Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 009723
The Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (SLSNCGP), listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.511, is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that focuses on practical, education-based solutions for disasters affecting communities and food and agricultural systems. Its main purpose is to fund innovative outreach and educational efforts that help people and institutions prepare for disasters, respond when disasters occur, recover afterward, and reduce future risk through mitigation. The program is designed to address a broad range of hazards, including natural events (such as hurricanes, floods, drought, wildfires, and extreme heat), human-made incidents, and technological hazards, as well as other conditions that increase a community's exposure or vulnerability. In short, it is aimed at strengthening resilience and protecting quality of life by improving how communities, producers, and local systems anticipate and manage disaster-related challenges tied to agriculture and food.
A central theme of this program is improving decision-making before, during, and after disruptive events. SLSNCGP supports projects that generate and deliver timely, useful information and resources to USDA stakeholders and collaborators, emphasizing applied education and extension-style approaches rather than purely academic research. Competitive projects under this program typically focus on helping end users understand risks, adopt preparedness practices, and implement response and recovery strategies that reduce losses and speed up stabilization. Because the emphasis is on education-based approaches, strong projects usually translate technical knowledge into training, tools, guidance, and outreach that can be used directly by producers, families, communities, and local or regional partners involved in agriculture and food systems.
Eligibility is limited to 1862 land-grant institutions, meaning only these institutions can submit applications as the primary applicants. This includes eligible 1862 land-grant institutions located in the 50 states and specified U.S. territories and affiliated areas: American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program notes that applicants must meet all requirements laid out in the Request for Applications (RFA), and failure to satisfy eligibility criteria by the deadline can lead to an application being removed from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award. While only 1862 land-grant institutions can apply directly, award recipients may subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply, as long as those organizations are needed to carry out the project. The opportunity also encourages collaboration: 1862 institutions may submit joint proposals with one another and may partner with other land-grant institutions (including 1890 and 1994 institutions), non-land-grant universities, and nongovernmental organizations within a state or region.
From the funding details provided, the opportunity is identified as USDA NIFA SLBCD 009723 and was posted with a creation date of March 3, 2023, with an original closing date of April 13, 2023. The award instrument is a grant, and the activity category is agriculture. The listed award ceiling is $150,000 per award, indicating the maximum funding level for an individual project under this announcement. Overall, SLSNCGP is best understood as a competitive extension-focused funding stream that helps land-grant universities lead practical, community-facing disaster education and resilience work, especially where disasters intersect with farming, ranching, food supply chains, and the broader agricultural economy.Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 009723
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture 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): 10.511.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-03-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (SLSNCGP)?
The Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (SLSNCGP) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) discretionary competitive grant program. It funds practical, education-based projects that help communities and food and agricultural systems prepare for disasters, respond effectively, recover faster, and reduce future risk through mitigation.
What Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.511.
What is the main purpose of SLSNCGP funding?
The main purpose is to support innovative outreach and educational efforts that improve disaster readiness and resilience for people and institutions connected to agriculture and food systems. Projects are expected to strengthen decision-making and provide usable resources before, during, and after disruptive events.
What types of disasters or hazards does the program cover?
The program is designed to address a broad range of hazards, including natural events (such as hurricanes, floods, drought, wildfires, and extreme heat), human-made incidents, technological hazards, and other conditions that increase a community's exposure or vulnerability.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for this program?
Projects that translate technical knowledge into practical education and extension-style outputs are a strong fit. This includes training, tools, guidance, and outreach that help end users understand risks, adopt preparedness practices, and implement response and recovery strategies that reduce losses and support stabilization.
Is this program focused on academic research?
The emphasis is on applied education and extension-style approaches rather than purely academic research. The program highlights generating and delivering timely, useful information and resources for USDA stakeholders and collaborators.
Who is eligible to apply as the primary applicant?
Eligibility is limited to 1862 land-grant institutions. Only these institutions can submit applications as the primary applicants.
Which locations are included for eligible 1862 land-grant institutions?
Eligible 1862 land-grant institutions include those located in the 50 states and specified U.S. territories and affiliated areas: American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Can organizations that are not eligible to apply still be involved in a project?
Yes. While only eligible 1862 land-grant institutions can apply directly, award recipients may subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply, as long as those organizations are needed to carry out the project.
Does the program encourage collaboration or joint proposals?
Yes. The opportunity encourages collaboration. 1862 land-grant institutions may submit joint proposals with one another and may partner with other land-grant institutions (including 1890 and 1994 institutions), non-land-grant universities, and nongovernmental organizations within a state or region.
What is the focus of the program in terms of decision-making?
A central theme is improving decision-making before, during, and after disruptive events. Projects typically provide information, education, and resources that help producers, communities, and institutions make better choices related to disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation in agriculture and food contexts.
What is the award type (instrument) for this opportunity?
The award instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category listed for this opportunity?
The activity category is agriculture.
What is the maximum amount of funding available per award?
The listed award ceiling is $150,000 per award, meaning this is the maximum funding level for an individual project under this announcement.
What is the opportunity identifier mentioned in the details?
The opportunity is identified as USDA NIFA SLBCD 009723.
When was this opportunity posted, and what was the original closing date?
The posting (creation) date listed is March 3, 2023, and the original closing date listed is April 13, 2023.
What happens if an applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The program notes that applicants must meet all requirements in the Request for Applications (RFA). Failure to satisfy eligibility criteria by the deadline can result in the application being removed from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award.
Who are the intended end users or beneficiaries of funded projects?
Funded projects are intended to benefit end users such as producers, families, communities, and local or regional partners involved in agriculture and food systems, particularly where disaster impacts intersect with farming, ranching, and food supply chains.
How should SLSNCGP be understood in the broader context of USDA funding?
SLSNCGP can be understood as a competitive, extension-focused funding stream that supports land-grant universities in leading practical, community-facing disaster education and resilience work tied to agriculture and food systems.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA SLBCD 009723) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Agriculture and Food Science Facilities and Equipment Program for Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 009763 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 009763 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program - Pre-Applications Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 009771 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SCRI 009771 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
| Equipment Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009864 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009864 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Project Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009863 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009863 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009622 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009622 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,100,000 |
| Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 009754 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEP 009754 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $262,500 |
| 1890 Facilities Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA EF47 009769 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EF47 009769 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,650,000 |
| National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Extension, and Research Awards Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009722 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009722 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Special Research Grants Program Potato Research Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 009702 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 009702 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009882 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009882 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| New Beginning for Tribal Students Program Apply for USDA NIFA TGP 009902 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TGP 009902 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Food and Agricultural Education Information System Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009753 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009753 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,100,000 |
| Open Data Framework Apply for USDA NIFA OTHER 009752 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OTHER 009752 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $920,000 |
| Wild Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Response Activities 2023 Cooperative Agreements Apply for USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 23 0018 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 23 0018 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| USDA APHIS Tribal Nations Wild Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Opportunities 2023 Cooperative Agreements Apply for USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 23 0019 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 23 0019 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Farmed Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Response Activities 2023 Cooperative Agreements Apply for USDA APHIS 10025 VSSPRS00 23 0058 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10025 VSSPRS00 23 0058 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009842 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 009842 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCRGP 009748 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCRGP 009748 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009766 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009766 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Extension Program: Special Emphasis Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 010064 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 010064 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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