Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas

The Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This program is authorized under federal legislation supporting agricultural research, extension, and teaching and is specifically designed to strengthen institutional capacity in insular areas. These areas include U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, among others. The program reflects USDA priorities to improve agricultural education, workforce development, and innovation while supporting food security and economic resilience in geographically isolated regions. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to enhance the ability of eligible higher education institutions in insular areas to deliver education in food and agricultural sciences through distance learning technologies. Projects are expected to support curriculum development, instructional delivery systems, faculty training, and student engagement strategies. Emphasis is placed on improving both technical knowledge and employability skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. Funded activities may include acquisition of technology infrastructure, development of educational content, and creation of experiential learning opportunities that integrate academic instruction with real-world agricultural challenges. Funding under this program is intended to support education and teaching projects only. Allowable uses include purchasing equipment and digital tools, enhancing faculty capabilities, supporting student experiential learning, and strengthening recruitment and retention initiatives. Projects must address at least one defined need area such as curriculum development, faculty enhancement, instructional delivery innovation, or student experiential learning. However, funding cannot be used for construction or facility development, and indirect costs are capped at 30 percent of total federal funds awarded. Eligibility is limited to accredited public or nonprofit two-year and four-year institutions of higher education located in designated insular areas. These institutions must demonstrate the capacity to deliver programs in food, agriculture, natural resources, or human sciences. Both land-grant and non-land-grant institutions may apply, provided they meet accreditation and programmatic requirements. Institutions may submit up to three applications but can receive no more than two awards. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, making the program more accessible to eligible applicants with limited financial resources. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple required components such as a project summary, project narrative, budget justification, data management plan, and mentoring plan. The project narrative must address the educational problem, proposed methodology, evaluation plan, dissemination strategy, and institutional capacity. Applications are subject to administrative screening followed by a scientific peer review process that evaluates significance, approach, institutional capability, personnel qualifications, and cost-effectiveness. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is June 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Awards are expected to support projects lasting between 36 and 48 months. Approximately five awards are anticipated, with total program funding around $1,000,000. Individual award amounts range from $50,000 to $200,000. Award decisions are made following peer review, and applicants are notified after the evaluation process is completed. Successful applicants must comply with reporting requirements and participate in at least one project directors meeting during the grant period. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact program staff via email at InsularGrants@usda.gov for programmatic questions or grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov for application-related inquiries.

Ensure strong alignment with educational impact and clearly defined methodology; emphasize institutional capacity and measurable outcomes; include robust evaluation and dissemination plans