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USDA has announced they are awarding funds to tribes, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations through the Outreach Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program, known as the 2501 program. Tyron Spearman has the details.
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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is awarding funds to tribes, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations throughout the country to conduct training, outreach and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The awards are being made through the Outreach Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) Competitive Grants Program, known as the “2501 program.”
“USDA and the Obama administration is committed to creating opportunities for Americans from all backgrounds,” said Vilsack. “These grants will help develop programs to ensure that minority landowners have access to a full range of USDA programs, helping them increase their profitability and stay on the farm.”
The primary purpose of the grants being made available through the “2501 program” is to enhance the coordination of outreach, technical assistance and education efforts to reach socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. These grants enable organizations to help farmers and ranchers successfully acquire, own, operate and retain farms and ranches and to assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs. Local and regional impacts include participants setting up production and marketing cooperatives, improving environmental quality and improving their profitability and sustainability.
Fiscal year 2010 awards include:
Alabama A&M University, AL, NC, SC, GA, LA, MS $300,000
Alabama State Association of Cooperatives, AL $400,000
Alcorn State University , MS $300,000
Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation, AR, LA MS $400,000
Association of Africans Living in Vermont, Inc., VT $100,000
College of Micronesia, Federated States of Micronesia $200,000
Community Teamwork Inc., MA $200,000
Delaware State University, DE $400,000
East Arkansas Enterprise Comm. Inc., AR $400,000
First Nations Development Institute , CO, AZ $250,000
Florida A&M University, FL $400,000
Giziibii Resource Conservation and Development Association, MN $14,300
The Hopi Foundation, AZ $100,000
Indian Nations Conservation Alliance, MT, $400,000
Intertribal Agriculture Council, MT $300,000
Kentucky State University, KY $400,000
Langston University, OK $400,000
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, MS $300,000
Micro-Enterprise Institute, LA $400,000
National Audubon Society, DBA Audubon of Arkansas, AR, LA, MS $400,000
National Immigrant Farming Initiative, Inc., DC, NM, FL, TX, MN, ME, MD, $300,000
Neighborhood Housing Service of Dimmit County, Inc., TX $250,000
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, NC $200,000
North South Institute, FL, AL, GA $300,000
Operation Spring Plant, Inc., NC, OK, SC, PA, MD, $400,000
Pacific Gateway, HI $400,000
Puerto Rico Agricultural Extension Service, PR $400,000
Regents of New Mexico University, NM $400,000
Seven Harvest Inc., AR, TN, MS $400,000
Southern University Ag Research & Extension Center, LA $300,000
Tennessee State University, TN $400,000
Tuskegee University, AL $400,000
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, AR, MS $400,000
University of Hawaii, HI, Pacific Islands: Guam, Republic of Palau, Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia $400,000
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, MD $300,000
Virginia State University, VA $400,000
Whitaker Small Farm Group, NC $200,000
Winston County Self Help Cooperative, MS, AL $300,000
Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council, WI $300,000
Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the terms of the loan, grant, or loan/grant agreement.