National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Competitive Grant Program (NSIIC)

Official Website: http://www.nsiic.org

Purpose: For product or business development, producer information or education, marketing and promotion for sheep or goats or their products, genetic retention, and animal health. The intent is to fund a variety of proposals that will benefit the U.S. sheep and goat industries.

Eligible applicants: An eligible entity is one that promotes the betterment of the United States sheep or goat industries and includes: (1) A public, private, or cooperative organization; (2) an association, including a corporation not operated for profit; (3) a federally recognized Indian Tribe; or (4) a public or quasi-public agency.

Eligible funding : Costs related to product or business development, producer information or education, marketing and promotion for sheep or goats or their products, genetic retention or animal health at the regional, national or international level

Ineligible uses of funding:

1. Duplicate current services or replace or substitute support previously provided. If the current service is inadequate, however, grant funds may be used to expand the level of effort or services beyond that which is currently being provided;
2. Pay costs of preparing the application package for funding under this program;
3. Pay costs of the project incurred prior to the date of grant approval;
4. Fund political activities

Funding level: They allow up to $50,000 in federal funds per proposal. Projects can be up to 20 months long.

Match requirement: None

Timing of grants: proposals are generally due in the fall

Pros: Targeted to the sheep and goat sectors. Although the funds cannot go to benefit an individual business, they can be used to assist a group of producers.

Cons: They only fund 6-10 grants per year. Most grants go to National/State Associations and to Universities.

Examples of funded projects: 

Mountain States Lamb Cooperative
Title: Investigation and Development of Convenience Food Products Made From Lamb
Objective: The goal of this grant is to fund the research and development of convenience food products made with lamb. The objective of the project is to investigate product manufacturing capabilities and formulations, develop and test prototype products and determine preliminary sales potential.