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The primary goal of the American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program is to ensure improved understanding of and equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs and services among underserved farmers, ranchers, forest land owners and operators through supporting the organizational delivery and establishment of comprehensive technical assistance projects and networks.

Through this program, a network of Cooperators are working collaboratively with USDA and with other cooperators to deliver targeted technical assistance programs and outreach activities focused on a range of relevant topics including:

  • effectively accessing USDA programs and personnel,
  • agricultural production,
  • agriculture credit,
  • rural development,
  • financial literacy,
  • risk management,
  • mediation,
  • cooperative development, and
  • land access.

USDA, through NIFA, selected its first round of ARPTAI cooperators (Cohort I) in November 2021, which included 20 organizations ($75M) and announced the second round (Cohort II) of cooperators in October 2022, which included 13 universities and nonprofits ($31.5M).

Details for each cooperator are listed in the table below.

No.OrganizationPoint of ContactFocusProject InfoGeographic Reach
1Federation of Southern CooperativesCornelius Blanding
Email 
Providing assistance to African American farmers and landowners around financial planning, farm and forest management, business planning, tax planning, market planning, cooperative development and support and land tenure/heirs property issuesLinkMultistate - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas
2Intertribal Agriculture CouncilKari Jo Lawrence
Email
Distributing a suite of producer-focused resources rooted in promoting equitable agricultural and food systems for Indian CountryLinkNational
3National Black Farmers AssociationJohn Wesley Boyd, Jr.
Email
Working with USDA agencies to educate and provide resources for farmers and operators in rural farming communities in Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and VirginiaLinkMultistate – NC, SC, VA, MS
4The Socially Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher Policy Center at Alcorn State UniversityEloris Speight
Email
Providing specialized services that includes outreach to underserved farmers; access to mediation; training in finance, cooperative development and capacity building; and technical support with land access, agriculture production, agriculture credit, and rural developmentLinkNational
5Indian Land Tenure FoundationCaitlin Spence 
Email
Providing information and complex technical support on land management issues to Indian agricultural producers, including the development of agriculture resource management plans as well as estate planning legal servicesLinkNational
6Land Loss Prevention ProjectSavonala Horne
Email
Providing farmers, ranchers and forest landowners with technical assistance through the creation of a “smart growth business center,” which is designed to help farmers build viability and establish sustainable businesses while managing riskLinkState – North Carolina
7Rural CoalitionLorette Picciano
Email
Launching a farmer–mentor technical assistance network that will build resilient agriculture and rural economies of the future through specialized services, training, and/or farmer-to-farmer mentoring sessionsLinkNational
8Center for Farm Financial ManagementKevin Klair
Email
Supporting underserved producers in learning financial planning, business planning, and tax planning, as well as introduce them to USDA programs to benefit producer growthLinkNational
9Hmong American Farmers AssociationJanssen Hang
Email
Providing outreach and technical assistance to underserved farmers and ranchers by increasing the scope of its existing work with Hmong farmers, expanding its reach to four new geographic areas, and developing a special program for young peopleLinkMultistate – MN, WI, OR, WA
10Farmer Veteran CoalitionJeanette Lombardo
Email
Hosting expert-led training workshops and webinars, followed by a veteran-to-veteran peer learning model approach, and concluding with individualized technical assistance administered by FVC’s veteran service providersLinkNational
11The Kohala Center, Inc.Cheryl Ka’uhane Lupenui
Email
Engage 500 producers in education and technical assistance in agribusiness and cooperative development to facilitate the ownership and operation of successful farms and ranches and increase familiarity with and participation in USDA and other government programs that support agricultureLinkState - Hawaii
12Farmer Legal Action GroupScott Carlson
Email
Creating a legal advisory council to help guide rapid response to farmer needs; developing educational materials to acquaint farmers with federal programs, laws, and resources; and providing direct technical assistance to farmers and other producersLinkNational
13Alaska Village InitiativesCharles Parker
Email
Scalable online or in-person delivery of curriculum specifically developed to meet the business side of agricultural producers in rural AlaskaLinkState – Alaska
14National Young Farmers CoalitionVanessa Polanco
Email
One-on-one technical assistance to help answer questions and support farmers in filling out the loan applicationsLinkNational
15National Latino Farmers and RanchersAnthony Martinez 
Email
Training and technical assistance and support services that enhance capacity building to underserved Latino farmers and ranchersLinkNational
16The Center for Heirs Property PreservationJennie Stephens
