Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grants Program Released
The United States Department of Agriculture is now accepting grant applications for the Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grants program, with applications due June 2. The anticipated amount available to support this grant in FY 2016 is approximately $4.7 million. Awardees will develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. This program at NIFA builds upon the national infrastructure already in place and within the guidelines established under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Because the size and capabilities of the applicants vary widely, applicants may apply for one of these three types of projects: 1) Pilot Projects (awards cannot exceed $50,000); 2) Community Outreach Projects (awards cannot exceed $150,000); and 3) Multistate Education and Training Projects (awards cannot exceed $400,000). All grant funding must be matched dollar for dollar. Awards are anticipated to be announced September 30, 2016 with projects beginning shortly thereafter.
Pilot Projects will support the development and implementation of new and potentially high-risk, high-impact food safety education and outreach in local communities. Pilot Projects may target non-traditional, niche, or hard-to-reach audiences and the duration of the project must not exceed one year. Community Outreach Projects will support the growth and expansion of already-existing food safety education and outreach currently offered in local communities, and the duration of the project must not exceed two years. Multistate Education and Training Projects will support the development and implementation of multi-county, state-wide, or multi-state food safety education and outreach where there are common food safety concerns, but the counties and states are not necessarily located within the same regions. For example, this would support a project where collaborators are located in California, Arizona, and Florida. The duration of the project must not exceed three years.
Morrison doesn’t have current capacity to accept any additional grant clients for this program; however, should you have questions, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.