Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 010793
The Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program (AgVets), administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to expand and strengthen pathways for military veterans who want to build careers in farming, ranching, and the broader food and agriculture sector. The core purpose is to fund regional, comprehensive training efforts that help more veterans gain practical knowledge and real-world skills through immersive model farm and ranch programs. The emphasis is on experiences that mirror actual agricultural operations, pairing hands-on, onsite learning with structured classroom education so participants leave with a well-rounded understanding of how successful farm and ranch businesses are run and managed.
Funded projects are expected to focus on training opportunities intentionally built for military veterans, rather than general-audience agricultural education. The program highlights instruction in farm and ranch operations and management practices, and it also allows for related supports such as workforce readiness training and connections to employment prospects, including for service-disabled veterans. The broader rationale is that making agriculture more accessible to veterans, regardless of age or what type of production they are interested in, supports the long-term health of US agricultural production and helps reinforce rural economies by developing a skilled pipeline of new and transitioning producers and workers.
Eligibility is narrow and centers on nonprofit organizations. Only nonprofits may apply as lead applicants, and applicants must provide documentation of nonprofit status, specifically a letter verifying that status attached in the application package (noted as Field 12, Other Attachments). Colleges and universities, including community colleges, are explicitly not eligible to apply as the lead applicant, although they can still participate as partners or collaborators. The program draws a clear line between the applicant and the project team: only the applicant organization must meet the eligibility requirement, while partners do not. Award recipients are also allowed to subcontract with organizations that would not be eligible to apply on their own, as long as those subcontractors are needed to complete the work. Individuals may not apply under any category for this program.
The notice also addresses situations where an otherwise eligible nonprofit cannot accept federal funds directly. In that case, the applicant must include a fiscal agent letter stating that, if funded, the award will be administered by a named fiscal agent organization. That letter must identify the fiscal agent, be countersigned by an authorized representative of the fiscal agent, and include standard contact information (point of contact, address, phone, fax, and email). This documentation must be included with the application in the specified attachments area, and if the project is recommended for funding, NIFA will request additional management information from both the applicant and the fiscal agent.
Key details from the opportunity listing include the funding opportunity title Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program, funding opportunity number USDA NIFA OP 010793, and CFDA number 10.334. The grant has an award ceiling of $250,000. The original application closing date listed is July 11, 2024, and the posting indicates it was created on June 11, 2024. Applicants are encouraged to follow the full Request for Applications closely because missing eligibility items by the deadline, such as the required nonprofit documentation, can lead to the application being excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award.Apply for USDA NIFA OP 010793
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.334.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program (AgVets)?
AgVets is a discretionary competitive grant program administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is designed to expand and strengthen pathways for military veterans who want careers in farming, ranching, and the broader food and agriculture sector.
What is the main purpose of AgVets funding?
The program funds regional, comprehensive training efforts that help more military veterans gain practical knowledge and real-world skills through immersive model farm and ranch programs. The intent is to build well-rounded, job-ready experience that reflects how successful farm and ranch businesses operate and are managed.
What kinds of training approaches are emphasized?
Projects are expected to provide hands-on, onsite learning paired with structured classroom education. The emphasis is on immersive experiences that mirror actual agricultural operations rather than purely classroom-based instruction.
Who is the training intended for?
Funded projects are expected to focus on training opportunities intentionally built for military veterans, not general-audience agricultural education.
Does the program only support certain types of veterans?
The opportunity highlights support for military veterans broadly and notes connections to employment prospects, including for service-disabled veterans.
What subject areas or content should training cover?
The program highlights instruction in farm and ranch operations and management practices. It also allows for related supports such as workforce readiness training and connections to employment prospects.
Are projects required to be regional and comprehensive?
Yes. The core purpose described for the program is to fund regional, comprehensive training efforts delivered through immersive model farm and ranch programs.
Why does AgVets exist (what problem is it trying to address)?
The rationale described is that making agriculture more accessible to veterans supports the long-term health of U.S. agricultural production and reinforces rural economies by developing a skilled pipeline of new and transitioning producers and workers.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead applicant?
Eligibility is narrow and centers on nonprofit organizations. Only nonprofits may apply as lead applicants.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals may not apply under any category for this program.
Can colleges and universities apply as the lead applicant?
No. Colleges and universities, including community colleges, are explicitly not eligible to apply as the lead applicant.
Can colleges, universities, or other organizations still be involved in a project?
Yes. While colleges and universities cannot be the lead applicant, they may participate as partners or collaborators.
Do partner organizations need to meet the same eligibility rules as the lead applicant?
No. The notice draws a clear distinction between the applicant and the project team: only the applicant organization must meet the eligibility requirement, while partners do not.
Can an award recipient subcontract parts of the work to an organization that is not eligible to apply?
Yes. Award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that would not be eligible to apply on their own, as long as those subcontractors are needed to complete the work.
What documentation is required to prove nonprofit status?
Applicants must provide a letter verifying nonprofit status and attach it in the application package. The opportunity specifies that this documentation is included as Field 12 (Other Attachments).
What happens if the nonprofit status documentation is missing by the deadline?
The listing warns that missing eligibility items by the deadline (including the required nonprofit documentation) can lead to the application being excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award.
What if an otherwise eligible nonprofit cannot accept federal funds directly?
If an eligible nonprofit cannot accept federal funds directly, the applicant must include a fiscal agent letter stating that, if funded, the award will be administered by a named fiscal agent organization.
What must be included in the fiscal agent letter?
The fiscal agent letter must identify the fiscal agent, be countersigned by an authorized representative of the fiscal agent, and include standard contact information (point of contact, address, phone, fax, and email).
Where should the fiscal agent letter be included in the application?
The notice indicates this documentation must be included with the application in the specified attachments area (the same area referenced for required attachments).
If a project is recommended for funding and uses a fiscal agent, what happens next?
If recommended for funding, NIFA will request additional management information from both the applicant and the fiscal agent.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for this grant is $250,000.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA OP 010793, and the CFDA number is 10.334.
Who administers this grant program?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the application closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original application closing date listed is July 11, 2024.
When was the opportunity posting created?
The posting indicates it was created on June 11, 2024.
What is the key compliance takeaway for applicants?
Applicants are encouraged to follow the full Request for Applications closely. The notice specifically cautions that missing required eligibility items by the deadline can exclude an application from consideration or prevent an award.
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