Veterinary Services Grant Program

The Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP), administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), addresses critical veterinary service shortages across the United States and its Insular Areas. Established under the legislative authority of 7 U.S.C. 3151b, the program aims to bolster food and large animal veterinary services and support the development of the veterinary workforce, especially in rural and underserved areas. VSGP is a companion initiative to the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), both of which seek to ensure adequate veterinary support for the health, safety, and economic viability of the U.S. agricultural sector. VSGP is structured around two main program areas: Education, Extension, and Training (EET), and Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE). The EET program supports accredited institutions and professional organizations in training the next generation of veterinary professionals through clinical training, curriculum updates, continuing education, and outreach to high school students interested in food animal medicine. The RPE program, on the other hand, directly funds veterinary clinics to improve their capacity to serve shortage areas. This may include funding for mobile veterinary units, ambulatory equipment, facility upgrades, operational support, and educational outreach. For FY 2026, the total anticipated program funding is approximately $3,809,708. Individual awards range from $75,000 to $300,000 for EET grants and up to $200,000 for RPE grants, with a project duration of 36 months. Notably, the VSGP does not require matching funds. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative, sustainable solutions that address identified veterinary service gaps, particularly in rural communities, and to collaborate with stakeholders including educational institutions, clinics, and local governments. Eligible applicants for EET grants include AVMA-accredited veterinary schools, research foundations, state or tribal government agencies, and other organizations supporting food animal veterinary programs. RPE applicants must be veterinary clinics or hospitals (for-profit or nonprofit) located in rural areas and aligned with a designated veterinary shortage situation, as identified by the VMLRP. For RPE awards, only one grant is allowed per clinic and per designated shortage area each year. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the opportunity number USDA-NIFA-VSGP-011778. The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 16, 2026. Applicants are advised to register with SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) at least five weeks before the application deadline. Required components vary by program area, but all applicants must include a project narrative, budget, evaluation plan, and a data management plan. For EET applications, a management and collaboration plan is also required. Applications will undergo a peer review process based on criteria including relevance to the veterinary shortage, technical merit, achievability, and the expertise and experience of the project team. NIFA will notify successful applicants with award documents and instructions, with projects expected to begin by September 30 of the award year. Funded projects must align with USDA’s broader goals of enhancing national food security, supporting rural economies, and promoting public health through improved animal health services.

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