U.S. Department of Agriculture: Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grant Program

The Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grant Program will support projects that implement Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)-related food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance to owners and operators of small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. The program will focus on, but not be limited to, projects that address knowledge and resource gaps in pre- and post-harvest water testing and sampling, soil amendments, developing supply chain programs, and/or developing food safety plans. Proposals that address bilingual and culturally sensitive training resources are encouraged.

The Program will support projects that encourage local communities, community based- and non-governmental organizations, universities, extension, state and federal agencies to develop and implement food safety outreach programs that facilitate the integration of FSMA food safety guidelines into a variety of agricultural production and processing systems, including conventional, sustainable, and organic systems, among others. Three project types will be supported:

• Pilot projects: These projects will support the development and implementation of new and potentially high-risk, high-impact food safety education and outreach programs in local communities that address the needs of small, specialized audiences from among the various target groups. Funded projects will provide highly customized food safety education and outreach programs where no current community programs for food safety education exist. This project type is optimally aimed at novice food safety educators with limited food safety training experience.
• Community outreach projects: These projects will support the growth and expansion of already-existing food safety education and outreach programs currently offered in local communities. These projects will enable existing programs to broaden their scope by reaching out to a larger number of participants, or to expand the programs to new and broader audiences. In addition, community outreach projects will enable existing education and training curricula and other resources to be modified to ensure that they are consistent with new FSMA guidelines and that they meet the needs of expanded audiences. New audiences should include those from a variety of agricultural production and processing systems.
• Multistate education and training projects: These projects will support the development of multi-county, state-wide, or multi-state food safety education and outreach programs. Collaborations among counties and states sharing common food safety concerns, even though they may not necessarily be located within the same region, are encouraged. Potential applicants must be capable of developing and modifying food safety education and training curricula and other resources to meet new FSMA guidelines for a variety of agricultural production and processing systems.

Amount: A total of $4,800,000 is available. Award ranges are dependent upon award type, as follows:

• Pilot projects: Range up to $50,000 per award
• Community outreach projects: Up to $150,000 per award
• Multistate education and training projects: Up to $400,000 per award

Grantees must match awarded funds with cash and in-kind contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis from non-federal sources. The matching funds requirement may be waived under certain circumstances (see the solicitation for specific details).

Eligibility: Applications may be submitted by:

• The Cooperative Extension Service for a U.S. state or territory
• Non-government organizations and/or community based organizations representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers that have a commitment to public health and expertise in administering programs that contribute to food safety
• Federal, state, local, or tribal agencies
• An institution of higher education or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education
• A collaboration of two or more eligible entities

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=293442

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