Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RTP 002694
Apply for USDA NIFA RTP 002694
- 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" 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 13, 2009 and posted on Nov 13, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 14, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $850,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- 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) advanced technological centers, either of which must a. be located in a rural area (see definition in Part VIII, E.) b. have been in existence as of June 18, 2008 c. participate in agricultural or bioenergy research and applied research d. have a proven record of development and implementation of programs to meet the needs of students, educators, and 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 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. of the RFA. Please submit this verification on signed letterhead as an attachment in Field 11 of the Other Project Information Form. Failure to meet any eligibility criterion above by the time of an application deadline will preclude NIFA from reviewing the application and making an award. 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. Award recipients may subcontract portions of the project to organizations not eligible to apply directly for funding, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. 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. See RFA for further and specific details.
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Opportunity Summary:
The New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) discretionary grant opportunity intended to strengthen rural economies by building an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce. For fiscal year 2010, NIFA made $850,000 available through a competitive Request for Applications (RFA) to support projects that focus on technology development, applied research, and/or training. The core idea is to help rural community colleges and advanced technological centers expand or enhance programs that produce graduates with the technical and professional skills needed in bioenergy, agriculture-based renewable energy resources, and related industrial areas such as pulp and paper manufacturing. The program is positioned as a workforce and economic development tool for rural regions that have faced long-term job and income losses tied to shifts in agriculture and manufacturing, while also contributing to national energy needs.
Funding is structured as grants with an expected total of about five awards. Individual awards can range from $10,000 to $300,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed for applicants. The funding activity spans multiple public policy areas, including agriculture, education, employment and training, energy, and environment, reflecting the program's blend of applied technical training and renewable energy sector development. Applications for the FY2010 cycle were posted November 13, 2009, with an application deadline of April 14, 2010, and the opportunity archived May 14, 2010.
Eligibility is narrowly defined and focused on institutions with an established rural mission and demonstrated capability. Applications may be submitted by public or private nonprofit community colleges or by advanced technological centers, but in either case the applicant must be located in a rural area (as defined in the RFA), must have existed as of June 18, 2008, and must participate in agricultural or bioenergy research and applied research. Applicants also need to show a proven record of developing and implementing programs that meet the needs of students, educators, and business and industry, specifically aimed at supplying the agriculture-based renewable energy or pulp and paper manufacturing sectors with certified technicians, as determined by the Secretary. In addition, applicants must demonstrate the ability to leverage existing partnerships and outreach and training programs that connect secondary schools, four-year institutions, and relevant nonprofit organizations. While only eligible institutions can apply directly, awardees are allowed to subcontract portions of the work to otherwise ineligible organizations if those partners are necessary to carry out the project.
A notable administrative requirement is that NIFA requires applicant institutions to verify rural eligibility through a signed statement from the Authorized Representative. This verification must be submitted on signed letterhead as an attachment in the specified application form field. The RFA emphasizes that failure to meet any eligibility criteria by the application deadline disqualifies the proposal from review, so eligibility documentation and institutional qualifications are treated as gatekeeping requirements, not minor compliance items. The opportunity also clarifies how eligibility works for multi-campus systems: separately accredited degree-granting branches within a state university or public higher education system can be treated as separate eligible institutions, while campuses that are not individually accredited are not treated separately.
Programmatically, RTP prioritizes projects that lead to measurable workforce outcomes for rural communities by improving the capacity of rural educational and technical institutions to deliver industry-relevant training and applied research. The intent is to build a pipeline of skilled technicians and professionals who can support emerging and existing renewable energy and bio-based industries, thereby helping rural regions compete in a global marketplace. Finally, beyond soliciting grant applications, NIFA also invited stakeholder input from interested parties to inform development of future RFAs for the program, indicating an interest in keeping the program aligned with evolving workforce and industry needs.
New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP) FAQs (FY2010)
What is the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP)?
RTP is a discretionary competitive grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is intended to strengthen rural economies by building an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce through technology development, applied research, and/or training projects.
