NOFO: Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program (US)

Purpose

• The purpose of BPMGP is to support projects that strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of bison and bison products in the United States, including the improvement of business and resource development and the development of innovative approaches to solve long-term needs.
• High quality applications will propose practical solutions for succinctly described needs and problems in the bison industry and address those problems over a broad relevant geographic coverage area. Applicants should seek to deliver measurable benefits for bison producers, encourage partnerships among bison industry organizations and tribes, and reduce duplication of effort among participating organizations.

Objectives

• Applicants will propose eligible activities, to be conducted either through subawards or by the applicant, that accomplish one or more of the following objectives:
  • Promote and engage with potential bison producers to increase supply to meet established and growing demand;
  •  Strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of bison and bison products in the United States through business and resource development and the development of innovative approaches to problems identified by tribes and other industry stakeholders;
  • Provide training and education to Tribes and other industry stakeholders;
  • Assist all segments of bison management in addressing sustainable production and marketing of bison and bison products;
  •  Promote marketing of bison and bison products through an organized method that can measure tangible results.

Funding Information

• AMS anticipates approximately $2 million will be available for this program. Enactment of a continuing resolution, appropriations act, or other legislation may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.
• AMS expects applicants to complete their projects within a three-year performance period from the time of the award. Grant recipients will be required to issue competitively funded subawards within the first year of  the program to be completed by the end of the three-year period of performance
• AMS will use a Grant Agreement to provide the Federal award to successful applicant(s).

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be based in the 50 States, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. AMS will prioritize grants to national non-profits and federally chartered Tribal organizations that have expertise in bison production or marketing. Eligible applicants include:
  • Agricultural Businesses or Cooperatives: Businesses or member-owned entities that provide, hold, deliver, transport, offer, or sell agricultural products or services for member benefit as well as the organization or other businesses that they represent.
  • Producer Networks or Associations: Producer group- or member-owned organizations or businesses that provide, offer, or sell agricultural products or services through a common distribution system for the mutual member benefit as well as organizations or other businesses that assist, represent, or serve producers or producer networks.
  • Local Governments: Any unit of government within a State, including a county; borough; municipality; city; town; township; parish; local public authority, including any public housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (50 Stat. 888 (Pub. L. No. 75—412)); special district; school district; intrastate district; council of governments, whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law; and any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-state, regional, or intra-state or local government.
  • Nonprofit Corporations: Any organization or institution, including nonprofits with State or IRS 501 (c) status and accredited institutions of higher education, where no part of the organization’s or institution’s net earnings inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
  • Economic Development Corporations: Organizations whose missions are to improve, maintain, develop, and/or market or promote a specific geographic area.
  • Tribal Governments: Governing bodies or governmental agencies of any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community (including any native village as defined in Section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 85 Stat. 688 (43 U.S.C. § 1602)) certified by the Secretary of the Interior as eligible for the special programs and services provided through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
  • Federally chartered Tribal organizations: Tribal corporations chartered under Section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (25 U.S.C. § 5124).

For more information, visit Grants.gov.