American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program

The primary goal of 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 of technical assistance projects and networks. USDA is authorized to support and facilitate the establishment of technical assistance networks and projects toward this goal. Projects must provide a range of technical assistance services to economically distressed/underserved communities, including socially disadvantaged producers, limited resource farmers and ranchers, veterans, and other key targeted communities in agriculture. The term “agricultural producer” is used to refer to agricultural farmers, ranchers, and private forest land owners and operators. Technical assistance partnerships focused on underserved agriculture producers. USDA is creating opportunities to ensure that underserved communities of farmers, ranchers, forest land owners, and operators have the tools, programs, and support they need to succeed in agriculture. Funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act will support technical assistance to connect underserved agricultural producers with USDA programs and services. Cooperative Agreements will support organizations with proven track records working with underserved agricultural producer communities such as economically distressed/underserved communities, including socially disadvantaged producers, limited resource farmers and ranchers, veterans, and other key targeted communities. These organizations will work with underserved producer communities to provide an array of technical assistance specialized services that could include outreach, technical assistance, cooperative development training and support, financial training, mediation access, capacity building training, technical assistance concerning agriculture production, agriculture credit, and rural development to underserved farmers, ranchers or forest land owners.