Email
Providing education and resources about heirs’
property to all of South Carolina’s 46 counties 
LinkState – South Carolina
17National Immigrant Farmer Initiative, IncAmelia Sanchez
Email
Supporting underserved producer communities and partner organizations with training development, program coordination, mentoring, communication, multilingual informational materials and network development to help immigrant and refugee farmers begin or transition into independent farming operationsLinkNational
18National Cooperative Business Association Christine Nardi 
Email
Creating a community-led cooperative development ecosystem, which will provide small producers with marketing and purchasing power, networks, training and a voice not available to individualsLinkNational
19National Black Growers Council Elzadia Washington 
Email
Providing underserved Black row-crop farmers and other producers with educational and technical assistance programs and activities, primarily through model farm field days, annual meetings, workshops, and other eventsLinkRegional – Southeast U.S.
20World Farmers, Inc.Maria Moreira 
Email
Supporting immigrant and refugee farmers in the Northeast with the tools, training and services needed to support their businessesLinkRegional – Northeast U.S.
21The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)Aisha Cruz-Reyes
Email
Coordinated provision of a range of enhanced technical assistance services, delivered by a strong partnership of organizations led by a Hispanic-serving institutionLinkState - TX
22Grow Food (WA)Michael Frazier       
Email
Bilingual technical assistance to underserved producersLinkState – WA
23Athens Land Trust (GA)Emmanuel Stone
Email
Intensive farm business development education and a “train the trainer” approach to building farmer peer leadershipLinkState - GA
24Virginia State University (VA)William Crutchfield
Email
Equipping underserved producers with the tools and skills needed for them to make informed decisions in owning and operating profitable farm businesses, while increasing their participation in USDA programs, and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) programs, and introducing Climate Smart PracticesLinkMultistate – VA, NC
25Southwest Indian Agricultural
Association, Inc. (AZ)
Andrew Antone
Email
Working closely with USDA on delivering targeted technical assistance/training in Native American communities, improving equitable participation of Native producers in USDA programs and services and improve Native  producers’ business management skills, promote local food production, and increase their resiliency and self-relianceLinkRegional - Southwest U.S.
26American Farmland Trust (DC)Cris Coffin
Email
Increase underserved producer access to USDA programs through expanded outreach, coaching, and technical assistanceLinkNational
27Ecotrust (OR)Stephanie Gutierrez
Email
Establish a Community of Practice for Tribal agroforestry producers; building upon the knowledge and experiences of Tribal producers in collaboration with USDA partners to increase the relevance, participation, and impact of USDA programs and services; and co-developing actionable research and toolsLinkRegional – Pacific Northwest
28The International Rescue
Committee, Inc. (NY)
Aley Kent
Email
Delivering targeted financial training and credit access, technical assistance in agricultural production and marketing, brokering relationships with local USDA service providers and landowners, and creating land access and training materials that are specifically honed to the language and literacy needs of the new AmericansLinkMultistate - UT,  VA, CA, AZ
29OurSpace World, Inc. (MD)Aitalohi Amaize
Email
Developing a comprehensive a technical assistance (TA) learning network, provide a range of TA activities, and developing a robust TA training infrastructureLinkMultistate – MD, VA, GA, AL, WI, CA
30The Food Group Minnesota Inc. (MN)KaZoua Berry
Email
Strengthening farmers’ capacity and project partners to provide culturally appropriate technical assistance in agricultural production and access to USDA programs and servicesLinkState - MN
31Black Farmers Collective - TEN FORWARD (WA)Raymond Williams
Email
A collaborative, culturally sensitive, peer-to-peer approach bolstered by cultural/linguistic support including customized personal and  group trainings, consultation, and coaching; guides and videos to reinforce training; and hands-on assistance to individual farmsLinkState - WA
32Michigan State University (MI)Jude Barry
Email
Supporting an Inter-institutional network of technical assistance experts; creating a core pathway for Michigan farming communities of color to engage with agricultural resources in a way that is restorative, supportive and a revised model of outreach in target communitiesLinkState - MI
33Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan
County (NY)
Melinda Meddaugh
Email
Expanding technical assistance, education, outreach, and mentoring efforts to new and beginning farmersLinkState - NY
34American Indian Higher Education ConsortiumJohn Phillips
Email
Build the capacity of 1994 Land Grant Tribal College Extension programs to provide socially disadvantaged and under-served Native American farmers, ranchers and community food producers increased knowledge and access to USDA programs and services; and best practices that promote sound agribusiness management, food production, and land management and conservationLinkNational

 

Program type
Grant Program
Page last updated: April 11, 2025

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