The National Institute of Food and Agriculture NIFA

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Conversation with the Tribal Program Stakeholders

Agenda Welcome and Introductions – Parag Chitnis Office of Grants & Financial Management Update - Matthew Faulkner Program Updates - Sureshwaran Stakeholder/NIFA Communications Feedback - Suresh and Matt ü Communication – Format, Frequency, Content? ü Increasing Applications to NIFA Programs? ü Grant Management Needs? 2

Welcome and Introductions Dr. Parag Chitnis, Acting Director • Important Staff Changes – New NIFA at Kansas City – Introduction of Senior Staff • Deputies • Director for Communication • Director for Civil Rights • NIFA Update – Project CAFÉ – purpose and overview – Staffing – New Programs and Initiatives • New Investigator Seed grant • Other 3

OGFM* Update • Senior Staff – OGFM – Matthew Faulkner, Deputy Director, Matthew. Faulkner@usda. gov – Awards Management Division – Calvin Mitchell, Director, Calvin. Mitchell@usda. gov – Financial Management Division – William (Waits) Raulerson, Director, William. Raulerson@usda. gov – Policy & Oversight Division – Katina Hanson, Director, Katina. Hanson@usda. gov *Office of Grants and Financial Management 4

OGFM Update (cont. ) • Filled ~70 percent of our vacancies • Projected RFA publication schedule on NIFA’s website at https: //nifa. usda. gov/upcoming-rfa-calendar • Reminder: ASAP access for drawdowns will be suspended the last 4 working days of each month • Questions? - Recipients can contact us at Awards@USDA. gov (competitive grants), Capacity. Grant. Questions@USDA. gov (capacity grants), ASAPCustomer. Service@USDA. gov (ASAP help), and Indirect. Cost. Inquiries@USDA. gov (indirect costs). 5

Programs Update • Staff – NIFA Staff: • Peter Motavalli, Director, Peter. Motavalli@USDA. gov • Erin Riley – National Program Leader, Erin. Riley@usda. gov • Jessica Turner - Program Specialist, Jessica. Turner@usda. gov • Chinatu Gladrich – Program Specialist, Chinatu. Gladrich@usda. gov 34 Tribal College and Universities are 1994 Land-Grant Institutions. https: //nifa. usda. gov/sites/default/files/resource/1994%20 LGU%20 Map%2003_18_19%20 -%20508. pdf 6

1994 Land Grant Institutions Programs Estimated Total Program Funding: $ 19 million • Tribal College Equity, $4 Million, continuation paperwork needed in Spring 2021, expected date for release of funds July 2021 • Tribal College Extension, $8 Million, continuation paperwork needed in Spring 2021, expected date for release of funds July 2021 • Tribal College Research, $3. 8 Million, deadline is 13 th January. https: //nifa. usda. gov/funding-opportunity/tribal-colleges-research-grantsprogram-tcrgp • Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Programs, $3. 2 Million, Continuation paperwork needed in Spring 2021.

1994 Land Grant Institutions Programs • New Beginnings for Tribal Students, estimated $5 M, RFA expected in December. Waiting for Appropriation. • Matching is required • Expected deadline 15 th March 2021 https: //nifa. usda. gov/funding-opportunity/new-beginning-tribal-students -programs-nbts • Children, Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR). RFA expected to be published in February and closes in April. • 1994 s are eligible to apply for CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects in FY 2021 • https: //nifa. usda. gov/program/children-youth-and-families-risk-cyfar

Children, Youth and Families at-Risk (CYFAR) Total Funding available is $8. 395 M 1. Grantees develop and deliver educational programs that equip youth who are at-risk for not meeting basic human needs with the skills they need to lead positive, productive, and contributing lives. 2. For the CYFAR Program, potential grantees should select from one of four CYFAR National Outcomes: Early Childhood, School-Age Youth, Teens and Parent/Family. 4. At least one half of the program participants in targeted communities must be living at or below 185% of the Federal poverty level. Contact: Bonita Williams, email bonita. Williams@usda. gov 9

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Total Program Funding = $425 Million • AFRI is NIFA’s largest competitive grants program. • Supports education, research, extension and integrated projects. • Has three RFA’s – with many Programs ü Sustainable Agricultural Systems ~ $10 M grants ü Foundational Program ü Education & Workforce Development – Pre and Postdoctoral Fellowships, PDAL, REEU, AWT

AFRI – Education and Workforce Development Program Funding = $49 Million. • Program priorities, NPL and Deadlines – Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy: focus on K-14; Carlos Ortiz – Agricultural Workforce Training: focus on community, junior, and technical colleges; Carlos Ortiz – Research and Extension Experiences for undergraduates: focus on experiential learning for undergraduate students; Ray Ali – Fellowships: for predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars; Ray Ali https: //nifa. usda. gov/sites/default/files/rfa/FY 2020 -ARFI-EWD-RFA. pdf 11

FASE – Strengthening Grants • Fifteen percent of AFRI funding is set aside for New Investigator Grants, Strengthening Grants and Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants. • Strengthening Grants are limited to: (1) small and midsized or minority-serving degree-granting institutions; or (2) State Agricultural Experiment Stations or degreegranting institutions eligible for EPSCo. R funding. https: //nifa. usda. gov/afri-fase-epscor-program

Other USDA/NIFA Resources • Office of Partnership and Public Engagement is coordinating USDA wide engagement with 1994 s https: //www. usda. gov/partnerships/1994 -program • NIFA Tribal Program information https: //nifa. usda. gov/program/nifa-tribal-programs • Education Stakeholder: https: //nifa. usda. gov/stakeholder-feedback-education • NIFA COVID related information https: //nifa. usda. gov/coronavirus • Grants Management FAQ: https: //nifa. usda. gov/resource/frequently-asked-questions-grant-management 13

Q&A • How can we enhance 1994 LGU Stakeholder/NIFA Communication? Ø Format? Frequency? Content? Communication vehicles? • Increasing Applications to NIFA programs • Grant management needs? Ø What can NIFA do to help promote food and agriculture workforce development? 14

Q 1. Where can we find a NIFA grants calendar and what are the consequences of delays in submitting progress reports? • Where can we find a NIFA grants calendar? – An RFA calendar of target dates for Non-AFRI competitive announcements is available at https: //nifa. usda. gov/upcoming-rfa-calendar – Keep in mind, these are target dates only and are subject to change until the RFAs are published in Grants. gov. • What are the consequences of delays in submitting progress reports? – Contact your NPL and discuss your options. You may be able to submit a streamlined report or gain an extension. 15

Q 2. If we have problems in accessing funds through ASAP, who do we contact? • NIFA has a monitored mailbox for ASAP issues: – ASAPCustomer. Service@USDA. gov • You may also contact: – William Waits Raulerson, FMD Division Director William. Raulerson@usda. gov or (813) 266 -9858 – Tara Warner, Accounting Operations Branch Chief Tara. Warner@usda. gov or (202) 445 -5448 16

Thank you Please send comments and suggestions about the Tribal grant programs to: Matthew Faulkner Deputy Director, OGFM Phone: 816 -823 -4222 Email: Matthew. Faulkner@usda. gov Sureshwaran Acting Deputy Director, IYFC Cell: 202 445 -5570 Email: Sivapathasun. Sureshwaran@USDA. Gov 17