On Nov. 16, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced 53 grants totaling more than $18 million to support research, teaching and extension activities at 1890 historically black land-grant colleges and universities through the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

"Earlier this year, we celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act and USDA's historic partnership with 1890 historically black land-grant colleges and universities," said Vilsack. "Today's announcement continues our partnership and will help ensure the schools are able to sustain our nation's agricultural sector for another 125 years and beyond. We are pleased to be able to build the capacity of these important institutions and support the next generation of leaders in agriculture."

Fiscal year 2015 grants include:

Teaching

  • Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama, $150,000
  • Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi, $299,918
  • Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, $599,997
  • Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware, $149,838
  • Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia, $149,999
  • Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri, $277,298
  • North Carolina State A&T University, Greensboro, North Carolina, $852,827 (4 awards)
  • Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, $149,993
  • South Carolina State University, Columbia, South Carolina, $1,196,162 (2 awards)
  • Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, $442,731 (3 awards)
  • West Virginia State University, Institute, West Virginia, $899,628 (2 awards)

Research

  • Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama, $1,093,892 (3 awards)
  • Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, $1,100,000 (2 awards)
  • Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi, $500,632
  • Arkansas Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, $600,000
  • Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware, $499,982
  • Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky, $1,194,942 (3 awards)
  • Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri, $300,000
  • North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, $499,659
  • Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, $295,132
  • Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, $300,000
  • South Carolina State University, Columbia, South Carolina, $444,029
  • Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, $500,850 (2 awards)
  • University of Maryland – Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, $1,198,419 (3 awards)
  • Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia, $586,879 (2 awards)
  • West Virginia State University, Institute, West Virginia, $299,042

Extension

  • Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama, $249,963
  • Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi, $248,719
  • Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware, $249,993
  • Langston University, Langston, Oklahoma, $600,000
  • Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, $805,923 (2 awards)
  • Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, $226,869
  • Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, $250,000
  • Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia, $599,582 (2 awards)
  • West Virginia State University, Institute, West Virginia, $599,997

NIFA made the awards through the 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) program, which focuses on strengthening the partnerships among the universities, USDA and private industry through food and agricultural science, and advancing cultural diversity in the scientific and professional workforce by attracting more students from underrepresented groups.

NIFA provides support to historically black colleges and universities that were designated as land-grant universities in the Second Morrill Act in 1890. Grants to these universities support research, extension and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences by building the institutional capacities of these schools. There are currently 19 institutions under the legislation.  PD

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—From USDA news release