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The Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) and Agriculture (USDA) announces the availability of funds and solicits applications for grants to assist limited resource and socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, and communities through agriculture industries.

A total of $4 million is available with a maximum grant award amount of $450,000 over a 3-year period. Proposals are due August 24, 2020

What is the purpose of this Program?

Funding is made available for the purpose of leveraging USDA, State, local, and private sector resources 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 access to resources and opportunities available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Who is eligible to apply?

Nonprofits having 501(c)(3) status, Native American tribal governments, private institutions of higher education, Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education. An applicant MUST be an entity or organization. “Individuals” do not meet the eligibility criteria.

What types of projects are eligible?

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.

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.

What are the funding levels?

A maximum amount of $450,000 is available over a 3-year period.

Funds under this announcement may not be used for planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility; for start-up or financial costs for businesses or for an organization’s capacity building; as small agricultural loans for individual farmers; or to incentivize individuals to attend an event.

Is there a match requirement?

There is no cost-sharing nor matching requirements associated with this funding announcement.

When is the deadline?

Proposals must be received electronically by 11:59 EST on August 24, 2020.

The Final Application Guide can be found here. 

For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.