Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 004897
Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 004897
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.226 Secondary and Two Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 6, 2015 and posted on Feb 6, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 13, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $900,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may only be submitted by (1) public secondary schools, (2) public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges, (3) institutions of higher education, or (4) nonprofit organizations (Attach IRS 501(c)(3) status under RR Other Project Information Field 12 Other Attachments).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (often shortened to SPECA) is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The program is designed to strengthen the pipeline of students and workers entering food and agricultural sciences by improving education and training at the secondary (high school) level and at two-year postsecondary institutions such as community and junior colleges. A central idea behind the program is workforce development: building and maintaining a skilled U.S. workforce prepared for careers across the food and agricultural sciences system, including agriscience and agribusiness.
A second major focus is creating stronger, more coordinated connections among different levels of education. The program emphasizes complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and higher education institutions. In practice, that means proposals are expected to help programs work together rather than in isolation, supporting clearer pathways for students to progress from high school to two-year programs and then into four-year degrees (and beyond) in food and agricultural sciences. The long-term educational goal is to encourage more young Americans not only to consider agricultural and related STEM fields, but to persist through completion of a baccalaureate or higher degree.
This funding opportunity is a discretionary grant (not a formula allocation), and it falls under the Agriculture funding activity category. The CFDA number associated with it is 10.226, which corresponds to the Secondary and Two Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants. The total estimated funding available for the competition was listed as $900,000, and the opportunity explicitly requires cost sharing or matching funds, meaning applicants must contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget.
Eligible applicants are limited to specific institution types. Applications may be submitted by public secondary schools, public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit applicants are expected to document their eligibility by attaching proof of IRS 501(c)(3) status as part of the application package. The eligibility language signals that the program is oriented toward education providers and mission-driven organizations capable of running curriculum, training, and partnership-building projects that directly serve students and educators.
The specific opportunity referenced was posted on February 6, 2015, with an original closing date of March 6, 2015, later extended to March 13, 2015. It was archived on April 5, 2015. For applicants who needed assistance accessing the full announcement or navigating the submission process, NIFA directed them to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time), excluding federal holidays, and also provided a contact pathway for questions related to preparing application content.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the SPECA Challenge Grants Program?
The Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA) is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports projects that improve education and training related to food and agricultural sciences at the secondary (high school) level and at two-year postsecondary institutions (such as community and junior colleges).
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program is designed to strengthen the pipeline of students and workers entering food and agricultural sciences. A central theme is workforce development: helping build and maintain a skilled U.S. workforce prepared for careers across the food and agricultural sciences system, including agriscience and agribusiness.
Which education levels does SPECA focus on?
SPECA focuses on secondary education (high school) and two-year postsecondary education (community and junior colleges). It also emphasizes connections to higher education institutions to support longer-term pathways into baccalaureate and advanced degrees in food and agricultural sciences.
What kinds of connections or partnerships does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and higher education institutions. Proposals are expected to help programs work together rather than in isolation and to create clearer pathways for students to progress from high school to two-year programs and then into four-year degrees (and beyond) in food and agricultural sciences.
What long-term student outcomes is the program trying to support?
The long-term educational goal is to encourage more young Americans to consider agricultural and related STEM fields and to persist through completion of a baccalaureate or higher degree in food and agricultural sciences.
Is SPECA a competitive grant or a formula program?
This funding opportunity is a discretionary grant and is competitive (not a formula allocation).
Which federal agency runs this opportunity?
The program is run by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Agriculture funding activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with this program is 10.226, corresponding to the Secondary and Two Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The total estimated funding available for the competition was listed as $900,000.
Does this grant require cost sharing or matching funds?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly requires cost sharing or matching funds, meaning applicants must contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to specific institution types. Applications may be submitted by:
- Public secondary schools
- Public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges
- Institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
The eligibility list provided includes nonprofit organizations and education institutions; for-profit organizations are not included in the stated eligible applicant types.
What documentation is required for nonprofit applicants?
Nonprofit applicants are expected to document their eligibility by attaching proof of IRS 501(c)(3) status as part of the application package.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The specific opportunity referenced was posted on February 6, 2015. The original closing date was March 6, 2015, and it was later extended to March 13, 2015.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on April 5, 2015.
Where could applicants get help with accessing the announcement or the submission process?
NIFA directed applicants to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time), excluding federal holidays, for assistance accessing the full announcement or navigating the submission process.
Was there a contact pathway for application content questions?
Yes. In addition to the help desk for access and submission support, the opportunity also provided a contact pathway for questions related to preparing application content.
What types of organizations is this program oriented toward?
Based on the eligibility language and program goals, the opportunity is oriented toward education providers and mission-driven organizations capable of running curriculum, training, and partnership-building projects that directly serve students and educators.
What is a key theme that proposals are expected to reflect?
A key theme is coordination across education levels. Proposals are expected to strengthen pathways and partnerships linking secondary schools, two-year colleges, and higher education institutions to support student progression into food and agricultural sciences education and careers.
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