What is the main goal of RTP?
The program aims to help rural regions build a pipeline of graduates with technical and professional skills needed for bioenergy and agriculture-based renewable energy industries, while also supporting related industrial areas such as pulp and paper manufacturing. RTP is positioned as both a workforce development and rural economic development tool.
What kinds of projects does RTP fund?
RTP supports projects focused on technology development, applied research, and/or training. The emphasis is on expanding or enhancing programs at rural community colleges and advanced technological centers to produce certified technicians and other workforce-ready graduates for relevant industries.
Which industries and sectors are specifically referenced by the program?
The opportunity highlights bioenergy and agriculture-based renewable energy resources, and it also references related industrial areas such as pulp and paper manufacturing.
How much funding was available for FY2010?
For the FY2010 cycle, NIFA made $850,000 available through a competitive Request for Applications (RFA).
How many awards were expected to be made?
The funding description indicates an expected total of about five awards.
What is the award size range?
Individual awards could range from $10,000 to $300,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is listed for applicants in the provided opportunity summary.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to (1) public or private nonprofit community colleges or (2) advanced technological centers, provided they meet the specific rural location and institutional requirements described in the RFA.
What does "located in a rural area" mean for eligibility?
The applicant institution must be located in a rural area as defined in the RFA. NIFA requires the institution to verify rural eligibility through a signed statement from the Authorized Representative.
How does an applicant verify rural eligibility?
NIFA requires a signed statement from the Authorized Representative verifying rural eligibility. The statement must be on signed letterhead and submitted as an attachment in the specified application form field.
What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The RFA emphasizes that failure to meet any eligibility criteria by the application deadline disqualifies the proposal from review. Eligibility is treated as a gatekeeping requirement rather than a minor compliance item.
Are there institutional age or existence requirements?
Yes. The applicant institution must have existed as of June 18, 2008.
Are applicants required to be involved in research?
Yes. Eligible applicants must participate in agricultural or bioenergy research and applied research.
What track record or capabilities must eligible institutions demonstrate?
Applicants must show a proven record of developing and implementing programs that meet the needs of students, educators, and business and industry, specifically aimed at supplying the agriculture-based renewable energy or pulp and paper manufacturing sectors with certified technicians, as determined by the Secretary.
Are partnerships and outreach part of eligibility or expectations?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to leverage existing partnerships and outreach and training programs that connect secondary schools, four-year institutions, and relevant nonprofit organizations.
Can ineligible organizations participate in an RTP project?
Yes. While only eligible institutions can apply directly, awardees are allowed to subcontract portions of the work to otherwise ineligible organizations if those partners are necessary to carry out the project.
How does eligibility work for multi-campus systems?
Separately accredited degree-granting branches within a state university or public higher education system can be treated as separate eligible institutions. Campuses that are not individually accredited are not treated separately for eligibility purposes.
What policy areas does RTP relate to?
The opportunity spans multiple public policy areas, including agriculture, education, employment and training, energy, and environment.
What outcomes does RTP prioritize?
RTP prioritizes projects that lead to measurable workforce outcomes for rural communities by improving the capacity of rural educational and technical institutions to deliver industry-relevant training and applied research.
Why is this program framed as an economic development tool?
The program targets rural regions that have experienced long-term job and income losses tied to shifts in agriculture and manufacturing, aiming to help these regions compete in a global marketplace while contributing to national energy needs.
What were the key dates for the FY2010 cycle?
Applications for FY2010 were posted on November 13, 2009. The application deadline was April 14, 2010. The opportunity was archived on May 14, 2010.
Did NIFA request input beyond grant applications?
Yes. NIFA invited stakeholder input from interested parties to inform the development of future RFAs for the program, suggesting an intent to keep the program aligned with evolving workforce and industry needs.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA RTP 002694) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP) Apply for USDA NIFA RTP 003380 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RTP 003380 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Employment, Labor and Training Energy Environment Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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