STEAM based curricular approach.
Track 3: Local Procurement Assistance
- City Seed, New Haven, $50,000: CitySeed provides efficient ordering and delivery of Connecticut grown produce to institutions, including New Haven Public Schools. CitySeed supports New Haven Public Schools in using locally-grown items on our school menus, and aims to expand.
- Partners for Sustainable Healthy Communities (Northwest CT Food Hub), Torrington, $26,507: The NWCT Food Hub will purchase the equipment, supplies, and technical assistance needed to obtain third party FSMA certification, enabling them to grow their operations to support about 60 CT farmers and 25,000 K-12 students.
Track 4: Experiential Learning, AgTech, and Innovation
- 333 Valley Street An Intergenerational Organization Inc., New Haven, $48,130: A hands-on Farm-to-School hub where youth grow food, cook plant-based meals, and learn sustainability through Root Life’s regenerative training program.
- Ashford School District, Ashford, $50,000: Connects students, families, and local farms through gardening, cooking, and farm visits, promoting healthy eating, hands-on learning, and community connections rooted in Ashford’s local agriculture.
- Brass City Charter School District, Waterbury, $13,000: Build a raised bed garden with middle school students, plant seedlings raised by elementary students, and take early-grade students to visit local farms. All students will participate in taste tests of items from gardens and local farms.
- Cheshire School District, Cheshire, $49,960: Program expansion to include processing locally grown produce in our school kitchen and hosting a CTG4CTK event for students.
- East Hampton School District, East Hampton, $49,515: The Field to Fork Project connects science and culinary students who grow and cook local food using hydroponics and garden beds, partnering with farms to supply produce, teach sustainable practices, and strengthen the local food system.
- Franklin Elementary School, N. Franklin, $39,500: Establishment of a dedicated agriculture facility at Franklin Elementary School to serve as a collaborative space for students to work directly with local farmers and learn about agriculture in a hands-on way.
- Great Path Academy at CT State Manchester, Middle College Magnet School, Manchester, $35,495: Using Experiential Learning, On-Campus Production, and Local Procurement, the program connects students to local farms to teach the food system from cultivation to consumption.
- Marlborough Elementary School, Marlborough, $25,000: Greenhouse will be incorporated into curriculum for science, math and social studies, among other subjects and serve as a cornerstone project of the new student sustainability club.
- Newtown Board of Education, Newtown, $49,637: This collaborative, inter-district project develops a new garden for Newtown Special Education Students and campers, enhances existing gardens at three of Newtown’s schools, and results in curriculum alignment and long-term planning district-wide.
- Plainville School District, Plainville, $49,883: Build a 19'x30' greenhouse in the field by the school to act as an outdoor learning space for K-5 classrooms and the Garden Club.
- Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, Bridgeport, $35,980: Transforming a vacant lot into an outdoor STEM learning garden, where youth explore gardening, hydroponics, and pollinator pathways to build curiosity, confidence, and collaboration through hands-on discovery.
- Waterbury School District, Waterbury, $49,887: Implement a farm-to-school initiative that will greatly enhance the capacity of Wilby High School to deliver Agriculture education that includes expansive experiential learning for students.
- Yoco Roots LLC, Hartford, $21,438: Over one year, 40 students will engage in hands-on agricultural education integrating Indigenous and climate-smart farming, nutrition literacy, and entrepreneurship.
To learn more, including success stories from previous recipients, visit the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant webpage.
