OPPE: Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers

This notice announces the availability of funds for fiscal year (FY) 2023 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 Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program.

Donor Name: Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement

State: All States

County: All Counties

U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 07/25/2023

Size of the Grant: $750,000

Grant Duration: 3 years

Details:

The overall goal of the 2501 Program is to encourage and assist underserved farmers and ranchers, military 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. It also includes projects that develop underserved youths’ interest in agriculture. In partnership with the OPPE, eligible entities may compete for funding on projects that provide education and training in agriculture, agribusiness, forestry, agricultural-related services, and USDA programs, and to conduct outreach initiatives designed to accomplish those goals. This partnership includes working closely with OPPE, attend OPPE-led events in your proposed service territory, and collaborate with USDA Service Centers located in your state (Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development).

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 underserved, military veteran farmers and ranchers, including beginning farmers and ranchers in owning and operating successful farms and ranches;
Improve participation among underserved or military veteran farmers and ranchers in USDA programs;
Build relationships between current and prospective farmers and ranchers who are underserved or military veterans and USDA’s local, state, regional, and National offices;
Assist in reaching current and prospective underserved farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners in a linguistically appropriate manner; and
Assist with identifying problems and barriers underserved farmers experience and working towards minimizing or alleviating those issues to enable their equitable participation in USDA programs.

Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding: $45,000,000
Award Ceiling: $750,000

Period Performance

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 three (3) years.

Eligibility Criteria

Per 7 CFR 2500.104, proposals may be submitted by any of the following:

Any community-based organization, network, or coalition of community-based organizations that:
- Has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services to underserved or military veteran farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners;
- has provided to the Secretary documentary evidence of work with, and on behalf of underserved or military veteran farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners during the three-year period preceding the submission of a proposal for assistance under this program; and;
- Does not engage in activities prohibited under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
An 1890 institution or 1994 institution (as defined in 7 U.S.C. §.C. §301 note).
An American Indian Tribal community college 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 agriculture education or other agriculturally related services to underserved or military veteran farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in a region.
Eligible tribal entities as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304 or a national tribal organization that has demonstrated experience in providing agriculture education or other agriculturally related service to underserved or military veteran farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in a region.
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.