Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RTP 003380
Apply for USDA NIFA RTP 003380
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education employment, labor and training energy environment other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.314 New ERA Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 17, 2010 and posted on Nov 17, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $875,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by either (1) public or private nonprofit community colleges, or (2) postsecondary, degree granting advanced technological centers, either of which must a. be located in a rural area (see definition in Part VIII, E.) and b. have been in existence as of June 18, 2008 and c. participate in agricultural or bioenergy research and applied research and d. have a proven record of development and implementation of programs to meet the needs of students, educators, business, and industry to supply the agriculture based, renewable energy or pulp and paper manufacturing fields with certified technicians as determined by the Secretary and e. have the ability to leverage existing partnerships and occupational outreach and training programs for secondary schools, 4 year institutions, and relevant nonprofit organizations. Applicant Eligibility Verification To verify the applicant institution is located in a rural area and is eligible to receive RTP funding, NIFA requires a signed statement from the Authorized Representative (AR) of the applicant institution that signifies compliance with the rural area definition in Part VIII. E. Please submit this verification on signed letterhead as an attachment in Field 12 of the Other Project Information Form. Applicant institutions/organizations must demonstrate capacity for and a significant ongoing commitment to, the teaching of agriscience or agribusiness generally, and to the specific need and/or discipline(s) for which this grants program supports. In accordance with 7 CFR Part 3430, for community colleges, as defined in this RFA, applying as an Eligible Applicant, individual branches of a State university system or public system of higher education that are separately accredited by nationally recognized accrediting agencies or associations as degree granting institutions are treated as separate institutions, and are therefore eligible for RTP. Separate branches or campuses of a college not individually accredited as degree granting institutions are not treated as separate institutions.
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Opportunity Summary:
The New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.314. It is designed to strengthen the technical, scientific, and professional workforce in key rural-industry areas by supporting technology development, applied research, and workforce training. The program focuses specifically on preparing graduates for careers tied to bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, and agriculture-based renewable energy resources, with eligibility and topic scope hinging on the definitions provided in the program's Request for Applications (RFA), including the formal definition of what qualifies as a "rural area."
The central goal of RTP is to help rural communities build long-term economic resilience through education and workforce development aligned with energy and manufacturing needs. The program is grounded in the reality that many rural areas have experienced prolonged job and income losses due to restructuring and consolidation in agricultural and manufacturing sectors. By investing in rural community colleges and postsecondary advanced technological centers, the program aims to expand access to high-value technical education, improve local and regional workforce pipelines, and help rural economies compete more effectively in a global marketplace. In practical terms, RTP supports institutions that can translate applied research and technology development into training programs that produce skilled technicians and graduates ready to work in these specialized fields.
Eligible applicants are limited to two types of institutions: public or private nonprofit community colleges, and postsecondary, degree-granting advanced technological centers. To qualify, an applicant institution must be located in a rural area, must have been in existence as of June 18, 2008, and must participate in agricultural or bioenergy research and applied research. In addition, the institution must show a proven track record in developing and implementing programs that meet the needs of students, educators, business, and industry, specifically with the goal of supplying the agriculture-based renewable energy and/or pulp and paper manufacturing sectors with certified technicians, as determined by the Secretary. Beyond internal capacity, applicants must also demonstrate the ability to leverage existing partnerships and occupational outreach and training programs that connect to secondary schools, four-year institutions, and relevant nonprofit organizations, reinforcing that RTP projects are expected to integrate into broader education-to-workforce pathways rather than operate in isolation.
NIFA requires applicant eligibility verification tied to the rural location requirement. Applicants must submit a signed statement on official letterhead from the institution's Authorized Representative confirming compliance with the RFA's rural area definition. This verification must be attached in Field 12 of the Other Project Information Form. Applicants also have to demonstrate ongoing commitment and capacity in teaching agriscience or agribusiness generally, and in the specific discipline areas the proposed project addresses. For institutions that are part of a larger state university or public higher education system, separately accredited degree-granting branches are treated as separate institutions and may apply on their own, while campuses that are not individually accredited are not treated as separate eligible entities under the program rules in 7 CFR Part 3430.
