USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement develops and maintains partnerships focused on solutions to challenges facing rural and underserved communities in the United States, and connects those communities to the education, tools, and resources available to them through USDA programs and initiatives. Whether you are a small or beginning farmer, Tribal member, veteran, student, community nonprofit, minority serving higher education institution, or just want to know where to start, we provide equitable access to USDA resources.
COVID-19 Response and Resources
USDA Coronavirus Website
Visit www.usda.gov/coronavirus for up-to-date information on USDA services and resources. This page include frequently asked questions, USDA actions to respond to COVID-19, and additional resources from CDC, FEMA, and other agencies. Learn more about the latest actions from USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Rural Development, and other agencies.
Trump Administration Announces Additional $1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program
President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced up to an additional $1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The additional funding allows the program to continue critical support to farmers, distributors, and American families in need. To date, the program has provided over 70 million boxes to hungry Americans across the country. Find out more.
Third Round Farmers to Families Food Box Program Solicitation Still Open
The third round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program solicitation is still open with distributions to occur beginning by September 1 with completion by October 31, 2020. Read the full announcement.
Nonprofit organizations seeking to receive food through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program can learn more about the program overview and Frequently Asked Questions available at the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website.
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Deadline Extended
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, USDA is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these tough times. Read more.
USDA and Federal Partners Offer COVID-19 Resources for Rural Communities
The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide offers resources for immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This resource matrix identifies support through technical, training, and management assistance; financial assistance; and state and local assistance.
FNS Response to COVID-19
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is granting states significant program flexibilities and contingencies to best serve program participants across their 15 nutrition programs. Learn more.
Announcements
1890 Land-Grant Universities Celebrate 130 Years of Cutting-Edge Science
August 28 marks the 130th anniversary of the authorizing legislation establishing the 1890 Land-Grant Universities (LGUs). Almost 30 years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act of 1862, the Second Morrill Act, creating our nation’s historically black land-grant colleges, was successfully shepherded through Congress by Senator Justin Smith Morrill and signed into law on Aug. 30, 1890. This thriving network of 19 universities has a legacy of educating first-generation and economically disadvantaged college students, and enhancing the resilience of limited-resourced farmers, families, individuals, and underserved communities.
OPPE supports a variety of initiatives and programs supporting 1890 institutions across the nation:
- The 1890 Scholarships Program provides scholarships to support recruiting, engaging, retaining, mentoring, and training of undergraduate students. In FY 2020, each of the 1890 LGUs received $752,632 from NIFA, totaling more than $14 million to enhance student opportunities.
- The 1890 National Scholars Program seeks to increase the number of minorities studying agriculture, food, natural sciences, and related disciplines by providing full tuition and employee benefits for up to four years to selected students. Selected students will then be eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with USDA upon successful completion of their degree.
- The Booker T. Washington Fellowship Program connects faculty and staff at 1890 institutions to resources and research available to them at USDA.
The USDA-1890 Task Force is a group composed of USDA employees and 1890 institution officials which meets regularly to seek mutually beneficial cooperation
Learn more about USDA’s 1890 Land-Grant University Programs.
Community Prosperity Resource Guide
The Community Prosperity Resource Guide is for local communities seeking USDA resources to find solutions to the complex issues they may face. The resource contains funding opportunities identified at USDA that support capacity building in rural America, foster hope and opportunity, wealth creation, and asset building.
Community Prosperity Training Summits
The Centers of Community Prosperity initiative was launched by Secretary Perdue in 2019 to increase the capacity of rural and underserved communities through extensive collaboration, tailored technical assistance, and a community’s designation as a Community of Faith and Opportunity.
To establish Communities of Faith and Opportunity, the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) hosts Community Prosperity Summits around the country. These training summits and capacity-building workshops bring together a wide range of USDA stakeholders to foster a sustainable development process focusing on locally driven, bottom-up solutions to address challenges in rural and underserved communities.
Upcoming virtual Community Prosperity Summits:
- Arizona Community Prosperity Summit – September 3, 2020. For more information, contact Roberto Gonzalez at roberto.gonzalez@usda.gov
- Delaware Community Prosperity Summit – September 10, 2020. For more information, contact Chandra Owens at chandra.owens@usda.gov
- North Central Illinois Community Prosperity Summit – September 23, 2020. For more information, contact Julio Puentes at julio.puentes@usda.gov
- Imperial County, CA Community Prosperity Summit – September 24, 2020. For more information, contact Roberto Gonzalez at roberto.gonzalez@usda.gov
- Washington State Community Prosperity Summit – September 24. For more information, contact Phillip Eggman at philip.eggman@usda.gov
- New Mexico Community Prosperity Summit – October 20, 2020. For more information, contact Ruby De La Garza at ruby.delagarza@usda.gov
Grant Opportunities
Business and Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program
USDA is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under USDA B&I CARES Act Program provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Apply by September 15, 2021, or until funds are expended.
General Resources
PREVENTS Pledge
The President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) launched their REACH campaign earlier this summer, and is kicking off the next phase of their fight to prevent suicide. Take the pledge today.
2020 Census Week of Action
Join the 2020 Census Week of Action to help engage the hardest-to-count (HTC) households. The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how federal resources support communities. Fill out the 2020 Census today.
OPPE Website
The Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement website provides a one-stop shop for the latest education, tools, and resources available through U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and initiatives. Visit us at www.usda.gov/partnerships.
Advisory Committees
USDA seeks nominations for its committees throughout the year. The Department is interested in a wide range of professionals including scientists, representatives of interest groups, educators, and business leaders. USDA has a special interest in assuring that women, minority groups, and people with physically disabilities are adequately represented. Learn more.
Federal Register
Find the latest USDA regulations, proposed rules, and notices of interest in the Federal Register, the daily journal of the federal government, published each business day by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Read the latest USDA notices.
Farmers.gov is an interactive, one-stop website for farmers, ranchers, private foresters, and agricultural producers. Visitors can get online self-service applications, educational materials and business tools, and find local USDA Service Centers. Visit the site today.
New Farmers.gov
This online resource offers guides to help future farmers create business plans, acquire land and capital, manage risk, and plan finances. A Discovery Tool provides customized advice and resources. Learn more about farming.
Rural Development Innovation Center
The Center works to transform rural communities through strategic partnerships, data analytics, regulations management and enterprise risk management. Among their initiatives, a new Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC), which offers funding and technical assistance to help communities enhance capacity for broadband access; preserve cultural and historic structures; and support the development of transportation, housing, and recreational spaces. Get started.
Veterans
USDA offers loans, education and training, grants, and technical assistance programs to help veterans start or grow a business or career in agriculture. Learn more.
Youth
USDA’s Youth and Agriculture website connects young people, educators, and youth-serving organizations with Department-wide resources for the next generation of agricultural leaders. Discover more.
USAJOBS
USAJOBS connects job seekers with federal employment opportunities across the United States and around the world. Features include search tools for students, recent graduates, and veterans.
If you have questions or suggestions for the newsletter, please email us at Partnerships@usda.gov. For more information about specific USDA agencies, sign up on their respective websites.