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<title>USDA Announces Funding Available Women, Minorities in STEM</title>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Forwarding on behalf of Sangita Pawar:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:7.5pt">View this announcement on the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwMzA4LjU2MjE2ODUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDMwOC41NjIxNjg1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NjQyMTk0JmVtYWlsaWQ9dy1hZXNkaXJzQGNvbG9zdGF0ZS5lZHUmdXNlcmlkPXctYWVzZGlyc0Bjb2xvc3RhdGUuZWR1JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://nifa.usda.gov/announcement/usda-announces-funding-available-women-minorities-stem?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">
NIFA website</a>.</span><br>
<span style="font-size:7.5pt">Media Contact: Kelly Flynn, (202) 445-3465</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt">USDA Announces Funding Available Women, Minorities in STEM</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>WASHINGTON, March 8, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $400,000 in available funding to support research and extension activities that increase the number of women and underrepresented
minorities from rural areas who will pursue and complete a postsecondary degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) disciplines.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>This funding is available through the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwMzA4LjU2MjE2ODUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDMwOC41NjIxNjg1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NjQyMTk0JmVtYWlsaWQ9dy1hZXNkaXJzQGNvbG9zdGF0ZS5lZHUmdXNlcmlkPXctYWVzZGlyc0Bjb2xvc3RhdGUuZWR1JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&103&&&http://nifa.usda.gov/program/women-and-minorities-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-fields-grant-program?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">
Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS)</a>. The purpose of this program is to support research and extension projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas
in STEM.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Applications recommended for funding must highlight and emphasize a competent and qualified workforce to guide the food and agricultural sciences system. WAMS-funded projects should improve the economic health and viability of rural communities by developing
research and extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations. Projects that contribute to the economic viability of rural communities are also encouraged.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Applications are due April 7. Please see the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwMzA4LjU2MjE2ODUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDMwOC41NjIxNjg1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NjQyMTk0JmVtYWlsaWQ9dy1hZXNkaXJzQGNvbG9zdGF0ZS5lZHUmdXNlcmlkPXctYWVzZGlyc0Bjb2xvc3RhdGUuZWR1JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&104&&&http://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/women-and-minorities-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-fields?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">
RFA</a> for more information.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Since 2009, NIFA has invested in and advanced innovative and transformative initiatives to solve societal challenges and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA’s integrated research, education, and extension programs, supporting the best and
brightest scientists and extension personnel, have resulted user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that are combating childhood obesity, improving and sustaining rural economic growth, controlling water availability, increasing food production, finding
new sources of energy, mitigating climate variability, and ensuring food safety. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural science, visit<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwMzA4LjU2MjE2ODUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDMwOC41NjIxNjg1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NjQyMTk0JmVtYWlsaWQ9dy1hZXNkaXJzQGNvbG9zdGF0ZS5lZHUmdXNlcmlkPXctYWVzZGlyc0Bjb2xvc3RhdGUuZWR1JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&105&&&http://www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">
www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts</a>, sign up for <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwMzA4LjU2MjE2ODUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDMwOC41NjIxNjg1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NjQyMTk0JmVtYWlsaWQ9dy1hZXNkaXJzQGNvbG9zdGF0ZS5lZHUmdXNlcmlkPXctYWVzZGlyc0Bjb2xvc3RhdGUuZWR1JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&106&&&http://bit.ly/NIFAsubscribe?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">
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<p align="center" style="text-align:center">#<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><em>USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). </em><o:p></o:p></p>
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