Release No. 0424.10

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USDA Office of Communications  202-720-4623

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Deputy Secretary Merrigan Visits A Las Vegas Area Elementary School to Highlight the Childhood Nutrition Benefits Provided Through the Recovery Act
 

LAS VEGAS, N.V., Aug. 26, 2010 - Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today visited a Nevada elementary school to highlight Obama Administration efforts to improve school meals and viewed newly installed kitchen equipment that will help improve the food local kids eat while also creating new jobs in the area. Merrigan is touring Nevada to highlight how projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are improving the quality of life in America. The visit, which included today's stop at Howard Hollingsworth Elementary School, is one in a series of the Obama Administration's "Recovery Summer" events being held across the country.

"The Obama Administration continues working to improve the health and nutrition of America's children and there are comprehensive efforts underway to combat childhood obesity," said Merrigan. "We know that the Child Nutrition Act that Congress is considering can improve the overall health and wellness of our kids, but it's also investments into new cafeteria equipment that are contributing to this effort."

The Clark County School District (CCSD) purchased convection ovens and racks for five of its schools, including Hollingsworth, with Recovery Act funds. These ovens enable the schools to more efficiently prepare school meals. The equipment also enables the students to move through the serving lines at a faster rate. The Recovery Act investment enabled CCSD to create 30 new positions in its central kitchen.

Through the Recovery Act, USDA Food Nutrition Service provided $100 million to National School Lunch Program state agencies for competitive grants to school food authorities for the purchase of school food service equipment to help schools stimulate their economies and support local communities. Nevada's share was almost $680,000. Of that amount, Hollingsworth Elementary School received over $13,000 for the kitchen equipment. Four other elementary schools received the same equipment for a total investment of $66,000. This enabled the schools to prepare individual serving meals provided and distributed by the central kitchen. Additionally, the central kitchen received 30 Cook/Chill Starter Sets for a total of almost $152,000. These included racks, baskets and dollies for transporting the individual serving meals to the five elementary schools.

Improving USDA's child nutrition programs are a top priority of the Obama Administration. Congress is currently considering legislation to bolster the Child Nutrition Act, which authorizes the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Summer Food Service Programs. These programs serve nearly 32 million children each school day and work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger. Improving the Child Nutrition Act is the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign and highlighted in the White House report Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation released on May 11.

President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation's economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need. More information about the Federal government's efforts on the Recovery Act is available at www.recovery.gov

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Last modified: 11/27/2012