Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA FA4182 32937

The Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) Technical Assistance - Grant Writing Skills Projects is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.328. For fiscal year 2026, the program is focused on strengthening the national food safety landscape by expanding training, education, outreach, and coordination efforts, specifically through technical assistance projects that build grant writing skills. In practical terms, this opportunity is designed to help organizations that support farms and small or mid-sized food businesses improve their ability to compete for and manage food safety related funding, which can translate into stronger programs, broader compliance support, and more consistent food safety practices across the supply chain.

The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA FA4182 32937, and awards will be made through a grant mechanism. NIFA expects to make about 4 awards under this competition, with an award ceiling of $300,000 per award. The opportunity was created on June 18, 2026, and the original application closing date is July 20, 2026. The funding activity category is Agriculture, reflecting FSOPs role in supporting the farm-to-market continuum, including produce operations and small food processors who often need tailored, accessible training and assistance.

Eligibility is broad but specific to entities positioned to deliver meaningful technical assistance and outreach. Applicants may qualify if they are a State Cooperative Extension Service; a federal, state, local, or Tribal agency; a nonprofit community-based organization or other non-governmental organization; an organization representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers with demonstrated public health commitment and program administration expertise related to food safety; an institution of higher education (as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) or a foundation maintained by such an institution; or a collaboration of two or more eligible entities. The inclusion of collaborations is important because it allows complementary partners (for example, extension plus a community nonprofit, or a university plus a producer association) to combine technical expertise, trusted community relationships, and training capacity.

Overall, this grant opportunity centers on developing and delivering grant writing skills as a form of technical assistance within the FSOP framework. The intent is not simply to fund food safety training directly, but to build the capability of organizations and networks to successfully pursue future funding that supports food safety education, outreach, and implementation. By improving grant readiness and proposal quality among eligible groups, the program aims to expand the reach and effectiveness of food safety efforts, especially for audiences that can be harder to serve through one-size-fits-all approaches, such as small farms, small processors, and local or regional produce distribution businesses.

  • The National Institute of Food and Agriculture-eRA in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food Safety Outreach Program Technical Assistance-Grant Writing Skills Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.328.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-18.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for USDA NIFA FA4182 32937

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Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) Technical Assistance - Grant Writing Skills Projects (FY 2026) FAQs

What is this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is the Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) Technical Assistance - Grant Writing Skills Projects, a discretionary grant offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.328. For fiscal year 2026, it focuses on technical assistance projects that strengthen grant writing skills tied to food safety efforts.

Who is offering the funding?

The funding is offered by USDA NIFA (the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture).

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 10.328.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA FA4182 32937.

What is the primary goal of this competition?

The primary goal is to strengthen the national food safety landscape by expanding training, education, outreach, and coordination through technical assistance projects that build grant writing skills. The emphasis is on improving the ability of organizations that support farms and small or mid-sized food businesses to compete for and manage food safety-related funding.

Is the grant meant to fund food safety training directly?

The stated intent is not simply to fund food safety training directly. Instead, the focus is on building capability and readiness by improving grant writing skills so organizations and networks can successfully pursue future funding that supports food safety education, outreach, and implementation.

What types of activities are encouraged under this opportunity?

Activities are centered on technical assistance that develops and delivers grant writing skills within the FSOP framework. The description emphasizes improving grant readiness and proposal quality for groups positioned to support food safety training, education, outreach, and coordination.

How many awards does NIFA expect to make?

NIFA expects to make about 4 awards under this competition.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $300,000 per award.

What grant mechanism will be used?

Awards will be made through a grant mechanism.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 18, 2026.

What is the application deadline?

The original application closing date is July 20, 2026.

What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is Agriculture.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility includes: a State Cooperative Extension Service; a federal, state, local, or Tribal agency; a nonprofit community-based organization or other non-governmental organization; an organization representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers (with demonstrated public health commitment and program administration expertise related to food safety); an institution of higher education (as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) or a foundation maintained by such an institution; or a collaboration of two or more eligible entities.

Can multiple organizations apply together?

Yes. A collaboration of two or more eligible entities is explicitly listed as eligible. The opportunity description highlights collaborations as important because they allow partners to combine technical expertise, trusted community relationships, and training capacity.

What kinds of collaborations does the opportunity encourage?

Examples described include partnerships such as extension plus a community nonprofit, or a university plus a producer association. The idea is to bring together complementary strengths (technical expertise, relationships with target communities, and ability to deliver training and assistance).

Who ultimately benefits from these projects?

The opportunity is designed to help organizations that support farms and small or mid-sized food businesses. The intended downstream benefit is stronger programs, broader compliance support, and more consistent food safety practices across the supply chain.

Which groups are highlighted as needing tailored support?

The description specifically highlights small farms, small processors, and local or regional produce distribution businesses (including small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers) as audiences that can be harder to serve through one-size-fits-all approaches.

What is meant by "technical assistance" in this competition?

Based on the description provided, technical assistance refers to support activities that build grant writing skills and grant readiness, enabling eligible organizations and networks to successfully pursue and manage food safety-related funding in the future.

What does "grant readiness" imply in the context of this opportunity?

The opportunity frames grant readiness as improved capacity to compete for and manage food safety-related funding. This includes strengthening proposal quality and building the organizational ability to pursue future FSOP-aligned work in training, education, outreach, and coordination.

Why is grant writing capacity a focus of FSOP for FY 2026?

For FY 2026, FSOP is described as focusing on expanding training, education, outreach, and coordination by investing in technical assistance that builds grant writing skills. The stated rationale is that better grant writing and funding competitiveness can translate into stronger, more consistent food safety support across the supply chain over time.

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