Opportunity Information: Apply for OPPE 013
The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers opportunity (commonly referred to as the "2501 Program") is a USDA grant program designed to expand access to farming and ranching resources for two priority groups: socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers. The core purpose is practical and outcomes-focused: help these producers own and operate farms and ranches more successfully, and increase their participation in USDA agricultural programs and services that can support business viability, conservation, credit access, risk management, and long-term growth. The program is structured around outreach, education, and direct assistance activities rather than building or construction projects, and it is explicitly identified as a non-construction grant.
Funding is administered through the Department of Agriculture, specifically within the DM-Office of Advocacy and Outreach, and implemented in partnership with the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE). The intent behind that partnership is to ensure funded projects are closely aligned with USDA priorities and that recipients are positioned to connect underserved producers to the right USDA offices, programs, and technical resources. In practice, applicants are expected to propose initiatives that meet people where they are, reduce barriers to entry and participation, and translate complex program requirements into usable guidance for producers who may have historically faced discrimination, lack of access, or limited institutional support.
Eligibility is limited to organizations and entities capable of carrying out community-facing outreach and training work. The notice calls for applications from community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and Tribal entities. Individual applicants are not eligible under this opportunity, which signals that USDA is seeking organizations with the capacity to deliver structured programming, maintain compliance requirements, and reach producers at scale. While the eligibility field is listed as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full notice, the description makes clear the main eligible applicant categories and excludes individuals.
The main activities supported by the grant revolve around outreach initiatives and training. That typically means projects that educate producers about USDA programs, assist with navigating applications and eligibility rules, provide technical assistance connected to farm or ranch operations, and build the skills needed to successfully engage with USDA services. The program is geared toward increasing participation, so strong proposals generally emphasize measurable strategies to connect target communities to USDA offerings, including workshops, one-on-one support, mentorship, partnerships with local USDA service centers, and culturally relevant communications that address language, trust, geography, and administrative barriers.
From a funding standpoint, this opportunity is listed as mandatory and uses a grant funding instrument under the agriculture activity category (CFDA 10.443). The award ceiling is $750,000, and the opportunity anticipated around 60 awards, suggesting a competitive process with room for a range of project sizes and regional or community scopes. The funding opportunity number is OPPE 013. The original posting date was July 17, 2019, with an original closing date of August 15, 2019, which is important for historical reference or for understanding the timeline of that specific solicitation cycle.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building and access-expanding program. It funds trusted institutions and community partners to deliver targeted outreach and hands-on assistance so that socially disadvantaged and veteran producers can better start, sustain, and grow agricultural operations, while also making fuller use of USDA programs and services that might otherwise remain out of reach due to information gaps, administrative hurdles, or longstanding inequities.Apply for OPPE 013
- The Department of Agriculture, DM-Office of Advocacy and Outreach in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.443.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 17, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2019. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (OPPE 013) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY 20 and FY21 SBIR Phase I RFA Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 006790 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SBIR 006790 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $106,500 |
| Specialty Crop Research Initiative Pre-Applications Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 006810 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SCRI 006810 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 006870 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 006870 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Burkina Faso Markets and Nutrition Activity Apply for 72068519RFA00010 Funding Number: 72068519RFA00010 Agency: Agency for International Development, Senegal USAID-Dakar Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $19,620,000 |
| Scholarships for Students at 1890 Institutions Program (1890 Scholarships) RFA Apply for USDA NIFA 1890SS 006911 Funding Number: USDA NIFA 1890SS 006911 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| R 17.3 Deployment verification Apply for PTS R17 3 OPP1 Funding Number: PTS R17 3 OPP1 Agency: IVV Test Agency Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Liberia Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (LACRA) Apply for AID 669 SS 19 00002 Funding Number: AID 669 SS 19 00002 Agency: Agency for International Development, Liberia USAID-Monrovia Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $175,000 |
| Feed the Future in Senegal, Policy Systems Services Apply for 72068520RFA00002 Funding Number: 72068520RFA00002 Agency: Agency for International Development, Senegal USAID-Dakar Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
| Niger Markets and Nutrition Activity Apply for 72068520RFA00001 Funding Number: 72068520RFA00001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Senegal USAID-Dakar Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $29,500,000 |
| Mali GFSS Implementation Apply for 72068819RFA00005 Funding Number: 72068819RFA00005 Agency: Agency for International Development, Mali USAID -Bamako Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $19,950,000 |
| Section 108 Foreign Currency Program (FY2020) Apply for 2020 08 Funding Number: 2020 08 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Office of Trade Programs Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions (1890 COEs) Apply for USDA NIFA 1890COE 006990 Funding Number: USDA NIFA 1890COE 006990 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,600,000 |
| Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 006930 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 006930 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Value-Added Producer Grant Apply for RDBCP VAPG 2020 Funding Number: RDBCP VAPG 2020 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Business and Cooperative Programs Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH) Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 007032 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 007032 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Opportunity title from S2S Apply for KV SU 01182020 0335 Funding Number: KV SU 01182020 0335 Agency: General Dynamics Information Technology Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Faculty Exchange Program – African Veterinary Science Apply for USDA FAS 10613 0700 10 20 0002 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10613 0700 10 20 0002 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Office of Capacity Building and Development Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Improving the Measurement of Market Systems Resilience in Kenya Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 20 0007 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 20 0007 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Office of Capacity Building and Development Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| 2020 Borlaug Fellowship Program World Food Prize Event Apply for USDA FAS 10777 0700 10 20 0004 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10777 0700 10 20 0004 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Office of Capacity Building and Development Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| 2020 Borlaug Fellowship Program Mentor Focus Group Event Apply for USDA FAS 10777 0700 10 20 0005 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10777 0700 10 20 0005 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Norman E. Borlaug Intl Ag Science and Tech 10.777 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $60,000 |
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