Funding awarded in two competitive grant areas: Strategic Initiatives and Common Fund
The Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) is currently accepting grant applications to improve agricultural education across Minnesota. (Logo provided)
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) is currently accepting grant applications to improve agricultural education across Minnesota. Funding is awarded in two competitive grant areas: Strategic Initiatives and Common Funds. More than $145,000 is available in these competitive grant programs. All grant applications must be completed online at www.mn.gov/maelc/grants.html. Before midnight on April 15, 2024.
“MAELC’s grant program allows us to accomplish our mission of promoting and expanding agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) education across the state. We look forward to helping local and statewide organizations expand access to new and current AFNR programs to make an impact,” said Sarah Dornink, MAELC Executive Director.
Common Fund grants are awarded to applications with statewide impact and are designed to achieve specific goals related to the 2025 Minnesota Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Education Blueprint . New and innovative ideas are encouraged to support projects that improve the quality of instruction, increase the number and variety of students served by the program, and increase understanding of AFNR education.
Strategic Initiatives grants are based on strategies outlined in the AFNR Blueprint and focus on promoting access to AFNR education, improving current programs, and providing professional development for teachers. These grants support programming at the elementary, secondary, and high school levels in Minnesota.
Grant applications are available online at www.mn.gov/maelc/grants.html. Since its inception, MAELC has awarded approximately $26.5 million in competitive grants, scholarships, sponsored projects and awards. These funds were provided to his MAELC through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
The MAELC is a 16-member Legislative Council that provides guidance for promoting and expanding agricultural education in Minnesota. State legislators, agricultural educators, and agricultural industry leaders are all represented on the council.
—Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council