ASPIRE Act
The ASPIRE Act would amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to create and fund “agriculture workforce training programs” delivered through eligible institutions in partnership with targeted industry partners. These programs can include internships, apprenticeships, hands-on curricula, and workshops designed to build technical skills for students pursuing agriculture careers. Eligible institutions include a broad set of U.S. colleges and universities, especially land-grant and minority-serving institutions, as well as community colleges and area technical education schools that offer agriculture programs. The act requires grant funds to be used in part to recruit participants and to provide professional development for faculty. Administering authority would be the Secretary of Agriculture, via the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), with grants intended to grow and strengthen the agriculture industry and improve worker training and retention. The Secretary must implement this new program by January 31, 2026.
Key Points
- 1Creates “agriculture workforce training program grants” under Section 2501(d), defining the program, eligible institutions, and targeted industry partners.
- 2Eligible institutions include 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant institutions; non-land-grant colleges of agriculture; Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities; centers of excellence; junior/community colleges with agriculture programs; and area career and technical education schools with agriculture programs.
- 3Targeted industry partners include: members of the agriculture industry, registered apprenticeship programs in agriculture, and nonprofits that help people gain agriculture employment.
- 4Grants are awarded by the Secretary through the Director of NIFA to develop and carry out agriculture workforce training programs aimed at growing the industry, improving competitiveness, and enhancing training and retention of workers.
- 5Use of grant funds requires at least 5% to be devoted to the agriculture workforce training program, including recruitment efforts and professional development for faculty.