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Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2023
3/9/2024, 8:15 AM
Summary of Bill HR 3425
Specifically, the bill allocates funding for community colleges to develop and expand their agriculture programs, including curriculum development, equipment purchases, and faculty training. It also encourages partnerships between community colleges and local agricultural businesses to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities and potential job placements.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions for research and innovation in agriculture, with a focus on sustainable practices and technology advancements. This will help ensure that students are prepared to address the challenges facing the agriculture industry in the 21st century. Overall, the Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2023 aims to strengthen the agricultural workforce by investing in education and training programs at the community college level. By providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in agriculture, the bill seeks to support the growth and sustainability of this vital industry.
Congressional Summary of HR 3425
Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2023
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make competitive grants to assist eligible entities in maintaining and expanding their capacity to conduct workforce training, education, research, and outreach activities related to agriculture and similar disciplines. An eligible entity includes a junior or community college, or a consortium or alliance of two-year public colleges, supporting agriculture advancement.
In awarding grants, USDA must give priority to entities coordinating with a local agriculture industry operator to provide experiential training and other opportunities for students.
Grant funds may be used to expand and maintain the capacity of the eligible entity, including through the purchase or other acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure, the professional growth and development of faculty, and the development of apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities.
An eligible entity may submit to USDA an application for designation and funding as a Center of Excellence for Agriculture Advancement. Funding received as a result of such a designation must be used to demonstrate agriculture best practices and to provide leadership in capacity building at a regional or national level.
