Dear Colleagues,

USDA NIFA is soliciting proposals for the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program, the Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program, and the Food Safety Outreach Program.

1) Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program funds projects that encourage academic institutions, in partnership with organizations and employers to identify and address challenges facing the food and agricultural sciences education and workforce community. Grants should:

• Enhance curricula in agricultural education
• Increase faculty teaching competencies
• Interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences
• Promote the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into other instructional programs, particularly classes in science, business, and consumer education
• Facilitate joint initiatives by the grant recipient with other secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate degree, and institutions of higher education that award a bachelor's degree to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agribusiness education
• Support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education
• Support current agriculture in the classroom programs for grades

Educational Need Areas include (see RFA for details):

• 1. Curriculum Development, Instructional Delivery Systems, and Expanding Student Career Opportunities.
• Facilitating Interaction with other Academic Institutions

Visit the USDA NIFA SPECA web page (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/secondary-education-two-year-postsecondary-education-agriculture-k-12) for more information.

Applications Due: March 8, 2024 at 2PM

Recommended Grant Amount: up to$50,000 for regular grants; or $150,000 for collaborative Type 1 Grants

Required Match: No match required

2) Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program enables the Cooperative Extension System to assist in preparing for, providing an educational response to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters and disaster threats. This program supports innovative, education-based approaches to address disaster preparedness and specific responses related to disasters or disaster threats caused by natural, human-made, or technological hazards, or by other factors that contribute to the exposure or vulnerability of a community. Two types of projects:1) Extension Standard Projects, and 2) Extension Planning Projects.

Topical Areas:

1. Agriculture: Includes but is not limited to row crop and forage health and production; livestock health and production; aquaculture; fruit and vegetable production; food loss and waste; farm and agribusiness management; economics; urban agriculture; farm safety; and agricultural biosecurity.

2. Natural Resources: Includes but is not limited to water; forestry; wood sciences; range; waste management; energy, wildlife; recreation; and environmental education.

3. Community and Economic Development: Includes but is not limited to small business; workforce development; community planning; placemaking; revitalization; tourism; visioning and strategic planning; leadership development; housing; homeowner education; civic engagement; volunteerism; broadband; and rural life.

4. Family and Consumer Sciences: Includes but is not limited to nutrition; food safety; food loss and waste; nutrition security; health management and wellness; health equity; well-being; personal and family finance; child development; early childhood education; individual and family relationships; textiles; and hospitality.

5. 4-H and Youth Development: Includes but is not limited to youth development; career exploration; civic engagement; STEM education; and volunteerism.

Visit the program's web page (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/smith-lever-special-needs-competitive-grants-program) for more information.

Applications Due: March 7, 2024 at 2PM

Recommended Grant Amount: Standard Grant: $20,000 - $115,000; Planning Grant: $10,000 - $20,000

Required Match: 1:1 match required

3) Food Safety Outreach Program. The overall goal of the program is to develop and implement food safety training, education, Extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to midsized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, veteran farmers or ranchers, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. These audiences are affected by the food safety guidelines established under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The focus on delivery of customized training to members of the target audiences by continuing to solicit Community Outreach Projects, Collaborative Education and Training Projects, and Technical Assistance – Grant writing skills projects. The program is also soliciting proposals for Regional Centers in FY 2024.

1) Community Outreach Projects (award request: $80,000 - $150,000) - An additional $150,000 may be requested for Collaborative Engagement Supplements, for a total budget request of up to $300,000.

2) Collaborative Education and Training Projects (award request: $200,000 - $400,000) - An additional $150,000 may be requested for Collaborative Engagement Supplements, for a total budget request of up to $550,000.

3) Regional Centers (award request: $800,000; an additional $200,000 awarded to (1) Lead Regional Center for a total budget of up to $1,000,000).

4) Technical Assistance – Grant Writing Skills Projects (award request: $75,000 - $150,000) – An additional $150,000 may be requested for Collaborative Engagement Supplement, for a total budget request of up to $300,000.

Visit the program's web page (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/food-safety-outreach-program) for more information.

Applications Due: February 13, 2024 at 2PM

Required Match: 1:1 match required

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)