Multi-State Rural Development Research or Extension Projects North Central Region FY 16

The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) at Michigan State University announces a competition for seed grants aimed at enhancing the ability of Land Grant institutions to positively influence the quality of life in rural areas of the twelve-state North Central region of the United States. Priority areas for the Center’s work include:

• Innovation diffusion for rural development
• Sustainable communities
• Leadership development
• Entrepreneurial communities
• More complete descriptions of these themes are available on the Center’s web site at: http://ncrcrd.msu.edu/ncrcrd/who_we_are

Grant awards may range from $5,000 to $25,000 each. Up to $144,000 will be awarded. The Center does not pay overhead or other administrative costs.

Proposals are due at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, February 2, 2016. Proposals received after the application window closes will be reviewed by the NCRCRD director only (not referees) and not considered for funding in this cycle.

For anyone who has questions regarding submitting a proposal or the proposal process, we have scheduled a Q/A conference call for Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 1:00 PM-Eastern Time and Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 1:00 PM – Eastern Time. To sign up and receive the call in information email soliz@msu.edu.
TIME LINE FOR AWARDS
Award recommendations will be made at the NCRCRD Board meeting planned for late spring, 2016. Project PIs will be notified of the board recommendations shortly after the meeting. Board award recommendations will be forwarded to USDA for consent and approval, subject to budget availability, and finally processed by the Michigan State University grants office. Projects funded under the NCRCRD small grants process are expected to begin in early- to mid-fall 2016 (exact start date to be determined by MSU grants office), and will be completed within 12 months of the start date.