Outreach Education and Technical Assistance
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Total borrower events – 25
Total borrowers TA – 1,210
Loan application amounts - $600,000
Total acres – 14,158
Total land value that received TA - $40,462,731
Helped 9 farmers apply for farm numbers,
Assisted 13 farmers in applying for loans,
Provided in depth support/casework to 27 farms (those have been closed out/complete).
Created/completed training modules for service providers on assisting farmers with loans and working with distressed borrowers.
Closed out 10 cases with distressed farmers—9/10 were at risk of losing their farms and homes
Preserved $1,305,524 in assets
Program Objective
EOTA provides financial assistance to eligible recipients to perform outreach and technical assistance to improve the coordination and effectiveness of Federal programs, services, and actions affecting rural areas. The main goals are to (1) increase access and participation in FSA programs and services and (2) improve technical assistance to producers for FSA farm and farm loan programs with an emphasis on reaching socially disadvantaged, historically- underserved, beginning, and veteran producers .
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Nonprofit Organization
- Other
Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following entity types:
a. Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
b. Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
c. Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
d. Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
Additional eligibility restrictions may apply depending on the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
The agency seeks to compete funding wherever possible. The agency may choose to award funding noncompetitively when seeking to fund continuing work already started under a previous award for which competition for continued support would have an adverse effect on continuity or completion of the activity, awards are of less than $100,000, or when time constraints associated with a public health, safety, welfare, or national security requirement preclude competition. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Program funds may be released on a reimbursable project basis or deliverable basis, or an advance basis in accordance with 2 CFR 200.305. For competitive awards, any additional specific award procedures will be outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. However, procedures will generally follow the steps set out here. Once funding decisions are made, the agency may contact individual applicants to clarify certain components of their applications. Merit/technical reviews of all applications will be conducted by a technical review board nominated by the approving official. Risk reviews will be conducted by the Grants and Agreements Division. The approving official will make the final award decisions. The approving official for this funding is typically the FSA Associate Administrator unless otherwise specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Reviews will be conducted in a multi-phase process in which an interagency staff panel will make recommendations to the approving official. Interagency reviewers will be selected based upon knowledge, skills, training, and experience in relevant fields.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 60 to 90 days
Program details & compliance
Description
Assistance from USDA’s FSA to selected eligible applicants to conduct targeted outreach and technical assistance on FSA programs, with an emphasis on communities of disadvantaged, historically-underserved, beginning, and veteran socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Socially disadvantaged groups are defined as a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Outreach and technical assistance are focused on educating agricultural producers about one or more of FSA’s programs and increasing the number of successful program participants through targeted support in completing application or program participation tasks.
Mission Categories
Primary: Economic Development
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Except as otherwise indicated in specific Notices of Funding Opportunities under the program, assistance funds may be used for project costs in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles. Funding for this program is not cyclical. Funding opportunities will be announced as funding is available and as agency priorities dictate. The agency seeks to compete funding wherever possible. Program funds may be used for outreach, education, and technical assistance related projects. Funds are released on a reimbursable project basis or deliverable basis, or an advance basis in accordance with 2 CFR 200.305.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements