WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made funds available June 23 to support food and agriculture science facility improvement at Central State University (CSU) in Wilberforce, Ohio.
Central State was designated as an 1890 land-grant university in the 2014 farm bill. It is one of only two institutions in the state to hold land-grant status. Ohio State University is an original land grant university, designated in 1862.
The funding is a supplement to the 1890s Facilities Grants Program administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
“The addition of Central State University to the land-grant community opens more opportunities for quality research, education and Extension work in communities throughout Ohio,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director.
“These grants provide resources to improve research and education facilities, and will allow CSU to address its research and academic needs.”
NIFA requested renewal proposals from existing 1890 land-grant universities earlier this month. The total funding available for this program is $19 million. CSU is eligible for $1.3 million.
The application deadline is Aug. 1, 2014.
Facilities awards are made for the acquisition and improvement of food, agricultural and human sciences facilities and equipment, including libraries, so that the 1890 land-grant institutions may participate fully in the production of human capital in the food and agricultural sciences.
