Agriculture Business Innovation Center at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Program

Agriculture Business Innovation Center at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Program is sponsored by National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Agriculture Business Innovation Center at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Program | NIFA The lifecycle of grants and cooperative agreements consists of four phases: Pre-Award, Award, Post-Award, and Close Out. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is committed to serving its stakeholders, Congress, and the public by using new technologies to advance greater openness.

The Data Gateway enables users to find funding data, metrics, and information about research, education, and Extension projects that have received grant awards from NIFA. This website houses a large volume of supporting materials. In this section, you can search the wide range of documents, videos, and other resources.

Technical Assistance Webinar: The Equipment Grants Program (EGP) The Equipment Grants Program seeks to provide eligible institutions with the opportunity to acquire a shared-use piece of equipment/instrument that supports their research, research training, and extension goals. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences.

Agriculture Business Innovation Center at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Program The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has a strong and continuing commitment to strengthening its partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as other minority serving institutions.

NIFA’s HBCU programs and activities build on NIFA’s contributions across a range of opportunities to further mutual goals offered by HBCUs.

The return on these investments can be seen on campuses in vibrant programs and new facilities, in the research, education, and community assistance activities conducted through enhanced relationships between NIFA and HBCUs, and in the contributions that HBCU graduates make as USDA employees, scientists, and agriculture and food professionals through programs that touch the lives of virtually every U.S. citizen.

As the lead Federal agency for higher education in the food and agricultural sciences, NIFA continues to work closely with colleges and universities to promote excellence in U.S. higher education and related activities central to food and agricultural sciences.

NIFA also continues to work with institutions to ensure that the Nation has an adequate supply of scientists and professionals with requisite expertise in the food and agricultural sciences and to ensure the adequacy of the Nation’s food and agricultural sciences research base. For more information, see the list of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) .

Agriculture Business Innovation Center (ABIC) at an HBCU Program NIFA issued a one‑time competitive grant in FY 2021 to support the establishment of an Agriculture Business Innovation Center at an HBCU to serve as a technical assistance hub to enhance agriculture-based business development opportunities. There were no FY 2022–FY 2026 appropriations for this program, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing (10. 231) is now archived.

The program is currently in post‑award management only. On Tuesday May 25, 2021, NIFA conducted a listening session to obtain stakeholder feedback pertaining to the establishment of an ABIC at a selected HBCU. Additional written feedback was accepted.

Feedback received from HBCUs was considered for incorporation into the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this competitive grant program. HBCU Agriculture Business Innovation Center refers to an administrative unit, not a brick-and-mortar facility.

The HBCU Agriculture Business Innovation Center facilitates administration, coordination, and management of multidisciplinary and multi-institutional, teaching, outreach, and integrated projects within the scope of agriculture and business.

The HBCU Agriculture Business Innovation Center serves as a focal point to assess regional and national needs in Agriculture Business and establish priorities for collaborative projects The establishment of this center will enhance agriculture-based business development opportunities to include the following: Provide technical assistance to food and agricultural producers, including production scale assessments, market planning and development, business planning, and other advisory services; Assist startups in agriculture business including planning and obtaining funding; Provide workforce development and educational experiences for students interested in careers in agriculture business; and Offer outreach services and activities, including the training, workshops and dissemination of information and materials.

Applicants for the ABIC program must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Applications may only be submitted by a lead and/or faculty member at an Historically Black College or University (HBCU). For a list of HBCU institutions visit “ College Navigator .

” Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Agriculture Business Innovation Center at an HBCU Institution Program Specific Resources HBCU Agriculture Business Innovation Center - NOFO Recorded Webinar HBCU Agriculture Business Innovation Center - NOFO Webinar Slidedeck Closing Date : January 13th, 2022 1890 Land-grant Institutions Programs Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-grant Colleges of Agriculture Program AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Program Sustainable Agriculture Program Page last updated: April 30, 2026 Your feedback is important to us.