Deadline: 24-Aug-2020
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking applications to Assist Persistent Poverty Farmers, Ranchers, Agriculture Producers and Communities through Agriculture Resources.
Funding will be made available for the purpose of leveraging USDA, state, local and private sector resources, to address local agricultural and natural resource issues, encourage collaboration and to develop state and local leadership and partnerships to assist limited resource and socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers and communities through agriculture industries.
The eligible entities will provide technical assistance to persistent poverty communities, with emphasis on socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers to assist them in establishing a local working leaders group, identifying issues, challenges and assets, preparing a plan of action and identifying resources and means to address and accomplish results through available programmatic services and opportunities.
Purpose
The purpose of this funding is to leverage USDA and partnering entities to assist persistent poverty communities with socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers, to improve, restore, maintain natural resources and growth in their communities through an established platform and process that focuses on fostering hope and opportunity, asset building and wealth creation. In addition, funding may be used to educate and assist persistent poverty communities with socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers on accessing resources and opportunities available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Through the approved grant, organizations will assist persistent poverty communities and farmers, ranchers and agriculture producers by developing partnerships and strategies to address self-identified challenges and issues to:
- Enhance coordination and collaboration through outreach, education, and training summits and workshops;
- Educate persistent poverty communities with limited resource, socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers and ranchers on increasing their access to and participation in USDA programs;
- Assist persistent poverty communities to become economically sustainable through a locally driven bottom-up process;
- Assist persistent poverty communities with limited resource, socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers to build and strengthen access to USDA programmatic services and opportunities that promote economic and community development;
- Improve natural resources concerns;
- Increase the number of agriculture producers;
- Improve the environment and economic status of working agriculture lands;
- Create Local Prosperity Councils through coordination and collaboration of USDA local officials, community leaders, farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers;
- Develop plans to create sustainable communities that address self-identified challenges through the agriculture industry.
Priority Areas
Proposals from eligible entities must address at least five of the following priority areas:
- Increased access of USDA’s programs and services
- Resolution of heirs’ property issues
- Improved financial literacy
- Increased and retained new entrepreneurs in agriculture industry to include farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers
- Improved knowledge of agriculture business understanding
- Promotion of USDA programs and services to build capacity to promote economic and workforce development, innovation and technology through the agriculture industry
- Improved knowledge of agriculture and natural resources
- Increased use or implementation of conservation practices
Outcomes
Project Directors will be required to document anticipated outcomes that are funded under this announcement including, but not limited to the following:
- Documenting the number of new farmers and/or ranchers your organization assisted as a result of your project and the type of assistance;
- Documenting the number of local prosperity councils created; Document the number of assessments, plans and strategies developed;
- Documenting race, sex, national origin, disability and number of limited resource, socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers or ranchers applying for USDA programs and services by program area;
- Documenting race, sex, national origin, disability and number of USDA program applications approved for funding, by program area, for socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers or ranchers as a result of your activities;
- Documenting the number of limited resource, socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers and ranchers that have better access to USDA Programs, including conservation implementation, as a result of your outreach and/or training efforts;
- Documenting the enhanced sustainability and retention of farming operations among limited resource, socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers or ranchers;
- Documenting higher profitability and economic stability among limited resource, socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers or ranchers resulting from increased access to marketing and enhanced sales opportunities for their products;
- Documenting an increase in the number and types of USDA programs and services utilized as a result of your project;
- Documenting partnerships and resources leveraged, including a list of all individuals, parties, entities or organization.
Funding Information
- The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this competitive opportunity is approximately $4 million, including funds provided in the 2018 Farm Bill and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020.
Timeframe
- The performance period for projects selected from this solicitation will not begin prior to the effective award date listed in the grant agreement. The maximum project period is 3 years.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants and applications must meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline to be considered for award. Eligible applicant type is determined by the implementing program statute. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following entity types:
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
- Native American tribal governments (federally and non-federally recognized)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=328107