USDA Announces the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center is Accepting Grant Proposals

Date
June 23, 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors is accepting grant proposals for the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program (SPMGP). The SPMGP was established to foster improvements in the U.S. sheep industry. Proposals will be accepted  through September 15, 2021.

This year, the center budgeted approximately $300,000 to support projects that do one or more of the following: 

  • Strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and sheep products in the United States by improving infrastructure, developing resources, and developing innovative approaches to solve long term problems.
  • Provide leadership training and education to industry stakeholders.
  • Assist all segments of the industry in addressing sustainable production and marketing of sheep and sheep products.
  • Promote marketing of sheep and sheep products through an organized method that can measure tangible results.
  • Enhance the sheep industry by coordinating information exchange and seeking mutual understanding and marketing within the industry community.

In the past four years, the average grant project was funded at $29,000. The center will review each proposal and make funding recommendations to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for approval.

For more information about applying, contact Program Manager Steve Lee at (207) 236-6567 or stevelee@nsiic.org, or send mail to: 

National Sheep Industry Improvement Center
1578 Spring Water Way
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center was established in 2008 and awarded approximately $1.9 million in 2019 for a five-year grant through AMS’s Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/spmgp.

Additional information about the center, including previous awardees, is available on its website: www.nsiic.org.

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