Opportunity Information: Apply for OAO 00006
Apply for OAO 00006
- The DM Office of Advocacy and Outreach in the agriculture business and commerce community development education food and nutrition natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.443 Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 26, 2014 and posted on Jul 23, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 27, 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 $9,100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, commonly referred to as the 2501 Program, is a USDA grant opportunity designed to expand access to USDA programs and services for two priority groups: socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers. The core purpose is practical and participation-focused. It aims to help these producers successfully own and operate farms and ranches, while also increasing their awareness of and ability to use USDA resources such as conservation programs, credit and lending supports, risk management tools, and other agricultural assistance that can be difficult to navigate without targeted guidance. Rather than funding farming operations directly, the program primarily funds organizations that will deliver outreach, education, and technical assistance to the producers the program is meant to serve.
Funding is offered as mandatory grant funding, with no cost sharing or matching requirement listed, which generally lowers the barrier for organizations that may not have substantial non-federal funds available. The estimated total funding available under this notice is $9.1 million, and USDA anticipates making about 200 awards. Individual awards can be as high as $400,000, with the award floor listed as $0, indicating proposals could vary widely in size depending on scope and structure. The program is tied to CFDA number 10.443, which corresponds to outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers. The funding activity categories span several areas, including agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, food and nutrition, and natural resources, reflecting the broad range of topics that outreach and technical assistance efforts may cover.
Eligible applicants include community-based and mission-driven entities that are positioned to work directly with producers. Specifically, eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding institutions of higher education in that category), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, and other Native American tribal organizations. The design of the eligibility rules signals that USDA 2501 funds are intended to support trusted intermediaries with established relationships and capacity to deliver services, whether through nonprofit community networks, university extension-style programming, or tribal government and tribal organization services.
Operationally, the administering office for this opportunity is the USDA Office of Advocacy and Outreach (listed under the DM Office of Advocacy and Outreach). The notice was posted July 23, 2014, with an original closing date of August 25, 2014, and a current closing date of August 27, 2014, indicating a short application window typical of many federal funding cycles. For applicants needing access to the full announcement or experiencing difficulty with electronic access, the contact listed is Kenya Nicholas, Program Manager at the Office of Advocacy and Outreach, reachable by phone at 202-720-6350.
FAQs: USDA 2501 Program (Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers)
What is the USDA 2501 Program?
The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, commonly called the 2501 Program, is a USDA grant opportunity focused on expanding access to USDA programs and services for two priority groups: socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The core purpose is practical and participation-focused: helping eligible producers successfully own and operate farms and ranches by increasing their awareness of, and ability to use, USDA resources. This includes support related to conservation programs, credit and lending supports, risk management tools, and other agricultural assistance that can be difficult to navigate without targeted guidance.
Does the 2501 Program fund farming operations directly?
No. Based on the information provided, the program primarily funds organizations that will deliver outreach, education, and technical assistance to the producers the program is meant to serve, rather than directly funding farming operations.
Who are the priority groups this program is intended to serve?
The program is designed to expand access to USDA programs and services for (1) socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and (2) veteran farmers and ranchers.
What types of activities can be supported under this opportunity?
The opportunity supports outreach, education, and technical assistance efforts that help producers understand and access USDA resources. The listed funding activity categories include agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, food and nutrition, and natural resources, reflecting a broad range of topics that outreach and assistance efforts may cover.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this program is 10.443 (Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers).
How much total funding is available?
The estimated total funding available under this notice is $9.1 million.
How many awards does USDA expect to make?
USDA anticipates making about 200 awards.
What is the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards can be as high as $400,000. The award floor is listed as $0, which suggests proposals could vary widely in size depending on project scope and structure.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed. The funding is described as mandatory grant funding with no cost sharing or matching requirement noted.
Who is eligible to apply for 2501 Program funding?
Eligible applicants include the following organization types, as listed in the opportunity:
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding institutions of higher education in that category)
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are specifically listed as eligible applicants. The listing also notes that 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible, excluding institutions of higher education in that category.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations are specifically listed as eligible.
What kinds of organizations is USDA trying to fund through this program?
The eligibility rules indicate the funds are intended to support trusted intermediaries that can work directly with producers, such as community-based and mission-driven nonprofits, higher-education institutions delivering extension-style programming, and tribal governments or tribal organizations providing services to their communities.
Which USDA office administers this opportunity?
The administering office is the USDA Office of Advocacy and Outreach (listed under the DM Office of Advocacy and Outreach).
When was the notice posted?
The notice was posted on July 23, 2014.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date was August 25, 2014, and the current closing date is August 27, 2014.
Was the application window short?
Yes. The posted timeline shows a short window between the posting date (July 23, 2014) and the current closing date (August 27, 2014), which is consistent with many federal funding cycles.
Who can applicants contact if they need the full announcement or have trouble with electronic access?
The listed contact is Kenya Nicholas, Program Manager at the Office of Advocacy and Outreach. Phone: 202-720-6350.
Is a phone contact provided for questions and access issues?
Yes. A phone contact is provided: 202-720-6350 (Kenya Nicholas, Program Manager, Office of Advocacy and Outreach).
What does it mean that funding activity categories span multiple areas?
It means outreach and technical assistance projects under this program can align with a wide range of topics connected to helping producers access USDA programs and services, including agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, food and nutrition, and natural resources.
Does the opportunity description suggest what kind of outcomes USDA is aiming for?
Yes. The stated aim is to increase participation and practical ability of the priority groups to use USDA resources, with an emphasis on helping them successfully own and operate farms and ranches by improving awareness and navigation of USDA programs and tools.
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