Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 003441
Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 003441
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 17, 2011 and posted on May 2, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 1, 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 $1,600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
- Applications may be submitted by Land grant colleges and universities that are eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University and the University of the District of Columbia. Applications may be submitted by any of the Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land Grant Institutions under the Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994, as amended.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (FY 2011) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) designed to strengthen the health and well-being of rural individuals and farm families through education, outreach, and community-based support. The program is anchored in the Cooperative Extension Service mission (CFDA 10.500) and emphasizes practical, locally relevant efforts that help rural residents better understand health risks, navigate barriers to care, and build healthier habits and environments through partnerships and training.
For FY 2011, NIFA targeted projects that address individual and family health in one or more core areas. First, proposals could focus on analyzing or educating communities about how broader societal factors shape health in rural settings. The announcement specifically highlights factors such as income, educational attainment, unemployment or job security, social exclusion, food security or insecurity, housing quality, and health insurance coverage, all of which can influence health outcomes and access to services for rural and farm households. Second, projects could address health literacy and health disparities, including differences in access to health services, how services are used, and the impacts of specific health conditions on overall health status among rural and farm families. Third, the program supported related health promotion and health care education efforts, particularly those that communicate the value of good health at any age, increase personal and family motivation to take responsibility for health, expand access to health promotion and educational activities, and provide training for volunteers and health service providers. A key expectation across these topics is collaboration with local and community partners, reflecting an emphasis on on-the-ground implementation and sustained community engagement rather than isolated academic work.
Funding for the opportunity was estimated at $1.6 million total, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $50,000 to a ceiling of $300,000. The program did not require cost sharing or matching, which can lower barriers for institutions seeking to implement education and outreach activities in rural communities. Awards were issued as grants, and the activity categories connected to the opportunity include agriculture, education, and health, consistent with Extension-based approaches that integrate community health with rural livelihoods and family well-being.
Eligibility was limited to specific higher education institutions with land-grant status. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education that qualify as land-grant colleges and universities under the 1862 and 1890 Acts (including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and the University of the District of Columbia), as well as Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land Grant Institutions under the Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994 (as amended). In practice, this means the program was intended to be delivered through the established land-grant and Extension networks that already operate in rural communities and have infrastructure for education, training, and community partnership-building.
Key administrative details from the announcement include Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA RHSE 003441 and the title Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program. The opportunity was posted May 2, 2011, with an application closing date of July 1, 2011, and it was archived July 31, 2011. Applicants needing technical help accessing the announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) during business hours, and the notice indicated additional support was available for questions related to preparing application content.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (FY 2011)?
The Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (FY 2011) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its purpose is to strengthen the health and well-being of rural individuals and farm families through education, outreach, and community-based support efforts grounded in the Cooperative Extension Service mission (CFDA 10.500).
2) What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The main goal is to improve rural and farm family health by supporting practical, locally relevant education and outreach activities. Projects are expected to help rural residents understand health risks, navigate barriers to care, and build healthier habits and environments, often through partnerships and training.
3) Which federal agency administers this program?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
4) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The announcement ties the program to the Cooperative Extension Service mission under CFDA 10.500.
5) What types of projects were targeted for FY 2011?
For FY 2011, NIFA targeted projects addressing individual and family health in one or more of these core areas:
- Education or analysis on how broader societal factors shape health in rural settings
- Health literacy and health disparities among rural and farm families
- Health promotion and health care education, including training and expanded access to health education activities
6) What societal factors did the announcement highlight as affecting rural health?
The announcement specifically highlighted factors that can influence health outcomes and access to services for rural and farm households, including:
- Income
- Educational attainment
- Unemployment or job security
- Social exclusion
- Food security or insecurity
- Housing quality
- Health insurance coverage
7) How does the program define the health literacy and disparities focus area?
The health literacy and health disparities area includes differences in access to health services, how health services are used, and how specific health conditions impact overall health status among rural and farm families.
8) What kinds of health promotion or health education activities were supported?
The program supported health promotion and health care education efforts that communicate the value of good health at any age, increase personal and family motivation to take responsibility for health, expand access to health promotion and educational activities, and provide training for volunteers and health service providers.
9) Is community collaboration required or encouraged?
Collaboration is a key expectation across the topic areas. The program emphasizes partnerships with local and community partners and on-the-ground implementation with sustained community engagement rather than isolated academic work.
10) What is the total amount of funding available for FY 2011?
Total program funding for the opportunity was estimated at $1.6 million.
11) What is the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards ranged from a floor of $50,000 to a ceiling of $300,000.
12) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching.
13) What type of award is made under this opportunity?
Awards were issued as grants.
14) What activity categories are associated with this grant?
The activity categories connected to the opportunity include agriculture, education, and health, reflecting Extension-based approaches that integrate community health with rural livelihoods and family well-being.
15) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to certain land-grant higher education institutions. Eligible applicants included:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education that qualify as land-grant colleges and universities under the 1862 and 1890 Acts
- Private institutions of higher education that qualify as land-grant colleges and universities under the 1862 and 1890 Acts
- Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land Grant Institutions under the Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994 (as amended)
16) Which specific institutions were mentioned as examples of eligible 1890 land-grant institutions?
The announcement specifically mentioned Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and the University of the District of Columbia as included under the 1890 Act eligibility category.
17) Why is eligibility limited to land-grant institutions?
Based on the announcement, the program was intended to be delivered through established land-grant and Extension networks that already operate in rural communities and have infrastructure for education, training, and building community partnerships.
18) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA RHSE 003441.
19) What is the official title of the funding opportunity?
The title is Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program.
20) When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on May 2, 2011. The application closing date was July 1, 2011. The opportunity was archived on July 31, 2011.
21) Where could applicants get technical help with accessing the announcement?
Applicants needing technical help accessing the announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours.
22) Was there support available for application preparation questions?
Yes. The notice indicated additional support was available for questions related to preparing application content.
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