USFCR Blog

“Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Grant opportunities allow organizations to elevate their current programs so they can channel connections within their communities to provide assistance to their intended populations. However, searching through the plethora of federal, national and foundational databases to identify Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), Request for Proposals (RFPs) or Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) can get tiring if you are unsure what to seek out. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month

June marks the start of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. PTSD is a debilitating illness that causes people to repeatedly relive a traumatic event, significantly reducing their quality of life.^1,2 Approximately 70% of adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, and 20% of these individuals will develop PTSD.³ In total, roughly 13 million people in the United States have PTSD in a given year.³ Raising awareness and understanding of this condition is a crucial first step to improving the lives of those affected.

5 Facts About USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program

Small business owners in America today face a variety of challenges to successfully run a profitable organization. Inflation, rising transportation costs as well as a constantly shifting labor market are all potential roadblocks owners must navigate in order to maintain strong profit margins. These challenges are particularly relevant for small businesses owners located in rural areas across the country where long supply chains exacerbate issues. In recent years one of the largest costs for many small businesses, especially agricultural producers, has been the energy costs required for operation where rising costs can be catastrophic. 

The well-being of domestic animals is of high priority for many. Oftentimes, our beloved companions symbolize more than just a pet and become genuine members of our families. In situations involving domestic violence or intimate partner violence, finding shelters that accommodate pets is a common barrier that survivors face. Over 77 percent of pet-owning adult women have witnessed their pets being physically abused.¹ Since most shelters do not allow for the intake of animals, survivors must either forgo checking into a shelter or surrender their pets to animal welfare facilities. Animal welfare facilities are left in need of greater support and equipment to ensure that influx of animals are offered quality care. By spreading awareness of the following grant opportunities, USFCR hopes to help increase the capacity of organizations that facilitate initiatives that benefit animals and enhance their livelihoods. 

The USDA’s Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) presents a significant opportunity for entities involved in supporting local food systems. With $10.5 million in funding available, the USDA expects to support approximately 150 projects that focus on the development, coordination, and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises.

“When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.”
–Daniel Webster

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is offering approximately $10.5 million in funds to domestic entities owned, operated and located within the 50 U.S. states and its territories that sell their agricultural products at farmers markets. The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), compared to the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), focuses on promoting direct-to-consumer or direct producer-to-institutional activities.  

Applying for grants can be a rewarding endeavor for organizations seeking funding for their projects. However, there are pitfalls that many applicants fall into, jeopardizing their chances of success. In this guide, we'll explore five common yet critical, mistakes to avoid when navigating the grant application process. 

According to Oregon State University, value-added products are “raw or pre-processed commodities whose value has been increased through the addition of ingredients or processed that make them more attractive to the buyer and/or readily usable by the consumer.” ¹ Through this grant program, the USDA aims to assist various agricultural product producers in the creation and production of new consumer products. 

Video games, according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), are one of the most beloved pastimes in the United States, keeping over 62 percent of adults and 76 percent of kids engaged through various gaming mediums (mobile, console, PC, VR, etc).¹ Also, a majority of players have stated the various benefits of playing video games, including expanding social circles through a welcoming and inclusive environment, introducing people to new friends and relationships, creating accessible experiences for those with different physical abilities, and being a way for parents to spend time with their children.²

“Animal models are essential for several biomedical research fields such as cancer biology and therapeutics, neuroscience, pharmacology and toxicology, neurobiology of diseases, endocrinology, public health, palliative medicine, also, in studies in human and animal biology and for the discovery and testing of new drugs, vaccines, and other biologicals [...] Currently, these models address current research priorities, considered as those imposing major global threats to human and animal health.”
– Adriana Domínguez-Olivia, et al., 2023¹

The  National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is supporting biomedical research projects to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and translatability of animal models via the development and implementation of broadly applicable technologies, tools, and resources. This opportunity stresses that the proposed studies, resources, models, or technologies must either explore multiple organ systems or be applicable to diseases and processes impacting many organ systems and must address research interests of multiple NIH Institutes & Centers (IC’s).