Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004524
Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004524
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AgrAbility Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 24, 2014 and posted on Apr 24, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 4, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $180,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may only be submitted by Cooperative Extension at 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, the University of the District of Columbia, and at 1890 Land Grant Institutions, including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University. Applicants are expected to partner on their projects with private non profit direct service disability organizations.
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Opportunity Summary:
The AgrAbility Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). Its purpose is to increase the likelihood that farmers, ranchers, and other production agriculture workers with disabilities, along with their families (referred to as AgrAbility customers), can remain in agriculture and become more successful. The central outcome the program is designed to achieve is an improved quality of life for people with disabilities in agricultural work, with success often reflected in practical, real-world improvements such as stronger financial stability, safer and more efficient work routines, greater participation in daily life activities, and better access to timely and satisfactory disability-related services within a state or region.
The program is structured around cooperative, service-delivery projects that connect land-grant university extension systems with disability expertise in the nonprofit sector. Specifically, projects are led by State Cooperative Extension Services housed at eligible 1862 or 1890 Land Grant Universities (including the University of the District of Columbia, as well as institutions such as Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University). A key expectation is that the extension applicant will partner with private, nonprofit, direct-service disability organizations, typically through subcontracting arrangements, so that the project blends agriculture-specific technical knowledge with hands-on disability services and assistive technology support. This cooperative model is meant to ensure that farmers with disabilities receive practical assessments, recommendations, and solutions that fit the realities of production agriculture rather than generic, one-size-fits-all accommodations.
Beyond helping individual customers, AgrAbility also aims to strengthen the broader service infrastructure that supports this population. The program emphasizes building capacity at national, regional, state, and local levels through education, training, and networking. In practice, that can include creating or expanding referral networks, improving coordination among extension educators, rehabilitation professionals, assistive technology providers, and agricultural stakeholders, and sharing proven strategies across regions. When adequate local or regional capacity does not already exist, funded projects are expected to provide direct assistance to customers while simultaneously developing the longer-term ability of the state or region to deliver those services more consistently and effectively.
The opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant with no cost sharing or matching requirement. For the referenced funding cycle, NIFA anticipated an estimated total funding amount of $4,000,000, with individual awards generally ranging from $150,000 to $180,000. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA SLBCD 004524, and the opportunity is titled AgrAbility Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities. Key dates from the notice show it was posted on April 24, 2014, with an application deadline of June 4, 2014, and an archive date of July 4, 2014, indicating that this particular announcement reflects a past cycle even though it provides a clear picture of how the program is designed and administered.
Eligibility is narrowly defined. Applications may only be submitted by Cooperative Extension units at the specified land-grant institutions (1862 and 1890 institutions plus the University of the District of Columbia). While other entities cannot apply as the lead, the program is built around formal partnerships, and applicants are expected to collaborate closely with private, nonprofit organizations that provide direct disability services. Administrative support is available through the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) for issues accessing the announcement electronically, with business hours listed as Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the AgrAbility Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities?
The AgrAbility Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). The program supports projects designed to help farmers, ranchers, and other production agriculture workers with disabilities, along with their families (referred to as AgrAbility customers), remain in agriculture and become more successful.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The purpose is to increase the likelihood that AgrAbility customers can continue working in agriculture and improve their overall success in production agriculture. The program is designed around practical service-delivery and assistive technology support that fits real-world agricultural work.
What outcomes is AgrAbility designed to achieve?
The central outcome is an improved quality of life for people with disabilities in agricultural work. Success is often reflected in real-world improvements such as stronger financial stability, safer and more efficient work routines, greater participation in daily life activities, and better access to timely and satisfactory disability-related services within a state or region.
Who are considered "AgrAbility customers"?
AgrAbility customers include farmers, ranchers, and other production agriculture workers with disabilities, along with their families.
How is the program structured?
The program is structured around cooperative, service-delivery projects that connect land-grant university extension systems with disability expertise in the nonprofit sector. Projects are led by State Cooperative Extension Services housed at eligible land-grant universities and are expected to partner with private, nonprofit, direct-service disability organizations.
Who can apply as the lead applicant?
Eligibility is narrowly defined. Only Cooperative Extension units at eligible 1862 or 1890 Land Grant Universities (including the University of the District of Columbia, and institutions such as Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University) may apply as the lead applicant.
Can nonprofits, disability organizations, or other entities apply directly?
No. Other entities cannot apply as the lead applicant based on the eligibility description provided. However, the program expects formal partnerships with private, nonprofit organizations that provide direct disability services, typically through subcontracting arrangements.
Is partnering required, and what kind of partner is expected?
Yes. A key expectation is that the extension applicant partners with private, nonprofit, direct-service disability organizations, often through subcontracting. The goal is to blend agriculture-specific technical knowledge with hands-on disability services and assistive technology support.
Why does the program emphasize a cooperative model between extension and nonprofits?
The cooperative model is intended to ensure that farmers with disabilities receive practical assessments, recommendations, and solutions that fit the realities of production agriculture rather than generic accommodations.
What kinds of activities or impacts does AgrAbility support beyond helping individual customers?
In addition to direct customer support, AgrAbility aims to strengthen the broader service infrastructure supporting this population. The program emphasizes building capacity through education, training, and networking at national, regional, state, and local levels.
What does "building capacity" mean in the context of this program?
Based on the program description, capacity-building can include creating or expanding referral networks, improving coordination among extension educators, rehabilitation professionals, assistive technology providers, and agricultural stakeholders, and sharing proven strategies across regions.
What happens if a state or region does not already have adequate local capacity to serve farmers with disabilities?
When adequate local or regional capacity does not exist, funded projects are expected to provide direct assistance to customers while also developing longer-term capacity so services can be delivered more consistently and effectively over time.
Is this a formula grant or a competitive grant?
This opportunity is described as a competitive grant opportunity.
Is this grant discretionary?
Yes. The opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant.
Is cost sharing or a match required?
No. The opportunity is described as having no cost sharing or matching requirement.
How much funding is available?
For the referenced cycle, NIFA anticipated an estimated total funding amount of $4,000,000.
What is the typical award size?
For the referenced cycle, individual awards generally ranged from $150,000 to $180,000.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service).
What is the funding opportunity number and title?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA SLBCD 004524, and the title is AgrAbility Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities.
What were the key dates for the referenced announcement?
The notice was posted on April 24, 2014. The application deadline was June 4, 2014. The archive date was July 4, 2014.
Is this specific announcement current?
The provided dates indicate this particular announcement reflects a past cycle (it has an archive date of July 4, 2014), even though it describes how the program is designed and administered.
Where can applicants get help accessing the announcement electronically?
Administrative support is available through the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 for issues accessing the announcement electronically.
What are the NIFA Help Desk hours?
The listed hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
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