Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program

The deadline to submit an application is May 23, 2011 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Section 7129 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA), re-authorizes Section 3(b) & (c) of the Smith–Lever Act, allowing the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), to conduct competitive grant programs to State Extension Services at 1862 Land-Grant Institutions to support innovative, education-based approaches to addressing emergency preparedness and specific responses related to natural and man-made disasters. Once a disaster has occurred, the local extension outreach includes: 1) Communicating practical science-based risk information, 2) Developing relevant educational experiences and programs, 3) Working with individuals and communities to open new communication channels, and 4) Mitigating losses and facilitating recovery. Never was this more evident than after hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005 and during the 2008 Midwestern Summer flooding. During and after these incidents, local Extension agents served as a critical communication node throughout affected urban and rural areas, particularly when traditional communication systems were temporarily overwhelmed or destroyed. Applications are being solicited for the SLSNCGP under the following areas: (1) Education and Technical assistance through inter-disciplinary and multi-state disaster training programs and demonstration projects for problem solving, especially those which build upon already existing strengths, contribute to or expand the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) and/or eXtension educational materials related to disaster preparation, mitigation, response and recovery; (2) Collaboration with Federal, state and local agencies and other disaster relief organizations to support education and service activities that enhance recovery of impacted rural communities, schools, businesses and agricultural-based activities; (3) Long range family, community and regional planning projects that will enhance implementation of programs that serve public needs in preparation for, during and after emergency situations within impacted States and across impacted regions; (4) Communication delivery of key information that meets end-users’ needs in a timely fashion with consideration of potentially limited communication channels due to disaster situations; and (5) Dissemination of credible, science-based information that is reliable and easily accessible even if electronic access is compromised. When appropriate, NIFA encourages collaboration with the 1890 and 1994 Land Grant Universities.

History of Funds:

None is available.

Average Award:

Varies

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/pdfs/11_smith_lever_special_needs.pdf

Contact Information:

Name: Dennis D. Kopp, Assistant Administrator for Program and Analysis

Department: U. S. Department of Agriculture

Street: 1400 Independence Avenue SW.

Stop 2201

City: Washington

Zip: 20250-2201

Email: dkopp@csrees.usda.gov

Fax: (202) 720-8987