NSIIC Requests Grant Proposals

NSIIC Requests Grant Proposals 

(July 1, 2012) The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) board of directors announced that it is accepting grant proposals designed to improve the U.S. sheep and goat industries. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 31.

The center has budgeted approximately $300,000 for grants that will support programs designed to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and goat products in the United States through infrastructure development, business development, production, resource development and market and environmental research.
Financial assistance must accomplish one or more of the following objectives:

• strengthen and improve long-term sustainability of the goat and/or lamb and wool industry’s infrastructure by increasing the numbers in production;
• provide integration of performance/production data from sources that can help enhance the National Sheep Improvement Program;
• provide leadership training and education to producers and packers within the sheep and goat industries;
• enhance sheep and/or goat production by improving infrastructure of the U.S. sheep and goat industry through assistance to all segments of the industry to address sustainable production and marketing of sheep and goat milk, meat, fiber and related services such as grazing for fire management and pasture improvements;
• promote lamb and meat goat marketing through an organized method that can measure tangible results; and
• enhance the sheep and goat industry by coordinating information exchange and seeking mutual understanding and marketing within the international industry community.

To be eligible to receive funding, an organization must promote the betterment of the U.S. sheep and/or goat industries and be a public, private or cooperative organization; an association, including a corporation not operated for profit; a federally recognized Indian Tribe; or a public or quasi-public agency.

The nine-member board is comprised of seven voting and two non-voting members. The board will review each proposal, recommend funding and submit to U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service for approval. 

Additional information is available at  www.NSIIC.org  or by contacting Steve Lee at 202-350-9065 or  stevelee@nsiic.org .