WASHINGTON, March 9, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering a new service that assists entities serving underserved agricultural producers and communities with completing applications for funding opportunities. This includes a current funding opportunity for risk management education and outreach projects through USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA).

RMA is contracting with Metaphase Consulting, LLC, to provide technical and writing assistance to organizations that serve underserved producers and communities with applying for grants.

“Often individuals and organizations within underserved communities have not been provided the opportunity to develop the professional grant writing skills required for writing effective funding proposals,” says Marcia Bunger, RMA Administrator.  “As a result, they are at an inherent disadvantage as they compete with organizations that have the infrastructure, skills and knowledge to draft strong applications. The availability of this service agreement is to provide access for underserved organizations to our funding opportunities.”

Specifically, Metaphase Consulting, LLC, will assist applicants in:

1. Formulating statements of work, performance work statements and statements of objectives.
2.  Completing cooperative agreement award and grant applications.
3. Project management for those applicants receiving a cooperative agreement award or grant so that recipients meet all the milestones and reporting obligations, abide by proper funds management and burn-rate, and demonstrate successful execution, monitoring and controlling, and project closeout.

This service is available to underserved communities, ag-related non-profits, Tribal colleges and universities, Tribal higher education programs, 1890 Land Grant Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities.

RMA encourages interested parties to email rma.risk-ed@usda.gov for more details.

Other agencies, including USDA’s Farm Service Agency, are working to offer a similar service to entities applying for future funding opportunities.

Risk Management Education

This new service can assist organizations applying for RMA’s funding for the Risk Management Education (RME) Program. Currently, $2 million is available for cooperative agreements for risk management education and training programs that support underserved producers.  The notice of funding has additional details and can be viewed at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=346284. RME applications must be received through the Results Verification System at http://rvs.umn.edu by April 24, 2023.

RMA is hosting webinars covering the application process for the RME Program.  The next webinar will be today at 2 p.m. ET at https://z.umn.edu/RMA-Application-Webinar-2.  The recording will also be available for viewing after on RMA’s Education and Outreach webpage.

More Information

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.  

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