Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 012078
The Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk Professional Development and Technical Assistance (CYFAR-PDTA) Program is a National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA funding opportunity designed to strengthen how Land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System support children, youth, and families who are at risk of not having their basic human needs met. The core idea is to use Extension's community reach, along with partnerships with other organizations, to develop and deliver practical educational programming that helps young people build life skills, make positive choices, and become productive contributors in their communities. The opportunity emphasizes serving groups that are under-served and under-represented, with a focus on holistic, community-based approaches rather than isolated services.
A central purpose of this grant is to fund a university partner (or partners, through collaboration) that will act as a professional development and technical assistance hub for CYFAR's Supportable Community Projects (SCP). In practice, the awardee is expected to help these local community projects stay effective and sustainable by providing training, coaching, and hands-on assistance. The PDTA role is meant to reinforce consistent quality across CYFAR Supportable Community programming by strengthening implementation support in several key areas: program design and delivery, evaluation, technology use, and ongoing technical assistance. The program is structured so that communities running SCP sites are not left to figure things out alone; instead, the funded PDTA team helps build the connections, competency, and capacity needed for long-term success.
Eligibility is narrow and very specific. Applications can only be submitted by Cooperative Extension at eligible Land-grant institutions: 1890 Land-grant institutions (the notice highlights Tuskegee University, Central State University, and West Virginia State University as examples), 1862 Land-grant colleges and universities, the University of the District of Columbia, and 1994 Land-grant institutions. Only one application per institution is allowed, and duplicate or multiple submissions are explicitly prohibited; if an applicant submits more than one, NIFA will disqualify both. While only those institutions may apply directly, the award recipient is allowed to subcontract with other organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants, as long as those partners are needed to carry out the project work.
The opportunity is a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.521 (Agriculture) with an expected single award (ExpectedAwards: 1). The maximum award amount listed is $1,519,113 (AwardCeiling: 1519113). The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA SLBCD 012078, and the application deadline (OriginalClosingDate) is 2026-09-01. Applicants are expected to follow all requirements in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and missing eligibility or compliance requirements by the deadline can lead to removal from consideration or make an award impossible.
The notice also includes a compliance restriction that USDA will not accept competitive applications involving dangerous gain-of-function research as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292. For organizations that do not routinely apply for federal funding, NIFA points applicants to its "About Grants" resources to help them understand federal financial assistance expectations, which signals that the application and award management process will follow standard federal grant rules and documentation requirements.Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 012078
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk Professional Development and Technical Assistance Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.521.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-01. (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 $1,519,113.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the CYFAR-PDTA Program?
The Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk Professional Development and Technical Assistance (CYFAR-PDTA) Program is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funding opportunity. It is designed to strengthen how Land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System support children, youth, and families who are at risk of not having their basic human needs met.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to fund a university partner (or partners through collaboration) to serve as a professional development and technical assistance (PDTA) hub for CYFAR Supportable Community Projects (SCP). The PDTA awardee is expected to help community SCP sites stay effective, consistent in quality, and sustainable by providing training, coaching, and hands-on technical assistance.
What kinds of community needs does the program focus on?
The program focuses on children, youth, and families who are at risk of not having their basic human needs met. It emphasizes holistic, community-based approaches rather than isolated services.
Who is the program intended to serve?
The opportunity emphasizes serving groups that are under-served and under-represented, with a focus on practical educational programming delivered through Extension and community partnerships.
What is the role of Cooperative Extension in this opportunity?
Cooperative Extension is central to the program because of its community reach. The program leverages Extension, along with partnerships with other organizations, to develop and deliver practical educational programming that supports youth development, life skills, and positive decision-making.
What are CYFAR Supportable Community Projects (SCP)?
Based on the opportunity description, SCP refers to local community projects supported through CYFAR. The PDTA awardee supports these SCP sites so communities are not left to figure out implementation alone.
What does the PDTA "hub" actually do?
The PDTA hub provides implementation support to SCP sites. The notice emphasizes training, coaching, and hands-on assistance to strengthen consistent quality across SCP programming and improve long-term sustainability.
What key areas must PDTA support cover?
The notice identifies several key areas where the PDTA team is expected to strengthen implementation support: program design and delivery, evaluation, technology use, and ongoing technical assistance.
Is this grant meant to fund direct services in a single community?
This funding opportunity is structured to support multiple community SCP sites by funding a PDTA team that provides professional development and technical assistance across projects, rather than focusing solely on one isolated set of services.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to Cooperative Extension at eligible Land-grant institutions. The eligible applicants include:
- 1890 Land-grant institutions (the notice lists Tuskegee University, Central State University, and West Virginia State University as examples)
- 1862 Land-grant colleges and universities
- University of the District of Columbia
- 1994 Land-grant institutions
Can non-eligible organizations apply directly?
No. Only Cooperative Extension at the eligible Land-grant institutions listed in the notice may submit an application directly.
Can the award recipient work with partners who are not eligible applicants?
Yes. While only eligible institutions can apply directly, the recipient is allowed to subcontract with other organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants, as long as those partners are needed to carry out the project work.
How many applications can an institution submit?
Only one application per institution is allowed.
What happens if an institution submits more than one application?
The notice explicitly prohibits duplicate or multiple submissions. If an applicant submits more than one, NIFA will disqualify both applications.
What type of grant is this?
This is a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.521 (Agriculture).
How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
The notice indicates an expected single award (ExpectedAwards: 1).
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is $1,519,113 (AwardCeiling: 1519113).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA SLBCD 012078.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline (OriginalClosingDate) is 2026-09-01.
What happens if an applicant misses requirements in the NOFO?
Applicants are expected to follow all requirements in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Missing eligibility or compliance requirements by the deadline can lead to removal from consideration or make an award impossible.
Are there any research-related restrictions mentioned in the notice?
Yes. USDA will not accept competitive applications involving dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292.
Where can new federal grant applicants find help understanding the process?
For organizations that do not routinely apply for federal funding, NIFA points applicants to its "About Grants" resources to help them understand federal financial assistance expectations.
Does this opportunity suggest anything about award management requirements?
Yes. The notice signals that the application and award management process will follow standard federal grant rules and documentation requirements, and applicants should be prepared to meet typical federal financial assistance expectations.
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