ACL Awards 2025 Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services Cooperative Agreements

ACL has announced three new awards under its Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services (INNU) program. With combined funding totaling approximately $1.49 million, the following recipients will test and document innovative, scalable approaches to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and outcomes of senior nutrition programs.

• Texas A&M University
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• East Tennessee State University

These projects will help enhance innovation, strengthen network capacity, develop new practices, and produce replicable tools and strategies to improve nutrition outcomes for older adults. This year's awards focus on increasing access to nutrition services for older adults with behavioral health conditions, including those experiencing homelessness. Anticipated results include measurable improvements in depression, anxiety, cognitive function, and social connection. Projects will also develop scalable models and resources, such as toolkits, training, and policy briefs, to help senior nutrition providers nationwide meet community needs and improve service quality.

For questions about ACL's INNU grants, contact [email protected].

About ACL's Senior Nutrition Program

The Senior Nutrition Program, funded under Title III-C of the Older Americans Act, provides nutritious meals, nutrition education, and opportunities for social connection to millions of older adults each year. The program's goals are to reduce hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, while promoting health and well-being and enhancing socialization. Every day, the national Senior Nutrition Program serves nutritious meals coupled with socialization and wellness opportunities across the country through a network of about 5,000 local providers. The program helps older adults remain independent, healthy, and engaged in their communities.

See Notice of Funding Opportunity: HHS-2025-ACL-AOA-INNU-0036, "Advancing Strategies to Support Older Adults with Behavioral Health Conditions in the Senior Nutrition Program Setting," posted July 21, 2025.