Agriculture-Based Green Workforce Development

The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP). This program supports technology development, applied research, and/or training, with a focus on rural communities, to aid in the development of a workforce for bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, or agriculture-based renewable energy.

Agriculture-based renewable energy offers many rural areas a means of strengthening their economy while helping meet the nation's energy demands. Many rural communities have struggled for decades with the loss of jobs and income from restructuring in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Rural community colleges and advanced technological centers promote access to educational programs and aid in workforce development that is vital to creating rural economies that are competitive in the global marketplace.

CSREES requests applications for the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP) for fiscal year (FY) 2009. 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. 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.

Approximately $750,000 will be available with up to 25 awards anticipated. Responses are due 7/20/09.

For more info, contact [email protected] or go to: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/new_era.html.
Refer to Sol# USDA-CSREES-RTP-002295.