Project Grant 84066001

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE EXTENSION FOUNDATION. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL ADMINISTER A NATIONAL SUBAWARD PROGRAM THAT ENABLES OR INCREASES THE CAPACITY OF PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS (PSEPS) TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS FOR PERSONS PREPARING TO BECOME PESTICIDE APPLICATORS OR MAINTAIN A CERTIFICATION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDES ARE USED SAFELY AND DO NOT CAUSE UNREASONABLE ADVERSE EFFECTS TO PERSONS WHO USE THEM, THE PUBLIC, OR THE ENVIRONMENT.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE 1) ADMINISTERING AND CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE NATIONAL SUBAWARD PROGRAM (APPLICATION, SUBAWARD DISBURSEMENT, REPORTING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION); 2) ENCOURAGING, FACILITATING, AND INCENTIVIZING SUBAWARD COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES AND MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSIS), INCLUDING THROUGH THE SHARING AND ADAPTATION OF PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION MATERIALS; 3) PENDING ANNUAL FUNDING AWARD AND AGENCY BUDGET, CONDUCTING ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS AT MSIS.SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS ARE TO SO-CALLED 'PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS' (PSEPS) OR 'PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION FUNDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS' (PSEFMP PROGRAMS), USUALLY LOCATED AT LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES. SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS WILL DEVELOP OR UPDATE MATERIALS, CONDUCT OUTREACH PROGRAMS, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND/OR OFFER EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES FOR PERSONS PREPARING TO BECOME PESTICIDE APPLICATORS OR MAINTAIN A PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CERTIFICATION. PENDING ANNUAL BUDGET AND AGENCY FUNDING, SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS MAY ALSO IMPLEMENT ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE 1) A USER-FRIENDLY ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS; 2) EFFICIENT SUBRECIPIENT AWARD DISTRIBUTION; 3) AN ONLINE SUPPORT NETWORK FOR SUBRECIPIENTS; 4) A USER-FRIENDLY REPORTING SYSTEM; 5) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (MATERIALS, WORKSHOPS, AND MEETINGS) TO SUBRECIPIENTS; 6) EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE CREATED, REVIEWED, AND SHARED WITHIN THE NETWORK; 7) PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION, INCLUDING THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE; 8) QUARTERLY PROGRAMMATIC REPORTS; 9) BIANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS, AND AN END-OF-PROJECT FINANCIAL REPORT. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE 1) INCREASED PARTICIPATION FROM MSIS AND THE NATIONWIDE LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM THROUGH THE STREAMLINED APPLICATION PROCESS; 2) IMPROVED CAPACITY AT EXF TO ADMINISTER THE AWARDS; 3) COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS ON, AND THE SHARING AND ADAPTATION OF, PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION MATERIALS FOR PESTICIDE APPLICATORS; 4) AN IMPROVED AWARD STRUCTURE AT THE END OF THE FIVE YEARS; 5) IMPROVED CAPACITY AT MSIS TO ENGAGE IN PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH; AND 6) AVAILABILITY OF CULTURALLY RELEVANT EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSERVED AND MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE PEOPLE PREPARING TO BECOME PESTICIDE APPLICATORS OR MAINTAIN A CERTIFICATION.