Deadline: 25-Aug-21
The United States Department of Agriculture has announced the availability of funds for fiscal year (FY) 2021 and solicits applications from community-based and non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and Tribal entities to compete for financial assistance through the Outreach and technical assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program.
Goals
- The overall goal of the 2501 Program is to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, and beginning farmers and ranchers with owning and operating farms and ranches and in participating equitably in the full range of agricultural, forestry, and related programs offered by USDA.
- There are five programmatic mission areas that support the goals of the 2501 Program. Proposals from eligible entities must address at least two of the five following programmatic mission areas as they develop their goals:
- Assist socially disadvantaged, veteran farmers and ranchers, or beginning farmers and ranchers in owning and operating successful farms and ranches;
- Improve participation among socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers and ranchers in USDA programs;
- Build relationships between current and prospective farmers and ranchers who are socially disadvantaged or veterans and USDA’s local, state, regional, and National offices;
- Assist in reaching current and prospective socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners in a linguistically appropriate manner; and
- Assist with identifying problems and barriers identified by entities in trying to increase participation by current and prospective socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
Funding Information
- The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this competitive opportunity is approximately $16.6 million. The maximum amount of requested federal funding shall not exceed $750,000.
- The performance period for projects selected from this solicitation will not begin prior to the effective award date listed in the grant agreement. The project period must be no less three (3) years.
Outcomes
- Documenting the actual number of new farmers and/or ranchers your organization assisted as a result of your project and the type of assistance (i.e., number of farms or ranches started, maintained, or improved as a result of funds made available under the program);
- Documenting race, sex, national origin, disability (if provided) and number of socially disadvantaged and/or veteran farmers or ranchers applying for USDA programs and services by program area;
- Documenting race, sex, national origin, disability (if provided) 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 socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers and/or ranchers that have better access to USDA Programs as a result of your outreach and/or training efforts;
- Documenting the enhanced sustainability and retention of farming operations among socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers or ranchers;
- Documenting higher profitability and economic stability among socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers or ranchers resulting from increased access to marketing and enhanced sales opportunities for their products; and
- Documenting through surveys an increase in the awareness and number and types of USDA programs and services as a result of your project.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any non-profit, community-based organizations, tribal entity, networks, or a coalition of community-based organizations with at least 3 years of documented expertise in working with socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers or veteran farmers or ranchers that:
- demonstrates experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services on USDA programs and services to socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers or ranchers;
- provides documentary evidence of work with, and on behalf of, socially disadvantaged, veteran farmers or ranchers, or beginning farmers and ranchers during the 3-year period preceding the submission of a proposal for assistance under this program (the lead applicant and/or any organization(s) comprising of a coalition or network must meet the three-year period preceding the submission criteria); and
- does not or has not engaged in activities prohibited under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
- An 1890 or 1994 land-grant institution of higher education.
- An American Indian Tribal community college or university or an Alaska Native cooperative college.
- A Hispanic-Serving Institution of higher education.
- Any other institution of higher education that has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agricultural related services to socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers or ranchers.
- Any Federally-recognized Indian Tribe or a national tribal organization that has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services to socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers or ranchers.
- All other organizations or institutions that received funding under this program before January 1, 1996, but only with respect to projects that the Secretary considers similar to projects previously carried out by the entity under this program.
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=334799