State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball recently announced $3 million is available to boost the development of a skilled workforce in New York’s agricultural and food systems industries.
The NYS Agriculture and Food Systems Workforce Development Grant Program supports the creation and expansion of workforce development initiatives that prepare individuals for jobs in New York’s diverse agriculture and food sectors.
“New York’s agricultural and food industries need to continue to attract and retain future generations of skilled workers who are prepared for a career in an industry that is rapidly developing alongside emerging technologies and ever-changing consumer demand,” Ball said in a press release. “I thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to ensuring a strong agricultural pipeline in New York and look forward to seeing awarded projects make a difference for our industry.”
Successful applicants for the NYS Agriculture and Food Systems Workforce Development Grant Program must implement a program that prepares or leads individuals to employment in the agriculture or food system sector.
Examples include programs that provide formal education or experiential learning for individuals to enter and gain skills applicable to jobs in the agriculture or food system industries; formal training or workforce development programs that provide, upon completion, a certificate, credential or other industry-recognized credential; or a formal program for currently employed individuals to gain new skills that help them better compete for other jobs in the industry or advance in their current role.
Funding for the program was included in the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 state budgets.
Eligible applicants include registered nonprofit organizations, nonprofit educational institutions, municipal government entities and public benefit corporations.
Applicants may apply for a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $500,000 through this funding opportunity. A minimum match of 20% is required. The matching requirement may be met through the awardee’s own resources and/or in-kind services.
For more information about the opportunity and how to apply, visit tinyurl.com/ysruw8rs.
Proposals are due April 28.
The program comes as part of Hochul’s 2023 State of the State proposal, which directed the Department of Agriculture and Markets to address the food supply workforce shortage by engaging with agricultural producers and processors to train and recruit new entrants in the food and agricultural fields. In September 2023, the department issued a Request for Information to gather input from stakeholders to inform and shape this program.
The department continues to work with key stakeholders to identify internships and apprenticeships in horticulture, dairy management, crop production, food manufacturing, food distribution and other related industries. It additionally works with educational institutions to ensure the necessary skills and standards required by the industry are being taught to the future workforce.
In this year’s proposed executive budget, Hochul included $1 million in support for FFA, dedicated $500,000 to support the New York Agriculture in the Classroom program and $500,000 for the New York Association of Agricultural Educators to increase the number of certified agricultural educators in the state.
In addition, $250,000 was included in support of Urban Agricultural Education, $250,000 for the 4-H Program and $50,000 for the MANRRS program.