Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA F4HN 003136
Apply for USDA NIFA F4HN 003136
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Youth Development 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 Apr 21, 2010 and posted on Apr 21, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 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 $1,712,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $685,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Pursuant to 7 U.S.C. Section 7630, only the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the National 4 H Council, the Boy Scouts of America, and the National FFA Organization are eligible to apply. NIFA will accept only one application from each organization. The application must be developed and submitted by the national office of each respective organization.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Youth Development Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). It is designed to address the reality that many rural young people face both economic and physical barriers that limit their access to basic supports that contribute to healthy development, such as reliable services, safe spaces, and the tools and resources needed to participate fully in school and community life. The program focuses on removing or reducing those barriers so rural youth are better positioned to thrive personally while also contributing to the long-term strength of their communities.
At its core, the program targets several practical outcomes tied to youth development in rural settings. It aims to increase participation by breaking down obstacles that can keep youth from joining activities or receiving services, whether those obstacles are related to cost, transportation, distance, or limited local infrastructure. It also emphasizes expanding meaningful youth involvement in policy and decision-making, reflecting a goal of not just serving youth, but empowering them to help shape the programs and community decisions that affect them. In addition, the program supports the creation of safe and welcoming environments for youth activities, which can include improving the quality and accessibility of places where young people gather, learn, and build supportive relationships. Another central theme is improving access to information and technology, recognizing that limited connectivity or lack of devices and digital skills can isolate rural youth from educational, civic, and workforce opportunities.
The overall purpose is broader than any single service or activity: it is to create opportunities for rural youth to improve their own lives and to play an active role in improving the communities where they live. This community development framing makes youth development a vehicle for broader rural resilience, leadership, and civic engagement rather than a stand-alone youth program.
Funding for the opportunity was estimated at $1,712,000 in total, with an expected four awards. Individual awards could be as high as $685,000, and the minimum award amount was not set (award floor listed as $0). There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving an award.
Eligibility for this program was highly restricted by statute (7 U.S.C. Section 7630). Only four national organizations were eligible to apply: the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the National 4-H Council, the Boy Scouts of America, and the National FFA Organization. NIFA would accept only one application from each organization, and each application had to be developed and submitted by that organization's national office rather than by local councils, chapters, or affiliates.
Key administrative details include that the funding opportunity number was USDA-NIFA-F4HN-003136, it was posted on April 21, 2010, and the application deadline was May 24, 2010, with the archive date listed as June 23, 2010. For technical issues accessing the full announcement, NIFA directed applicants to its Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays).
Rural Youth Development Grants Program (USDA NIFA) - FAQs
What is the Rural Youth Development Grants Program?
The Rural Youth Development Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). It is intended to reduce or remove barriers that prevent rural youth from accessing supports that contribute to healthy development.
What problem is this grant program trying to address?
The program is aimed at the economic and physical barriers many rural young people face, such as limited access to reliable services, safe spaces, and the tools and resources needed to participate fully in school and community life. The overall goal is to help rural youth thrive while strengthening their communities over the long term.
What kinds of outcomes does the program emphasize?
The program highlights several practical youth development outcomes in rural settings, including increasing participation by reducing barriers, expanding youth involvement in policy and decision-making, creating safe and welcoming environments for youth activities, and improving access to information and technology.
What types of barriers does the program aim to remove or reduce?
Based on the program description, barriers can include cost-related obstacles, transportation challenges, distance, and limited local infrastructure that can prevent youth from joining activities or receiving services.
How does the program define “increasing participation” for rural youth?
Increasing participation refers to breaking down obstacles that keep rural youth from joining activities or receiving services. The description specifically mentions barriers like cost, transportation, distance, and limited local infrastructure.
Does the program include youth leadership or civic engagement components?
Yes. A core emphasis is expanding meaningful youth involvement in policy and decision-making. The program’s framing goes beyond simply providing services by empowering youth to help shape programs and community decisions that affect them.
What does the program mean by creating “safe and welcoming environments”?
The program supports the creation of safe and welcoming environments for youth activities. This can include improving the quality and accessibility of spaces where young people gather, learn, and build supportive relationships.
Is technology access part of the program’s focus?
Yes. The program recognizes that limited connectivity, lack of devices, or gaps in digital skills can isolate rural youth from educational, civic, and workforce opportunities. Improving access to information and technology is identified as a central theme.
Is the program focused only on youth services, or does it connect to broader community goals?
The program is framed as community development as well as youth development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for rural youth to improve their own lives and play an active role in improving their communities, supporting broader rural resilience, leadership, and civic engagement.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.500, identified as the Cooperative Extension Service.
What was the total estimated funding amount?
The total estimated funding was $1,712,000.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity anticipated approximately four awards.
What was the maximum award size?
Individual awards could be as high as $685,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum award amount was set. The award floor was listed as $0.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving an award.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited by statute (7 U.S.C. Section 7630). Only four national organizations were eligible to apply: the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the National 4-H Council, the Boy Scouts of America, and the National FFA Organization.
Could local councils, chapters, or affiliates apply?
No. Each application had to be developed and submitted by the organization’s national office. Local councils, chapters, or affiliates were not eligible to submit.
How many applications could each eligible organization submit?
NIFA would accept only one application from each eligible national organization.
What is the statutory authority mentioned for eligibility restrictions?
The eligibility restriction was described as being set by statute under 7 U.S.C. Section 7630.
What was the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number was USDA-NIFA-F4HN-003136.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 21, 2010.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was May 24, 2010.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was listed as June 23, 2010.
Who should applicants contact for technical issues accessing the full announcement?
For technical issues accessing the full announcement, NIFA directed applicants to its Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What were the Help Desk hours for technical assistance?
The Help Desk was available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
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