Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 006930
The Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Program, also referred to as the SPECA program, is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It is designed to improve education and training pathways in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (often shortened to FANH) by investing in stronger programs at the secondary (high school) level and at two-year postsecondary institutions. A central idea behind the program is workforce development: building and maintaining a U.S. talent pipeline that is prepared to work across the broad FANH system, which includes everything from production agriculture and natural resources to food systems and related human sciences fields.
A major focus of the program is also alignment across education levels. The program explicitly aims to encourage complementary, connected, and mutually reinforcing linkages among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and higher education institutions. In practical terms, that means supporting efforts that help students move more smoothly from high school into community or technical colleges and, if they choose, onward into four-year degree programs and beyond. By strengthening those pathways and connections, the program seeks to promote educational excellence and increase the number of young Americans who pursue and ultimately complete bachelor’s degrees or higher in FANH disciplines.
From a funding standpoint, this opportunity is offered as a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) under the Agriculture funding activity category, and it is associated with CFDA number 10.226. The funding opportunity number listed for this program is USDA NIFA SAECP 006930. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $300,000 per project, and the program anticipated making about 12 awards under the referenced cycle. The listing notes that a letter of intent is not required, which can simplify the early stage of applying compared with programs that require a formal pre-proposal step.
Eligibility is summarized broadly as "Others," with applicants instructed to consult the specific eligibility language in the full announcement (the additional information on eligibility field) for clarification. That phrasing typically signals that eligibility may extend beyond a single institution type and may include certain kinds of education entities or partnerships, but the exact definition would be governed by the complete notice.
The opportunity record shows it was created on December 4, 2019, and it includes application deadlines for FY 2020 cycles: one deadline at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on February 6, 2020, and another at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on February 4, 2021. Overall, the program is geared toward strengthening agriculture-related education where it can have an early and lasting impact, especially by improving secondary and two-year programs and by building clear, collaborative bridges into four-year FANH degree completion.Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 006930
- The Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.226.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 04, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 06, 2020 Application FY 2020 500 P.M. Eastern, February 06, 2020 FY 20201 500 P.M. Eastern, February 04, 2021 Letter of Intent Not Required. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Program (SPECA) FAQs
What is the Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Program (SPECA)?
The Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Program, also called the SPECA program, is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports efforts to improve education and training pathways in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH).
Who administers this grant?
The program is administered by USDA NIFA (the National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
What is the main purpose of the SPECA program?
The program is designed to strengthen education and training pathways in FANH fields by investing in stronger programs at the secondary (high school) level and at two-year postsecondary institutions, with an emphasis on workforce development and building a U.S. talent pipeline.
What does FANH stand for?
FANH stands for Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences.
What types of education levels does this program focus on?
The program focuses on secondary (high school) education and two-year postsecondary institutions, while also encouraging connections to higher education institutions (including pathways into four-year degree programs).
How does SPECA support workforce development?
A central idea behind SPECA is workforce development: supporting education and training so students are prepared to work across the broad FANH system, including production agriculture, natural resources, food systems, and related human sciences fields.
What does "alignment across education levels" mean in this program?
The program explicitly aims to encourage complementary, connected, and mutually reinforcing linkages among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and higher education institutions. In practice, this means supporting efforts that help students move more smoothly from high school to community or technical colleges and, if they choose, onward to four-year degree programs and beyond.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
By strengthening pathways and connections, the program seeks to promote educational excellence and increase the number of young Americans who pursue and ultimately complete bachelor’s degrees or higher in FANH disciplines.
What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The funding instrument type is a Grant.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Agriculture.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The associated CFDA number is 10.226.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number listed is USDA NIFA SAECP 006930.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount is $300,000 per project.
How many awards are anticipated?
The program anticipated making about 12 awards under the referenced cycle.
Is a letter of intent (LOI) required?
No. The listing notes that a letter of intent is not required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is summarized as "Others," and applicants are instructed to consult the specific eligibility language in the full announcement (the additional information on eligibility field) for clarification. This phrasing typically signals that eligibility may extend beyond a single institution type, but the exact definition is governed by the complete notice.
What kinds of organizations might be included under "Others"?
The opportunity description indicates that eligibility may extend beyond a single institution type and may include certain kinds of education entities or partnerships; however, the exact eligible applicant types must be confirmed in the full announcement.
What were the application deadlines listed for FY 2020 cycles?
The opportunity record includes two deadlines: 5:00 p.m. Eastern on February 6, 2020, and 5:00 p.m. Eastern on February 4, 2021.
What time zone are the deadlines based on?
The deadlines are listed as 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
When was this opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows it was created on December 4, 2019.
What kinds of pathway efforts does SPECA encourage?
SPECA encourages efforts that build clear, collaborative bridges from secondary programs to two-year colleges and into four-year FANH degree completion, helping students transition more smoothly across these education levels.
Does the program only focus on agriculture production?
No. The description notes that the FANH system is broad and includes production agriculture, natural resources, food systems, and related human sciences fields.
What is the overall theme or emphasis of the program?
The program is geared toward strengthening agriculture-related education where it can have an early and lasting impact, especially by improving secondary and two-year programs and building collaborative bridges into four-year FANH degree completion.
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