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.
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FAQs: Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA)
What is the SPECA program?
The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It is designed to strengthen education-to-career pathways in the food and agriculture sciences, with an emphasis on secondary education (high school) and two-year postsecondary education (community and junior colleges).
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The program is intended to build a steady pipeline of well-prepared students who can enter and succeed in food and agriculture sciences careers in the United States. It also aims to increase the number of students who continue their education and complete four-year degrees (or higher) in food and agriculture-related disciplines.
What are the two main goals emphasized by SPECA?
SPECA emphasizes two primary goals: (1) promoting and strengthening educational programs at public secondary schools and at two-year institutions so students gain relevant skills, exposure, and academic preparation for the food and agriculture sciences workforce; and (2) creating stronger, coordinated linkages among secondary schools, community colleges, and higher education institutions to support smoother student transitions and continued academic advancement.
What types of education-to-career pathways does SPECA focus on?
SPECA focuses on pathways that connect secondary education and two-year postsecondary education to careers in the food and agriculture sciences. The program also encourages pathways that help students progress from high school to a two-year program and ultimately to a baccalaureate degree or beyond.
Who is eligible to apply for SPECA funding?
Only the following entities may submit applications: (1) public secondary schools, (2) public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges, (3) institutions of higher education, or (4) nonprofit organizations.
Are nonprofit organizations required to provide proof of nonprofit status?
Yes. Nonprofit applicants must document their status by attaching IRS 501(c)(3) proof in the application package. The notice specifies this documentation should be included as an attachment under the R&R "Other Project Information" section.
What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements or misses required documentation by the deadline?
The notice indicates that meeting eligibility requirements by the deadline is critical. If an applicant does not qualify or fails to provide required documentation on time, the application can be excluded from consideration or may prevent NIFA from making an award.
Can a school board apply or serve as the legal recipient of the award?
No. The announcement explicitly states that school boards are not eligible to be the legal recipient of the award.
Can an organization submit more than one application?
No. Duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. If an applicant submits more than one application or submits duplicates, NIFA will disqualify both applications.
What should organizations do to avoid disqualification related to duplicate submissions?
Organizations should coordinate internally to ensure only one final, complete application package is submitted on behalf of the applicant entity, since multiple submissions will result in disqualification of both.
Which federal agency administers SPECA?
SPECA is run by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).
What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The maximum award size (award ceiling) listed for this opportunity is $150,000.
What is the award instrument type?
The award instrument is a grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this SPECA listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is USDA NIFA SAECP 008882.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 10.226.
How is this opportunity categorized by funding activity?
The opportunity is categorized as an Agriculture funding activity.
What were the key dates shown for this opportunity record?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of February 2, 2022, and an original closing date of April 6, 2022.
Does the program encourage collaboration across education levels?
Yes. A central priority is building complementary, coordinated connections among secondary schools, community colleges, and higher education institutions. These linkages are meant to be synergistic, reduce duplication, improve educational quality, and make transitions smoother for students.
Is this program specifically focused on workforce development in food and agriculture sciences?
Yes. The opportunity highlights a workforce focus and aims to help ensure the United States has enough trained and qualified professionals to support the broader food and agriculture sciences system.
Where does NIFA point newer applicants to learn about federal grants processes?
NIFA points applicants who are newer to federal grants to its Grants Overview resources to help them understand the federal financial assistance process and expectations.
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