The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting applications for the AgVets program for Fiscal Year 2024 to provide grants to non-profit organizations for programs and services to establish and enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans.
Donor Name: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/11/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The overarching goal of AgVets is to increase the number of military veterans pursuing knowledge and skills development through comprehensive, hands-on and immersive model farm/ranch programs offered locally or regionally that lead to successful careers in the food and agricultural sector.
Program Areas
To help achieve the AgVets Program goals, both small and large standard AgVets grants support new and established local and regional projects that will develop model training programs specifically designed for hands-on farming/ranching/entrepreneurial training for military veterans. These model training programs must:
- Offer training and classroom education that leads to a comprehensive understanding of successful farm/ranch/business operation/management practices aligned to the veteran cohort’s interests.
- Develop or identify the curriculum to be used for the program, including new technologies and innovations, that producers can adopt to help manage their enterprise.
- Describe the kinds of education, workshops, tours, and instructor-supervised field experiences offered.
- Project of comparable size and complexity, demonstrates effective fiscal management, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation.
- Provide support for veteran participation with a focus on diverse and underrepresented groups. Successful applications will include a sound approach to outreach, selection, and retention of participants.
- Include outreach to veterans who may have previously participated in projects funded by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and/or the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Grant Program
- Align the identified service area with the goals and objectives of AgrAbility, as appropriate. 9
- reate alliances and partnerships with academic institutions (including minority-serving and tribal colleges and universities), Extension Risk Management Education Centers (ERMEs), the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs), or other regional entities to meet the requirements of program and project evaluation and dissemination of findings, recommendations and impacts, including scalability 10. Evaluate the identified curriculum and participate in cross-program evaluation to assess the collective impact toward shared performance measures and outcome goals through activities that include Project Team meetings, conference calls, and engagement with federal agency partners as appropriate.
- Ensure results are disseminated through an effective communication plan.
- Align education and training goals with USDA programs and resources to increase awareness and engagement with state and local offices of the Cooperative Extension Service, Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS), and Rural Development (RD), including potential job and career opportunities within the Department.
- Collaborate with the Department of Veteran Affairs at the regional, state, or local level to promote referrals, access to healthcare and other benefits to improve the Veteran experience and quality of service to Veterans.
- Collaborate with the Small Business Administration and its resourced partners at the regional and local level such as Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program; Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Center (WBCs), and the Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program
- Collaborate with the Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service
- Contribute program information and resources to Farm Answers; and
- Generate recommendations at the state and/or federal level that strengthen collaboration on transitioning Service members’ education, training, and apprenticeship programs, including use of GI Bill benefits, to promote the food and agricultural sector as a viable career option.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,864,576
- Award Ceiling:$250,000
- Award Floor:$100,000
Project Period
3 years
Eligibility Criteria
- AgVets applicants must be non-profit organizations. A letter stating the non-profit status should be included as an attachment.
- Institutions of higher education (i.e., universities, community colleges) are not eligible to apply as lead applicants. Only the applicant must meet the eligibility requirement. Project partners and collaborators need not meet the eligibility requirement. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the successful completion of the project. Applications submitted by individuals are not eligible for consideration under any category applicable to AgVets.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
