Project Grant 201049400217351

The federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program (CFDA 10.216) totaling $585,402 aims to support South Carolina State University in developing and implementing an integrated teaching, research, and extension model to bolster the digital commerce capabilities of small farm-based businesses in South Carolina. The key activities under this award include:...

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund Inc. will receive $750,000 through a three-year Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to cooperatively mentor new and beginning farmers and ranchers in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina for regional markets. The grant funds the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), which aims to help beginning farmers and ranchers enter and...

The Brookland Center for Community Economic Change (BCCEC) will utilize $320,656 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program to support its Growing Capacity & Strength through Local Food Channels program from September 2021 through September 2024. The BCCEC, located in West Columbia, South Carolina, will use the funding to develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food systems through initiatives...

The Organic Growers School Inc. was awarded a $750,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program to provide training, technical assistance, and land access services to beginning farmers and ranchers in Western North Carolina through September 2024. The Organic Growers School, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and NC Farmlink will collectively offer a comprehensive suite of programs...

The Department of Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Service awarded a $150,000 Cooperative Agreement to the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development under the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (CFDA 10.913) for the period of February 9, 2021 through January 31, 2024. The purpose of this award is to target outreach to socially disadvantaged minority farmers and landowners in South Carolina. Specifically, the South Carolina Association for Community...

The University of South Carolina received a $800,949 Project Grant award from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration under the BUILD TO SCALE federal grant program (CFDA 11.024). The grant will fund the organization, launch and operation of the South Carolina Rising pre-seed/seed investment fund. The investment fund will identify, qualify and provide equity investments to promising early-stage technology companies based in South Carolina. In addition, the grant will...

The National Resources Conservation Service awarded a $464,687 cooperative agreement to South Carolina State University on September 30, 2021 to conduct studies and develop a technical manual through September 25, 2024. The award supports research on three new high tunnel systems to help farmers in South Carolina identify and implement best management practices for optimum economic return under the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. This federal grant program aims to limit the conversion...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (CFDA 10.311) awarded a $525,000 Project Grant to Augusta Locally Grown Inc., a community-based non-profit organization, to provide a comprehensive suite of agricultural and entrepreneurial services for beginning farmers in the Greater Augusta, GA area. The project aims to help small family farms and beginning farmers in low-income areas improve and sustain their farming operations. Key activities...

The South Carolina State-Wide Investment Accelerator Project will receive $2.1 million from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration under the BUILD TO SCALE federal grant program (CFDA 11.024) from November 2022 through October 2025. The funding will support organizing, launching and operating a statewide investment accelerator program with stakeholders to identify an accelerator contractor, recruit and deliver programming twice annually for early-stage startup cohorts,...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service awarded a $190,000 Rural Business Development Grant (CFDA 10.351) to South Carolina State University, a historically Black college and university (HBCU), to promote sustainable economic development and facilitate the development of small and emerging private businesses in rural communities. This 2-year project grant, awarded on July 20, 2023, will enable South Carolina State University to leverage its expertise in agriculture, food,...