National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the AgVets for fiscal year 2017 (FY17) to provide grants to nonprofit organizations for training programs and services to establish and enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans. The last date of submission is Thursday, February 8, 2018.
The program encourages the development of training opportunities specifically designed for military veterans. AgVets projects will offer onsite, hands-on training and classroom education leading to a comprehensive understanding of successful farm and ranch operations and management practices. Projects may also offer workforce readiness and employment prospects for service-disabled veterans.
According to the eligibility, AgVets applicants must be a nonprofit organization that is: operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; Is not organized primarily for profit; and Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization.
Awards will be made through a competitive grants process, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This process requires pre-registration which can take up to one month.
Reviewers from universities, government, community-based organizations, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and from the military, veteran, and farming/agribusiness community will provide peer assessment and recommend applications for funding.
The Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Program provides grants to non-profits to increase the number of military veterans gaining knowledge and skills through comprehensive, hands-on and immersive model farm and ranch programs offered regionally that lead to successful careers in the food and agricultural sector.
