Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 010339
The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). The program is designed to build stronger education and training pathways in the food and agricultural sciences, starting at the secondary level and extending through two-year postsecondary education, with an emphasis on creating clear connections to four-year degrees and beyond. At its core, SPECA is workforce-focused: it aims to help ensure the United States has a well-prepared pipeline of students who can ultimately fill jobs across the food and agriculture sciences system, including technical and skilled roles that often begin with high school and community college preparation.
A major theme of the program is alignment and linkage across educational levels. SPECA is not only about improving individual classes or isolated programs; it emphasizes "complementary and synergistic" relationships among public secondary schools, two-year colleges, and institutions of higher education. In practice, this means proposals are expected to strengthen transitions and reduce fragmentation between stages of education, such as building articulated pathways, improving curriculum alignment, supporting dual enrollment or similar bridge models, and creating experiences that encourage students to continue from high school to a two-year program and then into a bachelor's degree or higher in food and agricultural sciences. The overall education goal is excellence and continuity, so that students see agriculture and food systems as modern, science-based fields with real academic and career momentum.
Eligibility is specific, and applicants must fit into one of four allowable categories: public secondary schools as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(45); public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges; institutions of higher education as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001; or nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits must be able to document their status, including attaching IRS 501(c)(3) documentation in the application package (referenced in the R&R "Other Project Information" section, Field 12, as an attachment). A key restriction is that school boards are not eligible as the legal recipient of an award, even if they oversee multiple schools; the applicant must be an eligible entity itself. The notice also stresses that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being removed from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award at all, so confirming eligibility early is essential.
From a funding perspective, this opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.226 and uses a standard grant funding instrument. The opportunity number is USDA NIFA SAECP 010339. NIFA anticipated making about 9 awards, with an award ceiling of $150,000 per award. The original closing date for applications was March 8, 2024 (with the opportunity having been created on December 7, 2023). Because federal grant processes can be complex for first-time applicants, the announcement points newcomers to NIFA's Grants Overview resources, which are intended to help organizations understand the federal financial assistance process and expectations.
Taken together, SPECA is essentially a targeted education-and-workforce development grant focused on strengthening agriculture and food science learning in high school and two-year college settings, while actively encouraging structured partnerships that make it easier for students to continue into four-year agriculture and food science degrees. The program prioritizes practical coordination across institutions and educational stages, with the long-term objective of increasing the number of students who both pursue and complete advanced credentials that support the U.S. food and agriculture workforce.Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 010339
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Education Two-Year Postsecondary Education and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants 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 2023-12-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-08. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Resident Instruction Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Agriculture and Food Science Facilities and Equipment Program for Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 010335 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 010335 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Children, Youth and Families At-Risk Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 010312 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 010312 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $160,000 |
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| Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 010338 Funding Number: USDA NIFA WAMS 010338 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Lake Malawi Fisheries Conservation Project Apply for RFI 612 24 SEG 01 Funding Number: RFI 612 24 SEG 01 Agency: Malawi USAID-Lilongwe Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $17,000,000 |
| FY2024 Faculty Exchange Program – Southeast Asia Veterinary Sciences Apply for USDA FAS 10613 0700 10 24 0001 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10613 0700 10 24 0001 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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| FY2024 Scientific Cooperation Research Program Apply for USDA FAS 10961 0700 10 24 0001 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10961 0700 10 24 0001 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Veterinary Services Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA VSGP 010340 Funding Number: USDA NIFA VSGP 010340 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 010353 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 010353 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 010433 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 010433 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 010553 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RHSE 010553 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Equipment Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 010493 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 010493 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Value-Added Producer Grant Apply for RDBCP VAPG 2024 Funding Number: RDBCP VAPG 2024 Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative Apply for USDA NIFA OP 010573 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 010573 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 010413 Funding Number: USDA NIFA BFR 010413 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Apply for USDA NIFA OP 010554 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 010554 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Farm Bill 2024 Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 24 0003 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 24 0003 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2024 USDA/FAS Borlaug Fellowship Program World Food Prize Event Apply for USDA FAS 10777 0700 10 24 0001 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10777 0700 10 24 0001 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Arkansas Technical Assistance Projects Supporting Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Implementation Apply for USDA NRCS AR MULTI 24 NOFO0001332 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR MULTI 24 NOFO0001332 Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
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