Funding is provided through grants, with no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The estimated total funding available for the competition was $875,000, with individual awards ranging from a $10,000 floor to a $300,000 ceiling. The opportunity was posted and created on November 17, 2010, with an application closing date of April 15, 2011, and an archive date of May 16, 2011. The funding activity categories span agriculture, education, employment/labor and training, energy, environment, and other related areas, reflecting the program's cross-cutting emphasis on applied technical education and rural economic development through renewable energy and manufacturing-aligned workforce preparation.
For support, NIFA provided a help desk contact for access issues (202-401-5048, business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays) and indicated that additional assistance was available for questions related to preparing application content.
New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP) - FAQs
What is the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP)?
RTP is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.314. The program supports technology development, applied research, and workforce training intended to strengthen the technical, scientific, and professional workforce in key rural-industry areas.
What is the main goal of RTP?
The central goal is to help rural communities build long-term economic resilience through education and workforce development aligned with energy and manufacturing needs. RTP is designed to expand access to high-value technical education, improve local and regional workforce pipelines, and help rural economies compete more effectively.
What industries and career pathways does RTP focus on?
RTP focuses on preparing graduates for careers tied to bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, and agriculture-based renewable energy resources.
What types of activities and projects does RTP fund?
RTP supports projects involving technology development, applied research, and workforce training. In practical terms, it funds institutions that can translate applied research and technology development into training programs that produce skilled technicians and graduates ready to work in the targeted fields.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to: (1) public or private nonprofit community colleges, and (2) postsecondary, degree-granting advanced technological centers.
Are there location requirements for the applicant institution?
Yes. The applicant institution must be located in a rural area. Eligibility and topic scope depend on definitions in the program's Request for Applications (RFA), including the formal definition of what qualifies as a "rural area."
How does an applicant verify it is located in a qualifying rural area?
Applicants must submit a signed statement on official letterhead from the institution's Authorized Representative confirming compliance with the RFA's rural area definition. This verification must be attached in Field 12 of the Other Project Information Form.
Is there a minimum date by which the institution must have existed to be eligible?
Yes. To qualify, the applicant institution must have been in existence as of June 18, 2008.
Does the institution need to be involved in research?
Yes. The institution must participate in agricultural or bioenergy research and applied research.
What kind of institutional track record is RTP looking for?
Applicants must show a proven track record in developing and implementing programs that meet the needs of students, educators, business, and industry, specifically to supply the agriculture-based renewable energy and/or pulp and paper manufacturing sectors with certified technicians (as determined by the Secretary).
Are partnerships required or expected under RTP?
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to leverage existing partnerships and occupational outreach and training programs connected to secondary schools, four-year institutions, and relevant nonprofit organizations. RTP projects are expected to integrate into broader education-to-workforce pathways rather than operate in isolation.
What teaching commitment must the applicant demonstrate?
Applicants must demonstrate ongoing commitment and capacity in teaching agriscience or agribusiness generally, and in the specific discipline areas addressed by the proposed project.
How are campuses within a larger university system treated for eligibility?
For institutions that are part of a larger state university or public higher education system, separately accredited degree-granting branches are treated as separate institutions and may apply on their own. Campuses that are not individually accredited are not treated as separate eligible entities under the program rules in 7 CFR Part 3430.
What type of funding mechanism does RTP use?
RTP provides funding through grants.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
How much funding was available under this competition?
The estimated total funding available for the competition was $875,000.
What is the minimum and maximum award amount?
Individual awards ranged from a $10,000 floor to a $300,000 ceiling.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted and created on November 17, 2010. The application closing date was April 15, 2011. The archive date was May 16, 2011.
What funding activity categories does RTP fall under?
The funding activity categories include agriculture, education, employment/labor and training, energy, environment, and other related areas, reflecting RTP's cross-cutting emphasis on applied technical education and rural economic development through renewable energy and manufacturing-aligned workforce preparation.
Where do the formal definitions and topic scope rules come from?
Eligibility and topic scope hinge on the definitions provided in the program's Request for Applications (RFA), including the formal definition of "rural area."
Who administers the RTP program?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the CFDA number for RTP?
The CFDA number listed for RTP is 10.314.
Who can applicants contact for help with access issues?
NIFA provided a help desk contact for access issues at 202-401-5048, available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays.
Is there support available for application preparation questions?
Yes. NIFA indicated that additional assistance was available for questions related to preparing application content.
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