U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for a share of $70 million to fund projects improving outreach to underserved food producers and communities about the department's conservation programs and services.
Successful applicants also will offer projects that promote opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences, according to a Feb. 27 USDA news release.
"USDA is committed to removing barriers for underserved producers to all USDA services, and the projects funded through this opportunity will better ensure these producers receive the benefits our conservation programs deliver," Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Cosby said in the news release. "NRCS is investing in continued support of community-based organizations and partners that are instrumental in supporting conservation outreach to underserved producers and underserved communities."
The funding will come through NRCS cooperative agreements for two-year projects that encourage program participation, especially in underserved communities and among small-scale and urban food producers, according to the news release.
USDA is looking for projects to reach underserved groups through program outreach and technical assistance in NRCS priority areas, the release reported. Those areas include addressing local natural resource issues, promoting conservation career opportunities, climate-smart conservation expansion and conservation leadership skills and opportunities development.
Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements will include projects that promote benefits of NRCS programs through education or demonstration of conservation practices and develop community conservation partnerships that encourage underserved food producers to plan and protect farmland ecosystems, watersheds and wildlife habitat in underserved communities, according to the release.
As of January 2023, more than 380 outreach events and workshops attended by more than 7,500 people have been conducted and more than 14,000 people had been reached through awardee outreach, the release reported.
