Many Canadian students rely on school meals for steady, healthy food. But when schools lack proper kitchens, storage, or serving space, meal programs can fall short. School food infrastructure grants fill this gap by funding the equipment and facilities needed for safe, reliable food programs across Canada.
Food insecurity affects about one in five Canadian children, with rates even higher in low-income and northern communities (Statistics Canada, Household food insecurity, 2021). Upgrading school food infrastructure helps reduce this risk during the school day.
The main federal program for school food infrastructure is the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF), delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, LFIF). The School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF) does not currently exist under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
The Local Food Infrastructure Fund provides non-repayable funding to strengthen the physical capacity of food programs, including those serving schools. Instead of paying for food itself, the fund focuses on the tools and spaces needed to prepare, store, and serve meals safely.
The fund supports projects that:
With better infrastructure, schools and community partners can serve more meals, include fresh and culturally appropriate foods, and rely less on pre-packaged options.
The Local Food Infrastructure Fund is not designed for individual schools to apply on their own. Eligible applicants include:
These groups usually work directly with school boards or individual schools to deliver the project (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, LFIF).
Funding amounts under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund vary by intake and project scope. There is no single flat grant amount. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada looks at:
Funding is competitive. You need clear documentation. Building a strong partner network also helps your application succeed (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, LFIF).
Good infrastructure creates lasting benefits:
If you support or manage school food initiatives, tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly find programs by province and organization type.
Assuming schools can apply directly
Most applications must come from non-profits or community organizations, not the school itself. Schools usually participate as partners.
Budgeting for food instead of infrastructure
The Local Food Infrastructure Fund does not cover groceries or staff wages. Applications focused on food costs are often rejected.
Underestimating demand
Projects that do not show how many students will benefit may score lower during evaluation.
Missing intake windows
The fund opens in specific intakes. Waiting until equipment fails can mean missing a full year of support.
Q: Is the Local Food Infrastructure Fund a grant or a loan?
It is a non-repayable grant. Approved organizations do not need to repay the funding if they meet program terms (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, LFIF).
Q: Can rural or northern communities apply?
Yes. Projects serving rural, remote, or Indigenous communities are often a strong fit due to higher food insecurity levels (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, LFIF).
Q: Does the fund pay for renovations?
Yes, eligible renovations tied directly to food preparation or storage can be covered, as long as they support food programs in schools.
Q: Is the Local Food Infrastructure Fund currently open?
The program status changes by intake. As of the latest update, the program is not accepting new applications, but future intakes are expected. Check Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for details (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, LFIF).
Q: Is funding taxable?
For non-profits and charities, grant taxation depends on accounting treatment and CRA rules. Most organizations record it as program revenue, but getting professional advice is best.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada. You can check which ones match your organization or partner profile.
School food infrastructure grants play a key role in reducing food insecurity by making meal programs stronger and more reliable. If your organization supports schools, knowing which infrastructure costs qualify can help you run programs that reach every student who needs them.
To explore similar funding options, see also:
GrantHub helps organizations discover relevant federal and provincial programs and understand eligibility before they apply, saving time and reducing guesswork.
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