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Simpler Grants

No. USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011596 · National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Open

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development

Dealbreakers Cost share required Audit: not stated
Not reimbursement-only
“The Automated Standard Application for Payments, operated by the Department of Treasury, Bureau of Fiscal Service, is the designated payment system for awards resulting from this NOFO.” — From the announcement
Award range
$10,000 – $650,000
Expected awards
~245
Application deadline
Dec 31, 2026
Posted
Jan 20, 2026
Last verified
6 days ago

At a glance

AI summary

This program funds education, workforce training, fellowship, and workshop projects in food and agricultural sciences, including teacher professional development, community college workforce training, non-formal education, undergraduate experiences, and predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships. Eligible applicants and project types vary by program area, with some areas limited to institutions such as community, junior, and technical colleges, and others open to education, extension, or integrated projects. Total funding for the AFRI Education and Workforce Development program is about $39.7 million, and the listed program areas include maximum awards ranging from $250,000 to $650,000 for community college training projects and up to $500,000 for professional development projects. Some project areas require a minimum of 50% of direct costs for participant support, and several areas restrict projects to specific institutional partners or exclude baccalaureate and graduate degree programs.

AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement

What it funds

  • Agriculture
  • Training, Fellowship & Career Development
  • Educators & Health/Public-Service Workforce
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Students & Learners (K-12 and Postsecondary)
  • Agriculture, Food Systems & Food Safety
  • STEM Education & Research Training
  • Workforce, Employment & Economic Mobility
Official description from grants.gov

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD) focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the AFRI’s Education and Workforce Development program areas to support: 1. professional development opportunities for K-14 educational professionals; 2. non-formal education that cultivates food and agricultural interest in youth; 3. workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges; 4. training of undergraduate students in research and extension; 5. fellowships for predoctoral candidates; 6. fellowships for postdoctoral scholars; and 7. education and workforce development workshop grants.

Who can apply

  • Others
Geographic restriction None found in the announcement — likely nationwide
Set-aside Set aside or prioritized for: HSI
“Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities” — From the announcement

Program history

USASpending.gov

Assistance listing 10.310 · Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)

Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (10.310), not just this notice.

Fiscal year Awards Median award Middle half
FY 2026 (so far) 445 $591,473 $298,480 – $659,749
FY 2025 273 $300,000 $225,000 – $649,999
FY 2024 806 $521,905 $225,000 – $650,000
FY 2023 1,026
FY 2022 866
FY 2021 1,135

For comparison, this notice advertises $10,000 – $650,000.

Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 4,551 — award counts are complete.

Who wins it Higher education (3,947), Nonprofit (318), Business (16) of 4,551 awards — categories can overlap.
Top states CA (78) · TX (66) · FL (25) · NY (25) · GA (24)
Largest recent awards
  1. KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY $10,000,000 · FY 2025
  2. NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY $10,000,000 · FY 2025
  3. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE $10,000,000 · FY 2025
  4. TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH $10,000,000 · FY 2025
  5. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA $9,990,000 · FY 2025

Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Aug 24, 2026