The U.S. Department of Agriculture offered a cooperative agreement and grant application support to underserved producers and communities for risk management education projects.
USDA launched a new service to support entities serving underserved agricultural producers and communities in applying for funding opportunities, according to a March 9 news release. This includes the current funding opportunity for risk management education and outreach projects through the USDA’s Risk Management Agency.
“Often individuals and organizations within underserved communities have not been provided the opportunity to develop the professional grant writing skills required for writing effective funding proposals," RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger said in the release. "As a result, they are at an inherent disadvantage as they compete with organizations that have the infrastructure, skills and knowledge to draft strong applications. The availability of this service agreement is to provide access for underserved organizations to our funding opportunities.”
The service will be provided by Metaphase Consulting LLC, and will offer technical and writing assistance to help applicants complete grant applications and meet all the requirements for receiving a cooperative agreement award, the release reported.
Metaphase Consulting will help applicants in formulating statements of work, performance work statements and statements of objectives, according to the release. The organization will also assist in completing cooperative agreement award and grant applications.
Additionally, Metaphase Consulting will help manage projects for those applicants receiving a cooperative agreement award or grant, ensuring they meet all milestones, reporting obligations, proper funds management and burn-rate and demonstrate successful execution, monitoring, controlling and project closeout, the release reported.
Underserved communities, ag-related non-profits, Tribal colleges and universities, Tribal higher education programs, 1890 Land Grant Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities are all eligible to use this service, according to the release.
