Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 008882
The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (often shortened to SPECA) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). The program is designed to build stronger education-to-career pathways in the food and agriculture sciences, with a particular focus on secondary (high school level) education and two-year postsecondary education (community and junior colleges). At its core, SPECA is meant to help develop a steady pipeline of well-prepared students who can enter and succeed in agriculture and food systems careers, and it also aims to increase the number of students who continue on to complete four-year degrees or higher in food and agriculture-related disciplines.
The opportunity emphasizes two main goals. First, it seeks to promote and strengthen educational programs at public secondary schools and at two-year institutions so that students gain relevant skills, exposure, and academic preparation for the food and agriculture sciences workforce in the United States. This workforce focus reflects the program's intent to ensure the country has enough trained and qualified professionals to support the broader food and agriculture sciences system. Second, SPECA prioritizes creating stronger, more coordinated connections among secondary schools, community colleges, and higher education institutions. These linkages are intended to be complementary and synergistic, meaning that programs should work together in a way that makes transitions smoother for students, improves educational quality, reduces duplication, and encourages students to keep moving forward academically from high school to a two-year program and, ultimately, to a baccalaureate degree or beyond.
Eligibility is limited and specific. Applications can only be submitted by: (1) public secondary schools, (2) public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges, (3) institutions of higher education, or (4) nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit applicants must be able to document their status by attaching IRS 501(c)(3) proof in the application package (noted as an attachment under the R&R "Other Project Information" section). The notice is clear that meeting eligibility requirements by the deadline matters; if an applicant does not qualify or fails to provide required documentation on time, the application can be excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award. The announcement also explicitly states that school boards are not eligible to be the legal recipient of the award, which is important for districts where a board might otherwise try to serve as the fiscal agent.
The program also includes an administrative rule that applicants should take seriously: duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. If an applicant submits more than one application or submits duplicates, NIFA will disqualify both, so organizations need to coordinate internally and submit only one final, complete application package. For organizations that are newer to federal grants, NIFA points applicants to its Grants Overview resources, which are intended to help applicants understand the federal financial assistance process and expectations.
From the funding snapshot provided, this opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SAECP 008882, with a CFDA number of 10.226, and it is categorized as an Agriculture funding activity. The award instrument is a grant, and the maximum award size (ceiling) is $150,000. The opportunity record shows an original closing date of April 6, 2022, and a creation date of February 2, 2022. Overall, SPECA is best understood as a targeted education workforce-development grant focused on strengthening agriculture and food science learning at the secondary and two-year college levels while building structured, collaborative pathways that encourage students to persist into four-year and advanced degree programs.Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 008882
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.226.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-02-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-04-06. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Previous opportunity: Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 008882
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA SAECP 008882) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Projects Apply for USDA NIFA OP 008703 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 008703 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 008922 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 008922 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 008921 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 008921 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Veterinary Services Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA VSGP 008941 Funding Number: USDA NIFA VSGP 008941 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 008621 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 008621 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 008883 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEP 008883 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $262,500 |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009002 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 009002 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Organic Transitions Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 009001 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 009001 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science Program Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009003 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 009003 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
| American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009004 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009004 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 009021 Funding Number: USDA NIFA BFR 009021 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Program Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009041 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 009041 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Extension Program - Capacity Applications Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 009062 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 009062 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $984,000 |
| Farmed Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Response Activities 2022 Cooperative Agreements Apply for USDA APHIS 10025 VSSPRS00 22 0001 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10025 VSSPRS00 22 0001 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Wild Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Response Activities 2022 Cooperative Agreements Apply for USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 22 0011 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 22 0011 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY 22 Conservation Innovation Grants State Program Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG 22 NOFO0001181 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR CIG 22 NOFO0001181 Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| USDA APHIS Tribal Nations Wild Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Opportunities 2022 Cooperative Agreements Apply for USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 22 0014 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 22 0014 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| APS-OAA-21-00001 Addendum USAID/Nepal Apply for 72036722APS00002 Funding Number: 72036722APS00002 Agency: Nepal USAID-Kathmandu Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009108 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009108 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 009106 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 009106 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NIFA SAECP 008882", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.