ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) is now accepting grant applications for the improvement of agricultural education across Minnesota. Funds will be awarded in two competitive grant areas – Strategic Initiatives and Common Fund.
MAELC will be awarding nearly $95,000 between these two competitive grant programs over the next year. All grant applications must be completed online at www.mn.gov/maelc/grants.
Common Fund grants are awarded to applications having a statewide impact and are designed to meet specific goals related to the 2025 Minnesota Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource (AFNR) Education Blueprint. New and innovative ideas are encouraged to support increasing quality of instruction, increasing the numbers and types of students reached by programs, and projects that improve the understanding of AFNR education.
Strategic Initiative grants are based on the strategies outlined in the AFNR Blueprint and focus on promoting access to AFNR education, improving current programs, and providing teacher professional development. These grants support programming at the primary, secondary, and postsecondary levels in Minnesota.
“MAELC grants prioritize expanding agriculture, food and natural resource education to attract new and underrepresented audiences while also supporting current programs to maintain quality career exploration opportunities for all students” said Sarah Dornink, Executive Director of MAELC.
Since its establishment, MAELC has provided over $17.5 million in competitive grants, scholarships, sponsored projects and awards.
Grant applications can be obtained online at www.mn.gov/maelc/grants.
MAELC is a 16-member legislative council that provides leadership to promote and expand agricultural education in Minnesota. The state legislature, agricultural educators, and agriculture industry leaders are all represented on the council.
— MAELC
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