Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program

For program related questions:
SM.SLSNCGP@usda.gov

For other application questions:
grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

Grants.gov contact center:
800.518.4726
support@grants.gov
Self-service knowledge base

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) offers funding to enable the Cooperative Extension System (CES) to assist in preparing for, providing an educational response to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters and disaster threats. The program supports innovative, education-based approaches to address disaster preparedness and specific responses related to disasters or disaster threats caused by natural, human-made, technological hazards, or by other factors that contribute to the exposure of or risk to a community.

Projects must use at least one of the strategies:

• Program and resource development: Examples include field days, program series, round-table sessions, day camps, curricula development, resource guides and fact sheet development, and print and/or web-based deliverables.
• Exercise and training: Including, but not limited to simulation exercises, tabletop exercises, train-the-trainer programs, technical assistance, and in-person and/or virtual skills-based trainings.
• Communications: Such as new or exploratory ways to reach target audiences and stakeholders, app development, message amplification, social media, cybersecurity, and use of emergent technology like artificial intelligence.
• Disaster planning: Activities include but are not limited to needs assessment, all-hazards planning, hazard-specific planning, and evaluation activities.
• Professional development and capacity building: Includes but is not limited to just-in-time and/or continually relevant continuing education for CES professionals and partners; and activities that support the effectiveness and future of an organization or community like volunteer recruitment, leadership succession, gap analysis, and outcome measurement.

Applicants are encouraged to approach topical areas and strategies in their projects by considering:

• Using stakeholder-informed approaches that lead to actionable information and transformational changes
• Improving partnerships which might include the public, governments at all levels, nonprofit and/or volunteer organizations, schools/academia, and/or industry
• Addressing the impacts of disasters or disaster threats caused by natural, human-made, or technological hazards on food and agricultural systems and rural communities

Applications may be submitted by 1862 Land-grant Institutions in the 50 states and the U.S. territories, American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Award ceiling: $115,000
Award floor: $20,000
Project period: 12-36 months
Estimated number of awards: 5
Estimated total program funding: $459,564

Most applicants are required to provide 100% matching funds from non-federal sources. No match is required for 1994 Land-grant Institutions and Hispanic Serving Institutions. Only 50% matching funds are required for Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and NIFA may consider a waiver of match for these territories.

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov.