The Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) is now accepting grant applications for the improvement of agricultural education across Minnesota. Funds will be awarded in two competitive grant areas – Strategic Initiatives and Common Fund.
More than $100,000 is available between these competitive grant programs. All grant applications must be completed online at https://www.mn.gov/maelc/grants.html.html before midnight on April 15, 2023.
"MAELC's grant program allows us to reach our mission of promoting and expanding agriculture, food and natural resources (AFNR) education across the state," said Sarah Dornink, executive director of MAELC. "We look to support new and current AFNR programming to positively impact as many Minnesotans as possible."
Common Fund grants are awarded to applications having a statewide impact and are designed to meet specific goals related to the 2025 Minnesota Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource (AFNR) Education Blueprint. New and innovative ideas are encouraged to support increasing quality of instruction, increasing the numbers and types of students reached by programs, and projects that improve the understanding of AFNR education.
Strategic Initiative grants are based on the strategies outlined in the AFNR Blueprint and focus on promoting access to AFNR education, improving current programs, and providing teacher professional development. These grants support programming at the primary, secondary, and postsecondary levels in Minnesota.
Grant applications can be obtained online at https://www.mn.gov/maelc/grants.html. Since its establishment, MAELC has provided almost $22.1 million in competitive grants, scholarships, sponsored projects and awards. These funds were made available to MAELC through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
MAELC is a 16-member legislative council that provides leadership to promote and expand agricultural education in Minnesota. The state legislature, agricultural educators, and agriculture industry leaders are all represented on the council.
Categories: Minnesota, Education