Title
Dept/Agency: Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Application/ Acceptance of Grant Funds
Purpose: To provide meals to Newark children through SuNuP Summer Food Program.
Entity Name: New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Food and Nutrition
Entity Address: P.O. Box 334, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0334
Grant Amount: $1,918,741.75
Total Project Cost: $0.00
City Contribution: $0.00
Other Funding Source/Amount: New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Child Nutrition Program
Grant Period: June 29, 2026 through August 28, 2026
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ ( ) Private Sale (X) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) N/A
Additional Information:
No municipal funds are required.
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WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (“NJDA”), Division of Food and Nutrition (“Division”) Summer Food Service Program reimburses municipalities for meals served to children who live in areas in which at least fifty percent (50%) of the children qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (“City”) provides meals to Newark children through its SuNuP Summer Food Service Program (“Program”) and needs additional funding to sustain said Program and to continue the provision of meals for the summer of 2026; and
WHEREAS, on or about March 13, 2026, on behalf of the City, the Director of the Department of Recreation, Culture Affairs and Senior Services submitted an application to the NJDA requesting grant funding in the amount of One Million, Nine Hundred Eighteen Thousand, Seven Hundred Forty-One Dollars and Seventy-Five Cents ($1,918,741.75) for the provision of meal services to children through the City’s SuNuP Program; and
WHEREAS, as a result of this application the NJDA awarded the City grant funds in the amount of One Million, Nine Hundred Eighteen Thousand, Seven-Hundred Forty-One Dollars and Seventy-Five Cents ($1,918.741.75) for the period commencing on June 29, 2026 and terminating on August 28, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that the NJDA may extend or reduce the time of the grant award and/or provide additional or decreased funds; and
WHEREAS, in such instances, the NJDA will amend the grant agreement accordingly; and
WHEREAS, the City must execute a grant agreement with the NJDA as a condition of obtaining the grant award, with no City funds required.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services, and/or their designees, are hereby authorized to submit an application to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (“NJDA”), Division of Food and Nutrition (“Division”), requesting grant funding in the amount of One Million, Nine Hundred Eighteen Thousand, Seven Hundred Forty-One Dollars and Seventy-Five Cents ($1,918,741.75) for the 2026 Summer Food Service Program in order to provide meal services to children of the City of Newark (“City”), with no City funds required (a copy of the application is attached hereto and made a part hereof).
2. The Municipal Council hereby ratifies its authorization of this application from the date of application submission to the date of adoption of this authorizing resolution.
3. The grant award in the amount of One Million, Nine Hundred Eighteen Thousand, Seven Hundred Forty-One Dollars and Seventy-Five Cents ($1,918,741.75) from the NJDA is hereby accepted (a copy of the award letter is attached hereto and made a part hereof).
4. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services, and/or their designees, are further authorized to enter into and execute grant documents (“Agreement”) with the NJDA to receive and expend the grant award for the period commencing on June 29, 2026 and terminating on August 28, 2026 (a copy of the Agreement is attached hereto and made a part hereof).
5. The Agreement between the City the NJDA is hereby ratified from June 29, 2026 to the date of adoption of this authorizing resolution.
6. No municipal funds are required for receipt or acceptance of this grant award.
7. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services, and their designees, are hereby authorized to enter into and execute any amendment to the grant agreement and to take any other actions necessary to effectuate such an amendment.
8. The Director of Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services shall file a fully executed copy of the grant application, grant award letter, the grant agreement, and any amendment to the grant agreement in the Office of City Clerk.
STATEMENT
This resolution ratifies and authorizes the actions taken by the Director of the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services regarding the submission of an application to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (“NJDA”), Division of Food and Nutrition (“Division”) 2026 Summer Food Service Program. The funds will be used to provide meal services to Newark children. The resolution further ratifies and authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services, to enter into and execute an agreement (and any amendments thereto) with the NJDA to accept, receive, and expend, in accordance with said agreement, funds in the amount of $1,918,741 for the period commencing on June 29, 2026 and terminating on August 28, 2026. No municipal funds are required.