Tribal Colleges Extension Program Special Emphasis
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- USDA-NIFA-SLBCD-012281
- Agency
-
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- $50,000 to $200,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Agriculture
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is soliciting applications for the Tribal Colleges Extension Program Special Emphasis to fund informal, community-focused extension pilot projects at 1994 Institutions, with an application deadline of November 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants are limited to 38 specifically named 1994 Land-grant tribal colleges; each eligible institution may submit a maximum of two applications and receive no more than two awards under this NOFO.
Individual awards range from $50,000 to $200,000 for standard grants and up to $50,000 for workshop grants, with a maximum of $250,000 per eligible institution. Approximately $1.5 million total program funding is available, comprising $500,000 from FY 2026 and $1 million from FY 2025 set-aside for new competitive awards; approximately 10 awards are anticipated. No cost-sharing requirement applies, and indirect costs are not permitted.
Projects must address community needs in agriculture, natural resources, youth development, economic development, and workforce training; acceptable topics include agricultural productivity, food systems, community vitality, public health and well-being, and preparation of the next generation of Tribal agriculture leaders. Projects must align with USDA Secretary's Memorandum 1078-020 priorities focused on farmer profitability, market expansion, invasive species protection, soil health, and precision nutrition. The program encourages innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence applications in food and agriculture.
Standard grants carry 24–36-month project duration; workshop grants carry 12-month duration. The tentative project start date is February 2027. Applications undergo two-stage evaluation: administrative screening followed by scientific peer review. Applications are submitted electronically through Grants.gov. The program operates under Assistance Listing 10.517.
Synopsis
The TCEP-SE under assistance listing 10.517, provides informal, community-focused extension pilot projects at 1994 Institutions. Pilot projects may focus on community needs that address emerging issues such as agricultural productivity, improving food systems, community vitality, workforce and economic development, public health and well-being, engaging Tribal youths, and preparing the next generation of Tribal agriculture leaders.
Eligibility
Applicants for the TCEP-SE must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA's About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. Applications may only be submitted by colleges and universities designated as 1994 Institutions by legislation. The following colleges and universities are eligible for this program: Aaniiih Nakoda College, Bay Mills Community College, Blackfeet Community College, Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Chief Dull Knife College, College of the Menominee Nation, College of the Muscogee Nation, Diné College, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Fort Peck Community College, Haskell Indian Nations University, Iḷisaġvik College, Institute of American Indian Arts, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa University, Leech Lake Tribal College, Little Big Horn College, Little Priest Tribal College, Navajo Technical University, Nebraska Indian Community College, Northwest Indian College, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Oglala Lakota College, Red Lake Nation College, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, Salish Kootenai College, Sinte Gleska University, Sisseton Wahpeton College, Sitting Bull College, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Stone Child College, Tohono O'odham Community College, Turtle Mountain Community College, United Tribes Technical College, and White Earth Tribal and Community College. An eligible institution may submit a maximum of two applications per eligible institution. There is generally a limit of two awards to any one eligible institution in response to this NOFO (Refer to Part II, C of this NOFO for Project and Grant Types). USDA will not accept competitive applications for grant and cooperative agreements submitted for dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of E.O. 14292. Duplicate or Multiple Submissions. Duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| FY26-TCEP-SE-NOFO-P.pdf | ||
| PKG00294125.pdf |
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