Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ UAIP 24 NOFO0001336
The Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (CFDA 10.935). Its core purpose is to strengthen urban agriculture and other innovative food production approaches, with an emphasis on improving access to fresh, healthy food in communities where it is limited or not readily available. The program is designed to help communities organize, plan, and then put into practice urban and innovative agricultural efforts that can be replicated, expanded, and used by multiple growers rather than serving only a single individual or site.
UAIP funding under this Notice of Funding Opportunity supports two broad types of projects: planning activities and implementation activities. Planning projects focus on the early work needed to launch or expand urban agriculture initiatives, such as organizing local partners, developing strategies, coordinating stakeholders, and building the groundwork for long-term efforts. These planning activities are meant to bring together a wide range of participants, including farmers and gardeners, residents, schools, local governments, tribal communities, and other local stakeholders, particularly in areas facing barriers to fresh food access. Implementation projects are aimed at moving beyond the planning stage to scale up and accelerate existing or emerging urban and innovative production models, especially those that support multiple farmers or gardeners. The program explicitly recognizes "innovation" broadly, including new and emerging techniques as well as indigenous or non-traditional agricultural practices.
Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 9, 2024. Applicants experiencing technical issues with Grants.gov were directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), and NRCS staff were not able to troubleshoot Grants.gov account problems. Questions to the agency were limited to clarifying specific items within the Notice of Funding Opportunity itself (for example, confirming dates or resolving inconsistencies), and the agency noted it would not provide feedback on whether an applicant is eligible or whether a particular proposal idea is strong. A recorded informational webinar was made available to support prospective applicants, and it could be accessed via YouTube (https://youtube/IhLfF2b6DMg) and also through the opportunity's "Related Documents" section and the program website.
The funding range for individual awards was expected to fall between a federal share minimum (floor) of $75,000 and a maximum (ceiling) of $350,000. These figures refer to the total federal amount per award, not to a specific budget period within a multi-year project. The agency estimated that it would make project selections by June 30, 2024, and expected to execute awards by September 30, 2024, while noting these dates were estimates and could change.
Eligible applicants include a mix of public and nonprofit entities: county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The opportunity is categorized under agriculture, environment, and natural resources, and it uses the grant instrument type.
Because these awards are federal financial assistance, applicants were encouraged to complete free "Grants 101" federal financial assistance training offered through the CFO Council. The training covers major compliance and management topics that commonly apply to federal assistance awards, including laws and regulations, assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit considerations.Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ UAIP 24 NOFO0001336
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.935.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-09. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program (USDA NRCS, CFDA 10.935) - FAQs
What is the UAIP Competitive Grants Program?
The Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (CFDA 10.935). It is intended to strengthen urban agriculture and other innovative food production approaches, with a focus on improving access to fresh, healthy food in communities where it is limited or not readily available.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The core purpose is to help communities organize, plan, and put into practice urban and innovative agricultural efforts that can be replicated, expanded, and used by multiple growers, rather than serving only a single individual or site.
What types of projects does UAIP fund under this Notice of Funding Opportunity?
This funding opportunity supports two broad types of projects: planning activities and implementation activities.
What is a planning project under UAIP?
Planning projects support early-stage work needed to launch or expand urban agriculture initiatives. Examples of planning activities described in the opportunity include organizing local partners, developing strategies, coordinating stakeholders, and building groundwork for long-term efforts.
What is an implementation project under UAIP?
Implementation projects are intended to move beyond planning to scale up and accelerate existing or emerging urban and innovative production models, especially those that support multiple farmers or gardeners.
Who is UAIP intended to benefit?
The program is designed to support efforts that can be replicated and expanded and that can be used by multiple growers (for example, multiple farmers or gardeners), rather than benefiting only one person or one site.
Does the program focus on communities with limited access to fresh food?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes improving access to fresh, healthy food in communities where access is limited or not readily available. Planning activities are also described as bringing together participants particularly in areas facing barriers to fresh food access.
What does UAIP mean by "innovation" in food production?
The program recognizes innovation broadly. It includes new and emerging techniques as well as indigenous or non-traditional agricultural practices.
Who are eligible applicants for UAIP?
Eligible applicants include the following types of entities:
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments
- Nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), provided they are not institutions of higher education)
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply as nonprofits?
No. The eligibility description states nonprofits may apply (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)) as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
What is the instrument type for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses the grant instrument type.
What categories does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under agriculture, environment, and natural resources.
What is the expected award size for individual grants?
The expected funding range for individual awards was a minimum federal share (floor) of $75,000 and a maximum federal share (ceiling) of $350,000.
Do the $75,000 to $350,000 figures apply per year or per project?
They refer to the total federal amount per award, not to a specific budget period within a multi-year project.
When was the application deadline?
Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 9, 2024.
Where did applicants have to submit applications?
Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov.
What should an applicant do if they have technical issues with Grants.gov?
Applicants experiencing technical issues were directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
Can NRCS staff troubleshoot Grants.gov account or technical problems?
No. The information states NRCS staff were not able to troubleshoot Grants.gov account problems.
What types of questions would the agency answer about the opportunity?
Questions to the agency were limited to clarifying specific items within the Notice of Funding Opportunity, such as confirming dates or resolving inconsistencies.
Will the agency tell an applicant whether they are eligible or whether their project idea is strong?
No. The agency indicated it would not provide feedback on whether an applicant is eligible or whether a particular proposal idea is strong.
Was there an informational webinar available for prospective applicants?
Yes. A recorded informational webinar was made available to support prospective applicants.
Where can the recorded webinar be accessed?
The recorded webinar could be accessed via YouTube at https://youtube/IhLfF2b6DMg, and also through the opportunity's "Related Documents" section and the program website.
When did NRCS estimate it would select projects?
NRCS estimated it would make project selections by June 30, 2024. The opportunity noted this date was an estimate and could change.
When did NRCS expect to execute awards?
NRCS expected to execute awards by September 30, 2024, while noting this was an estimate and could change.
Is there recommended training for applicants new to federal grants?
Yes. Because these awards are federal financial assistance, applicants were encouraged to complete free "Grants 101" federal financial assistance training offered through the CFO Council.
What topics does the recommended "Grants 101" training cover?
The training covers major compliance and management topics commonly applicable to federal assistance awards, including laws and regulations, assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit considerations.
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