New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program

With this RFA, NIFA announces the availability of funding and requests applications for the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP) for fiscal year (FY) 2010. RTP grants are for technology development, applied research, and/or training to develop an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce to serve rural communities. Awards will stimulate and enable community colleges and advanced technological centers located in rural areas (Note: see definitions of these terms in Part VIII, E. of the RFA to ensure eligibility) to provide technology development, applied research, and/or training necessary to produce graduates capable of strengthening the Nation’s technical, scientific and professional workforce in the fields of bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, and agriculture-based renewable energy resources. The amount available for support of this program in FY 2010 is $850,000. This notice identifies the purpose and priorities for RTP projects, the eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and the application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for a RTP grant. NIFA additionally requests stakeholder input from any interested party for use in the development of the next RFA for this program.