Veterinary Services Grant Program

The Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP), administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), aims to address critical shortages in food and large animal veterinary services in rural and underserved areas of the United States and its Insular Areas. With funding authorized under 7 U.S.C. 3151b, the VSGP operates alongside its companion program, the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), to build veterinary capacity, enhance food safety, and support the health and productivity of agricultural animal populations. In FY 2026, approximately $11,309,708 has been made available for the program, with award amounts ranging from $75,000 to $300,000 for Education, Extension, and Training (EET) projects, and up to $200,000 for Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE) initiatives. The VSGP is structured around two main program areas: EET and RPE. The EET area focuses on strengthening the veterinary pipeline through coursework, clinical training, and continuing education. It supports activities for veterinary students, interns, residents, veterinary technicians, and even outreach to high school students exploring food animal medicine careers. Eligible projects may include the development of nondegree training programs, updates to existing veterinary curricula, and virtual education initiatives. Notably, EET projects must span a minimum of 36 months and demonstrate sustainability beyond the funding period. Collaborative and innovative approaches are strongly encouraged, and projects must emphasize educational content relevant to rural practice, food safety, and business development for veterinary professionals. The RPE component targets the direct enhancement of veterinary services in federally designated rural shortage areas. Funds can be used for equipping veterinary offices, purchasing clinical or ambulatory equipment, supporting salaries, establishing mobile veterinary units, and providing community education. Applications are restricted to one designated shortage area per clinic, and only one award is granted per clinic or applicant per year. Applicants may apply again only after the previous RPE award concludes. The use of funds must directly benefit services in the shortage area, and at least 50% of the budget must be allocated to direct service support, with clear justification required. Eligibility for EET projects includes AVMA-accredited veterinary schools, veterinary science departments, government agencies, and professional veterinary organizations. RPE applicants must be for-profit or nonprofit veterinary entities based in rural areas as defined by federal standards and serving designated shortage areas. Clinics employing VMLRP awardees are also eligible under certain conditions. The program has no matching requirement, simplifying access for qualified applicants. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using opportunity number USDA-NIFA-VSGP-011778 by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on April 16, 2026. All applicants must register with SAM and obtain a UEI at least five weeks in advance. For EET applications, key components include a project narrative, budget justification, data management plan, and, where applicable, letters of commitment from collaborators. RPE applications also require maps showing service areas, shortage designation documentation, and detailed business or service expansion plans. Both programs require submission of a concise summary/abstract and compliance with formatting and page limits as specified in the NOFO. Applications are evaluated through a rigorous peer review process, with EET proposals assessed on relevancy, technical merit, achievability, and organizational capacity. RPE proposals are judged primarily on the technical merit of proposed service enhancements and the expertise of the applicant. Awards are expected to be announced by September 30, 2026, and projects should begin promptly thereafter. While the VSGP does not recur automatically, the program has historically been offered annually, and applicants are advised to check for future cycles each year around the same season.

Ensure proposed activities directly support shortage area needs; include clear evaluation metrics; confirm eligibility and use of funds match restrictions.