SPS Food and Nutrition Services Awarded Food Security Infrastructure Grant from Department of Agricultural Resources
Grant to help fund walk-in refrigeration/freezing renovations; new ovens
SALEM (Oct. 21, 2025) – The Salem Public Schools Department of Food and Nutrition Services was awarded the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, FNS Operations Manager Robby Armstrong ‘05 announced Friday.
The $313,793 grant is expected to fund significant enhancements in SPS kitchens including the rebuilding of walk-in refrigeration and freezing spaces at several schools as well as new, state-of-the-art ovens.
“We applied for the grant back in May with the goal of driving more locally-sourced, scratch-cooked meals across Salem,” said Mr. Armstrong, a graduate of the Salem High School Class of 2005. “To make that vision a reality, we’ll be ramping up our capacity for both cold and hot food storage and production.”
Specifically, the walk-in refrigeration and freezing spaces at Bates Elementary School, Saltonstall School, and the Carlton Innovation School will be renovated and made larger. Additionally, new combination ovens will be installed to enhance the Department’s ability to cook from scratch more often, expand menu offerings and help increase student participation and overall meal quality.
The renovations, expected to begin this winter, will nearly double the Department’s storage space to safely store fresh, local produce and proteins, including local seafood, Mr. Armstrong noted.
“This is an exciting step forward for Salem Public Schools Food & Nutrition Services, and it aligns perfectly with our mission to provide wholesome, high-quality meals made right here in our community,” Mr. Armstrong added.
The grant is the latest plaudit SPS Food and Nutrition Services has received this year. In July, it was one of 199 school districts nationwide to receive the ‘Turnip the Beet Award’ from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its outstanding service during the 2024 Summer Eats program.
The timeliness of the grant was ideal, as the District just celebrated National School Lunch Week at each of its kitchens and cafeterias.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts, a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens through which we view our work. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff unconditionally serves each of our 4,000 students across 11 schools regardless of ability or language.
