Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 003437
Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 003437
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture disaster prevention and relief environment food and nutrition health natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Smith Lever Special Needs 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 Apr 6, 2011 and posted on Apr 6, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 23, 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 $460,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $120,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted with the approval of Extension Directors of 1862 Land grant Institutions in the 50 states, American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Smith Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SLBCD 003437) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is designed to fund innovative, education-based projects led by State Extension Services at 1862 Land Grant Institutions. The core purpose is to strengthen community readiness and response capacity by supporting Extension-led work focused on emergency preparedness and targeted responses to both natural disasters (such as floods, hurricanes, drought, wildfires, and severe storms) and man-made disasters (such as hazardous materials incidents and other human-caused emergencies). The emphasis on education-based approaches signals that proposals are expected to deliver practical outreach, training, and Extension programming that can be adopted by communities, organizations, producers, families, and local partners to reduce risk and improve resilience before, during, and after disaster events.
This program sits at the intersection of several public-interest activity areas, including agriculture, disaster prevention and relief, environment, food and nutrition, health, and natural resources. In practice, that means funded projects may address topics like continuity planning for farms and food systems, risk communication, emergency food and water safety, public health considerations during emergencies, protecting natural resources under disaster conditions, and coordinated community response strategies that Extension is well-positioned to deliver through its statewide networks.
For this funding cycle, NIFA anticipated making about 10 awards, with an estimated total funding pool of $460,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $30,000 (award floor) up to $120,000 (award ceiling). The program requires cost sharing or matching, so applicants needed to plan for non-federal contributions consistent with the program requirements in the Request for Applications. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the associated CFDA number is 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service), indicating the program's placement within the broader federal framework supporting Extension work.
Eligibility is limited primarily to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, with the key condition that applications must come through 1862 Land Grant Institutions and be submitted with the approval of the relevant Extension Director. Eligible jurisdictions include the 50 U.S. states as well as American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The listing notes that additional eligibility details may apply, as referenced in the opportunity's additional information field, but the central intent is clear: projects should be anchored in the Cooperative Extension system at eligible 1862 institutions and aligned with Extension's mission of translating research and best practices into practical education and on-the-ground action.
The opportunity was posted and created on April 6, 2011, with an original and final closing date of May 23, 2011, and it was archived on June 22, 2011. Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm ET).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Smith Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program?
The Smith Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program is a discretionary competitive grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports innovative, education-based projects led by State Extension Services at 1862 Land Grant Institutions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is USDA NIFA SLBCD 003437.
Who administers this grant program?
This program is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is to strengthen community readiness and response capacity through Extension-led work focused on emergency preparedness and targeted responses to disasters. The program emphasizes practical education and outreach that communities and local partners can use to reduce risk and improve resilience before, during, and after disaster events.
What types of disasters does the program focus on?
The program supports work related to both natural disasters (including floods, hurricanes, drought, wildfires, and severe storms) and man-made disasters (including hazardous materials incidents and other human-caused emergencies).
What does "education-based projects" mean in this context?
Based on the opportunity description, proposals are expected to deliver practical outreach, training, and Extension programming. These activities should be designed so communities, organizations, producers, families, and local partners can adopt them to improve preparedness, response, and recovery.
What kinds of topic areas might funded projects cover?
The opportunity notes that projects may address topics such as continuity planning for farms and food systems, risk communication, emergency food and water safety, public health considerations during emergencies, protecting natural resources under disaster conditions, and coordinated community response strategies delivered through Extension networks.
How does this program relate to agriculture and other public-interest areas?
The program is described as sitting at the intersection of agriculture, disaster prevention and relief, environment, food and nutrition, health, and natural resources. In practice, this means projects can be framed around Extension-delivered education that supports resilience across these areas.
How many awards did NIFA anticipate making for this cycle?
For this funding cycle, NIFA anticipated making about 10 awards.
What was the estimated total funding available?
The estimated total funding pool listed for this cycle was $460,000.
What was the expected award size range?
Individual awards were expected to range from $30,000 (award floor) to $120,000 (award ceiling).
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type for this opportunity is a grant.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The program requires cost sharing or matching, so applicants needed to plan for non-federal contributions consistent with the program requirements described in the Request for Applications.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The associated CFDA number is 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited primarily to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, with the key condition that applications must come through 1862 Land Grant Institutions and be submitted with the approval of the relevant Extension Director.
Does the application need any specific institutional approval?
Yes. Applications must be submitted with the approval of the relevant Extension Director.
Which locations or jurisdictions are eligible?
Eligible jurisdictions include the 50 U.S. states and American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Are there additional eligibility details beyond what is summarized?
The listing indicates that additional eligibility details may apply, as referenced in the opportunity's additional information field. However, the central intent is that projects are anchored in the Cooperative Extension system at eligible 1862 institutions.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted (and created) on April 6, 2011.
What was the application deadline?
The original and final closing date listed was May 23, 2011.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The listing notes the opportunity was archived on June 22, 2011.
Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What were the NIFA Help Desk hours?
The help desk hours listed were Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time (ET).
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture Disaster Prevention and Relief Environment Food and Nutrition Health Natural Resources
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Previous opportunity: 2011 Announcement of Availability of Funds for One Cooperative Agreement to Publish Public Health Reports
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