The United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture is seeking applications for its Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities (AgrAbility).
Donor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Country: U.S. and District of Columbia
State: All States
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 01/13/2022
Size of the Grant: $4.38 million
Grant Duration: 48 Months
Details:
The AgrAbility program works to increase the likelihood that individuals with disabilities, including veterans, and their families engaged in production agriculture (AgrAbility customers) will become more successful. The program supports cooperative projects in which State Cooperative Extension based at either 1862 or 1890 Land-Grant universities subcontract to private, non-profit direct service disability organizations to provide on-the-farm agricultural education and assistance directed at accommodating disability in farm operations for individuals with disabilities who are engaged in farming and farm-related occupations and their families.
Grants awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to initiate, expand, or sustain programs that:
- provide direct education and assistance to accommodate disability in farming to individuals with disabilities who engage in farming and farm-related occupations;
- provide on-the-farm technical advice concerning the design, fabrication, and use of agricultural and related equipment, machinery, and tools, and assist in the modification of farm worksites, operations, and living arrangements to accommodate individuals with disabilities who engage in farming, farm living and farm-related tasks;
- involve community and health care professionals, including Extension Service agents and others, in the early identification of farm and rural families that are in need of services related to the disability of an individual;
- provide specialized education programs to enhance the professional competencies of rural agricultural professionals, rehabilitation and health care providers, vocational counselors, and other providers of service to individuals with disabilities, and their families, who engage in farming or farm-related occupations; and
- mobilize rural volunteer resources, including peer counseling among farmers with disabilities and rural ingenuity networks promoting cost effective methods or accommodating disabilities in farming and farm-related activities.
The AgrAbility program supports rural communities in the United States by:
- supporting cooperative programs between State Cooperative Extension Service agencies and private nonprofit disability organizations to provide on-the-farm agricultural education and assistance directed at accommodating disability in farm operations for individuals with disabilities who are engaged in farming and farm-related occupations and their families and
- enabling a national private nonprofit disability organization to provide technical assistance, training, information dissemination and other activities to support communitybased direct service programs of on-site rural rehabilitation and assistive technology for individuals (including veterans) with disabilities, and their families, who are engaged in farming or farm-related occupations or, in the case of veterans with disabilities, who are pursuing new farming opportunities.
Program Areas
The AgrAbility program funds projects that deliver education, networking, direct assistance, and marketing activities with following elements:
- Education
- Networking
- Direct Assistance
- Marketing
Funding Information
The anticipated amount available for grants in FY 2022 is approximately $4.38 million. NIFA anticipates that approximately $2.57 million will be available to support new SRAPs.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applications may be submitted only by Cooperative Extension at 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities including the University of the District of Columbia, Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and Central State University.
- Applicants must partner on their projects with private non-profit organizations providing direct service to individuals with disabilities. Applications must include commitment letters from nonprofit partner organizations.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.