Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004088

  • The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Children, Youth and Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects" 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 Dec 26, 2012 and posted on Dec 26, 2012.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 20, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $560,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $160,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • Applications may be submitted by Cooperative Extension at 1890 Land Grant Institutions, including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University, 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia.
Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004088

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Opportunity Summary:

The Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects grant was a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). Its central purpose was to strengthen the quality and expand the reach of comprehensive, community-based programs for children, youth, and families considered at risk, specifically through efforts supported by the Cooperative Extension System. The program is rooted in the idea that Extension and the Land Grant network can pool practical expertise, community partnerships, and educational delivery capacity to create local programs that help limited-resource families and vulnerable youth build the skills needed to meet basic needs and move toward stable, healthy, and productive lives.

The mission emphasis of CYFAR was educational and community-centered rather than purely service delivery. In practical terms, the opportunity focused on developing and delivering structured educational programming that equips participants with life skills and supports positive development. While the announcement does not list specific required program topics in the provided text, the stated mission suggests projects were expected to address real-life challenges faced by limited-resource households and young people at risk of poor outcomes, and to do so through comprehensive approaches grounded in Extension programming and community collaboration. The phrase "sustainable community projects" also signals an expectation that funded efforts would be designed to last beyond the grant period through strong partnerships, replicable models, and integration with existing community and Extension infrastructure.

Eligibility was limited to institutions within the Land Grant and Extension ecosystem. Applications could be submitted by Cooperative Extension at 1890 Land Grant Institutions (including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University), 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia. This structure reflects CYFAR's goal of leveraging Extension's established presence in communities and its capacity to deliver education at scale through county-based or community-based networks.

Financially, NIFA listed an estimated total funding amount of $560,000 for the competition, with an award ceiling of $160,000 per grant and no stated award floor. The announcement indicated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for applicants and can be especially important for projects intended to serve limited-resource communities. The funding instrument type was a grant, and the activity categories were Agriculture and Education, consistent with Extension's role in applied education and community development.

From an administrative timeline standpoint, the opportunity was posted and created on December 26, 2012, and it closed on February 20, 2013, with the archive date listed as March 22, 2013. The funding opportunity number was USDA NIFA SLBCD 004088. For support accessing the full announcement, applicants were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours, and the notice also indicated there was a contact point for questions related to preparing application content, implying that NIFA provided some level of applicant assistance during the submission period.

Overall, this CYFAR opportunity was designed to help Extension-based institutions build or strengthen community programs that address the needs of at-risk children, youth, and families through education, skill-building, and coordinated local support systems, with funding sized to support meaningful projects while encouraging long-term community sustainability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects grant?

The Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects grant was a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its purpose was to strengthen the quality and expand the reach of comprehensive, community-based programs for children, youth, and families considered at risk, specifically through efforts supported by the Cooperative Extension System.

Which federal agency offered this opportunity?

The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

What CFDA program was this associated with?

This opportunity was associated with CFDA 10.500, Cooperative Extension Service.

What was the central goal of the grant program?

The central goal was to leverage the Cooperative Extension System and the Land Grant network to build or strengthen community-based educational programs that help limited-resource families and vulnerable youth build skills to meet basic needs and move toward stable, healthy, and productive lives.

What types of projects was CYFAR intended to support?

CYFAR emphasized structured educational programming and community-centered approaches. Projects were expected to address real-life challenges faced by limited-resource households and youth at risk of poor outcomes through comprehensive approaches grounded in Extension programming and community collaboration.

Was the focus on direct services or education?

The mission emphasis was educational and community-centered rather than purely service delivery. In practical terms, the program focused on developing and delivering structured educational programming that equips participants with life skills and supports positive development.

Did the announcement specify required program topics?

No specific required program topics were listed in the provided information. However, the stated mission suggests projects were expected to address challenges faced by limited-resource families and at-risk youth using comprehensive, Extension-based educational approaches.

What does "sustainable community projects" mean in this grant context?

Based on the description provided, "sustainable community projects" signaled an expectation that funded efforts would be designed to last beyond the grant period. This could include strong partnerships, replicable models, and integration with existing community and Extension infrastructure.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to institutions within the Land Grant and Extension ecosystem. Applications could be submitted by Cooperative Extension at:

  • 1890 Land Grant Institutions (including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University)
  • 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities
  • University of the District of Columbia

Could non-Land Grant organizations apply directly?

The provided information limits eligibility to specified Land Grant and Extension institutions. No other eligible applicant types are indicated in the information provided.

What was the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type was a grant.

What were the activity categories for this opportunity?

The activity categories listed were Agriculture and Education, consistent with Extension's role in applied education and community development.

How much total funding was available?

NIFA estimated the total funding amount for the competition at $560,000.

What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling was $160,000 per grant.

Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?

No award floor was stated in the provided information.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement indicated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted and created on December 26, 2012. It closed on February 20, 2013.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed was March 22, 2013.

What was the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was USDA NIFA SLBCD 004088.

Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?

Applicants were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours for support accessing the full announcement.

Was there a contact for application preparation questions?

Yes. The information indicates there was a contact point for questions related to preparing application content, suggesting NIFA provided some level of applicant assistance during the submission period.

How does this opportunity relate to Cooperative Extension?

The grant was designed to be implemented through the Cooperative Extension System and the Land Grant network, leveraging Extension's community presence, partnerships, practical expertise, and educational delivery capacity.

What populations were intended to benefit from CYFAR projects?

The intended beneficiaries were children, youth, and families considered at risk, with an emphasis on limited-resource families and vulnerable youth.

What outcomes was the program trying to support?

Based on the description, the program aimed to help participants build skills needed to meet basic needs and move toward stable, healthy, and productive lives through education, skill-building, and coordinated local support systems.

Was this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. The CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects grant was described as a discretionary funding opportunity.

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Applicants also applied for:

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Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program Apply for USDA NIFA NLGCA 004248

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Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program Apply for USDA NIFA HEMS 004337

Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEMS 004337
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Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004414
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Funding Amount: $110,000
Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004413

Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004413
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Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 004425

Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 004425
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Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 004424

Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 004424
Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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Children, Youth, and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490

Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490
Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Apply for USDA CSREES RIGP 002074

Funding Number: USDA CSREES RIGP 002074
Agency: CSREES
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Funding Amount: $745,000
Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Apply for USDA CSREES SAECP 002584

Funding Number: USDA CSREES SAECP 002584
Agency: CSREES
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Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 002644

Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 002644
Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673

Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673
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Alaska Native Serving and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH) Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 002819

Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 002819
Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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Funding Amount: $1,500,000
Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) and Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 002820

Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 002820
Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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Funding Amount: $1,500,000
Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 003378

Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 003378
Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 003393

Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 003393
Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 003396

Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 003396
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Alaska Native Serving and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 003407

Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 003407
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Food And Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 003435

Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEP 003435
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Funding Amount: $262,500

 

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