Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (RHSE) | USDA NIFA RHSE 007857

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 007857

The Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (RHSE) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), focused on improving health and safety outcomes in rural communities through practical, community-based education and outreach. RHSE projects are expected to be delivered as outreach education programs, often aligned with extension-style programming (including Human Sciences extension outreach), and should be designed to reach individuals and families where they live and work. The core emphasis is on helping rural residents understand the value of good health across the lifespan, strengthening personal and family motivation to take greater responsibility for health, and expanding awareness of rural environmental health issues that directly affect human health. In addition, RHSE supports efforts that improve information about and access to health promotion activities, and that build local capacity by training volunteers and health service providers in health promotion and health care services.

A key expectation of the program is partnership and coordination. Competitive proposals should demonstrate cooperation with state, local, and community partners, reflecting the idea that sustainable rural health improvement depends on local networks rather than standalone efforts. Successful projects typically translate evidence-based health and safety information into accessible education, connect residents to health-promoting resources, and strengthen the ability of local helpers and providers to deliver consistent messages and services. While the opportunity description highlights education and training, it also signals an interest in real-world impact: increasing knowledge, shifting behaviors, and improving access to health-related supports in rural settings.

Eligibility is limited to specific categories of land-grant institutions. Applications may be submitted by 1862 and 1890 Land Grant colleges and universities eligible under the Acts of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) and August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), explicitly including institutions such as Central State University, Tuskegee University, and West Virginia State University. Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land Grant Institutions under the Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (as amended) are also eligible to apply. Although only eligible institutions may serve as applicants, award recipients may subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply, as long as those organizations are needed to carry out the proposed work (for example, local health departments, nonprofits, clinics, or community organizations supporting delivery).

The opportunity is administered as a grant under CFDA number 10.516, with the funding activity category listed as Agriculture, reflecting NIFA's broader mission and the extension-based approach often used to deliver community education. For this specific posting (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA RHSE 007857), the application deadline was April 29, 2021, and the maximum award amount (ceiling) was $350,000. NIFA underscores that applicants must meet all requirements described in the Request for Applications (RFA); failure to satisfy eligibility criteria by the deadline can lead to exclusion from review or prevent an award from being made. The notice also includes an important submission rule: duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed, and NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits more than one. For organizations newer to federal grants, NIFA points applicants to its Grants Overview as a helpful resource for understanding the federal financial assistance process, expectations, and compliance basics.

• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (RHSE)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.516.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-10-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-29. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 007857

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