Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2025
This bill would add a new program under the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to provide capacity-building grants to community college agriculture and natural resources programs. Eligible entities include standalone junior/community colleges that support agriculture advancement or consortia of two-year public colleges. The grants would be competitive and aimed at expanding and sustaining the colleges’ ability to offer workforce training, education, research, and outreach related to agriculture and related disciplines. A key feature is prioritizing grants to entities that partner with local agriculture industry operators to offer experiential learning for students. Funds could be used for equipment, faculty development, and work-based opportunities, among other activities, but not for building renovations or construction. The bill also creates a pathway for centers of excellence in agriculture advancement and requires a formal evaluation and reporting within three years. An authorization of $20 million per year is provided for 2026–2031, subject to future appropriations.
Key Points
- 1Eligible entities: The program would provide competitive grants to junior/community colleges or consortia of 2-year public colleges that support agriculture advancement.
- 2Purpose of grants: Funds to build and maintain the colleges’ capacity to conduct workforce training, education, research, and outreach in agriculture and related disciplines.
- 3Priority interactions: Grants would favor applicants coordinating with local agriculture industry operators to deliver experiential training and student opportunities.
- 4Use of funds: Eligible expenditures include expanding capacity to pursue other federal and non-federal funding, offering agribusiness and farm-industry job programming (e.g., accounting, finance, paralegal studies), disseminating information, and supporting equipment, professional development for faculty, and work-based learning opportunities (not building alterations or new construction).
- 5Centers of Agriculture Advancement and accountability: Institutions can apply to be designated as centers of excellence to demonstrate best practices and provide regional/national leadership; an evaluation and report must be completed within 3 years of enactment, shared with relevant House and Senate committees, and appropriations are authorized at $20 million annually for 2026–2031.