Conservation and Urban Resources Extension
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
In Year 1, funding was planned to be allocated for Urban Agriculture Extension Agent positions in 27 urban priority locations. In Years 2 through 4, all U.S. States and territories were expected to have the opportunity to commit funding to the agreement and obtain Urban Agriculture Conservation Extension Educators in coordination with their LGUs.
Program Objective
This program has two parts:
1.) Capacity Assistance – Urban Agriculture Conservation Extension Educator: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is experiencing a large influx of small-scale and urban producers and needs additional capacity to meet this demand effectively. To bolster customer service to urban producers, experienced Urban Agriculture Extension Educators will be employed to deliver technical assistance and link producers to NRCS conservation planning and program opportunities. These positions will be administered through the Cooperative Extension Service at the participating Land-grant Universities (LGUs) in the CURE program, in collaboration and coordination with NRCS state offices, will have priority duties that include:
a) Working with NRCS to guide urban agriculture producers conserve, maintain, and restore natural resources on their lands while improving the health of their operations and creating a more productive and resilient landscape.
b) Providing direct technical assistance to urban producers to help identify resource concerns and develop science-based solutions for addressing their conservation priorities.
c) Assisting producers with awareness of zoning, permitting, and administrative complexities associated with conservation practice implementation.
d) Assessing the conservation needs and assisting innovative forms of agricultural production including controlled environment agriculture systems.
e) Applying experience and academic resources to provide urban agriculture training to NRCS employees and partners.
f) Coordinating with NRCS and the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) to evaluate the needs of urban agriculture producers, tailor services towards these needs, and conduct outreach to best reach new customers.
2.)Impact Collaborative – Scalable urban agriculture service strategy: The other primary component of this initiative is the development of an Impact Collaborative for urban agriculture service delivery with prioritization towards the 27 Urban Agriculture identified areas (listed above). An Impact Collaborative is a program administered by the Extension Foundation (ExF) that helps partners inform, strengthen, and innovate their project and program development to create greater local impact in their counties and States. Its methodology is founded in design thinking and has been developed in partnership with Cooperative Extension professionals since 2014. There are currently 190 trained Impact Facilitators to assist with project designs, and Key Informants (Subject Matter Experts) that can be utilized to inform discussions. Attendees for this Impact Collaborative will include representatives from NRCS, including OUAIP, NIFA, NUEL, NUREC, and Extension professionals currently working in the urban conservation space. During the 3-day Collaborative, teams will develop solutions to questions that include:
a) What are the needs of the urban agriculture producer, both general and unique
b) What pieces of the puzzle can NRCS provide?
c) Who can potentially address other needs beyond NRCS authorities?
d) How can this project be scaled to other cities, suburbs, and towns?
Outputs from this process will include:
a) Plan for addressing technical assistance needs - state/national
b) Plan for addressing financial assistance needs - state/national
c) Plan for addressing needs beyond NRCS authorities - state/national
d) Plan for scaling projects from urban focal areas to other locations and statewide
e) Plan for National NRCS supporting the states going forward.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Other
This listing is directed to the Extension Foundation (ExF).
Beneficiaries
- U.S. Federal Government
- State
- Local
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Within the limit of funds authorized, the NIFA awarding official will make grants to eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the NOFO. After the award is finalized, a formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA), signed by the Authorized Departmental Officer, will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the recipient's Authorized Representative.
The NoA will provide pertinent instructions and information including, at a minimum, the information described in 2 CFR 200.211 (see NIFA’s Terms and Conditions).
Program details & compliance
Description
The purpose of the CURE program, Assistance Listing 10.342, is to support the hiring and administration of Urban Agriculture Extension Educators through Cooperative Extension programs at LGUs to deliver technical assistance and link producers to NRCS conservation planning and program opportunities. This program has two sections:
1. Capacity Assistance – Urban Agriculture Conservation Extension Educator
2. Project Planning Impact Collaborative – Scalable urban agriculture service strategy
Mission Categories
Primary: Agricultural Resource Conservation and Development
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Grant funds must be used for allowable costs necessary to conduct approved fundamental and applied research, extension and education objectives to address food and agricultural sciences.
Funds may not be used for any purposes other than those approved in the grant award documents. Funds shall not be used for tuition remission.
Restrictions
The annual Agriculture Appropriations Act limits indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements, such as used in the CURE program, to 10 percent of the total direct cost of the agreement when the purpose of such cooperative arrangements is to carry out programs of mutual interest between the two parties. Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants should limit their requests for recovery of indirect costs to the lesser of their institution’s official negotiated indirect cost rate or the equivalent of 10 percent of total direct costs of the agreement awarded. Federal per diem rate: Given that the primary source of funding for the CURE program is Federal funds, ExF should contract with hotels for lodging at or below the Federal per diem rate for the Impact Collaborative, workshops, and any other meetings that require travel. NIFA retains the right to disallow use of NIFA funds for any travel that does not meet these requirements.
Required Documentation
Applicants (unless excepted under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)) must (1): Have an active SAM registration prior to applying; (2) Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier number in its application; and (3) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an application under consideration or an active federal award. Applicants must furnish the information required in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Successful applicants recommended for funding must furnish the information and assurances requested during the award documentation process.
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