Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 005616
Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 005616
- The USDA-NIFA in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom (SPECA) Challenge Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.226.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 19, 2016 and posted on Jan 19, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 18, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom (SPECA) Challenge Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). It is designed to strengthen the pipeline of students preparing for careers in the food and agricultural sciences by improving education and training at the secondary (high school) level and at two-year postsecondary institutions, while also expanding agriculture-related learning in K-12 settings. The overarching goal is to help ensure the United States has a well-prepared workforce for agriscience and agribusiness fields, including the broader food and agricultural sciences system.
The program has two main priorities. First, it aims to promote and strengthen agriscience and agribusiness instruction in secondary education and in two-year colleges so that students gain relevant knowledge, technical skills, and career readiness for agriculture-related jobs and further study. Second, it emphasizes building coordinated, mutually reinforcing connections among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and four-year higher education programs. These linkages are meant to create smoother pathways for students to progress from high school to an associate degree and onward to a baccalaureate or advanced degree, ultimately increasing the number of young Americans who pursue and complete degrees in the food and agricultural sciences and improving overall educational quality in these programs.
Administratively, this opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SAECP 005616 and is associated with CFDA Number 10.226, reflecting its placement within USDA assistance programs. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is agriculture. Eligibility is noted as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement (meaning applicants typically need to consult the official eligibility section for specifics on which institutions or organizations can apply). The opportunity was posted and created on January 19, 2016, with an application closing date of March 18, 2016 (both the original and current closing date are the same in the listing). The public summary provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, indicating those details were either not included in the excerpted listing or were provided elsewhere in the full notice.
FAQs: SPECA Challenge Grant Program (USDA-NIFA)
What is the SPECA Challenge Grant Program?
The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom (SPECA) Challenge Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). It is designed to strengthen the pipeline of students preparing for careers in the food and agricultural sciences by improving education and training at the secondary (high school) level and at two-year postsecondary institutions, while also expanding agriculture-related learning in K-12 settings.
What is the main goal of the program?
The overarching goal is to help ensure the United States has a well-prepared workforce for agriscience and agribusiness fields, including the broader food and agricultural sciences system.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This grant opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is this a discretionary grant or a formula/entitlement program?
It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the program trying to improve in secondary education and two-year colleges?
One of the program's two main priorities is to promote and strengthen agriscience and agribusiness instruction in secondary education and in two-year colleges, so students gain relevant knowledge, technical skills, and career readiness for agriculture-related jobs and further study.
Does the program focus only on high school and two-year colleges?
No. In addition to improving secondary and two-year postsecondary education, the program also supports expanding agriculture-related learning in K-12 settings.
What are the two main priorities of the SPECA program?
The program has two main priorities: (1) promoting and strengthening agriscience and agribusiness instruction at the secondary and two-year postsecondary levels, and (2) building coordinated, mutually reinforcing connections among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and four-year higher education programs to create smoother student pathways.
What does "building coordinated connections" mean in this program?
It refers to creating linkages among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and four-year institutions so students can move more smoothly from high school to an associate degree and then to a baccalaureate or advanced degree.
How does SPECA relate to workforce development in agriculture?
By improving instructional quality and strengthening education pathways, the program aims to increase the number of young Americans who pursue and complete degrees in the food and agricultural sciences, which supports a better-prepared workforce for agriscience, agribusiness, and related fields.
What subject area or activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is agriculture.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA SAECP 005616.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA Number 10.226.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others." The public summary notes that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement, so applicants typically need to consult the official eligibility section for specifics on which institutions or organizations can apply.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility requirements?
The listing indicates that detailed eligibility requirements are provided in the full announcement rather than in the public summary excerpt.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted (and created) on January 19, 2016.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is March 18, 2016. The listing notes that both the original and current closing date are the same.
Are the award ceiling and number of awards listed in the summary?
No. The public summary provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards. Those details may have been included elsewhere in the full notice or were not included in the excerpted listing.
What kinds of student outcomes does the program aim to support?
Based on the summary, the program aims to support student learning and progression by improving relevant knowledge, technical skills, and career readiness, and by increasing the number of students who pursue and complete degrees in the food and agricultural sciences through stronger education pathways.
Does SPECA support pathways to four-year or advanced degrees?
Yes. A core emphasis is creating smoother pathways from high school to an associate degree and onward to a baccalaureate or advanced degree.
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