Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program

Background
The Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Program provides grants to non-profits to increase the number of military veterans gaining knowledge and skills through comprehensive, hands-on and immersive model farm and ranch programs offered regionally that lead to successful careers in the food and agricultural sector. The program encourages the development of training opportunities specifically designed for military veterans. AgVets projects will offer onsite, hands-on training and classroom education leading to a comprehensive understanding of successful farm and ranch operations and management practices. Projects may also offer workforce readiness and employment prospects for service-disabled veterans. Ensuring there are pathways for military veterans interested in pursuing careers in agriculture — regardless of age or production choice — strengthens agricultural production and rural economies across the United States. NIFA requests applications for the AgVets to provide grants to nonprofit organizations for training programs and services to establish and enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans.

Grant Details
The Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program (AgVets) is authorized under P.L. 118-42 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, as incorporated through the Senate Explanatory notes. The program aims to establish and enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans by providing grants to non-profit organizations. The program supports new and established local and regional projects that develop model training programs specifically designed for hands-on farming, ranching, and entrepreneurial training for military veterans.
The projects must offer comprehensive understanding of successful farm/ranch/business operation/management practices aligned with the veteran cohort’s interests, develop or identify curriculum, describe education, workshops, tours, instructor-supervised field experiences, engage diverse communities, have broad impacts through research, education, extension, address current and future challenges in agriculture, align with USDA programs and resources, collaborate with various federal agencies, contribute program information to Farm Answers, generate recommendations at the state and/or federal level that strengthen collaboration on transitioning Service members’ education, training, and apprenticeship programs.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be non-profit organizations. Institutions of higher education (i.e., universities, community colleges) are not eligible to apply as lead applicants. Only the applicant must meet the eligibility requirement. Project partners and collaborators need not meet the eligibility requirement. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the successful completion of the project.

Period of Performance
The grant duration is 36 months with a project starting date of September 1, 2024.

Grant Value
The funding amount available for AgVets in FY2024 is approximately $2,864,576. The funding amount available from FY2023 is approximately $1,298,231. The total funding amount is approximately $4,162,807. The average individual award range is $100,000-$250,000 per year for up to 3 years for large standard grants; approximately $100,000 per year for up to 3 years for small standard grants.