The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the Renewable Resource Extension Act (RREA) – National Focus Fund Projects (NFF) for fiscal year (FY) 2021 to provide for expanded and comprehensive extension programs that focus on forest and rangeland renewable resources at a national, regional, or institutional level.

The RREA-NFF, Assistance Listing 10.515, program goal is to enhance the sustainability of US forest and rangeland resources, and to enable landowners and managers to achieve their desired goals and objectives by making sound research available to them. Forest and rangeland resources provide multiple benefits to people—including wildlife habitat, water supply, open space, recreation, and cultural resources. Many of these lands are privately owned and managed for forest products and livestock production. Forest and rangeland are susceptible to land use conversion and climate change. RREA-NFF projects must maximize the capacity, reach, and impact of the Cooperative Extension System – Extension Forestry and Rangeland Programs to ensure appropriate management and conservation of natural resources and to ensure climate change resilience.

Priority Areas

NIFA is soliciting applications under the following priority areas:

• Regional/National Projects: The Nexus of Critical Forest and Rangeland Resources Issues, Innovative Approaches to Program Delivery, and Current Knowledge about Non Formal Adult Education; and
• Ensuring the Transfer of New Knowledge to Forest and Rangeland Owners and Managers.

Funding Information

• The anticipated amount available for RREA-NFF in FY2021 is approximately $300,000.
• Award Ceiling: $ 1, 00,000
• Award Floor: $50,000

Eligible Applicants

• RREA-NFF must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Applications may only be submitted by 1862 (7 CFR 3430.2, 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq; and 7 U.S.C. 7601(1)) and 1890 land-grant institutions (7 U.S.C. 7601(2) and 7 CFR3430.2). Project Directors must have an Extension appointment.
• An Extension appointment is a formal appointment by an Extension Director/Administrator in the institution’s extension service. 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 Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – duplicate submissions or multiple applications are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.