November 5, 2013

Missouri 4-H and FFA chapters planning community service projects may once again apply for grant funding through the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Applications for the annual Building Our American Communities Grant Program are available at mda.mo.gov and are being accepted until Dec. 2, 2013.

"Missouri's youth organizations are filled with our future community, state and industry leaders," said Acting Director of Agriculture Harry Bozoian. "We're happy to be able to offer these grants as a way for Missouri youth to connect with their communities and improve the lives of their fellow residents at the same time."

The Building Our American Communities Grant Program awards grants ranging from $100 to $500 to support youth-driven service projects. Since the 1970s, 4-H clubs and FFA chapters throughout Missouri have submitted proposals for specific projects within their communities for consideration for the grants.

Proposed projects should improve the social and physical environment of rural cities, towns and farm communities and may include upgrades or additions to existing facilities, grounds or buildings used by local organizations. Past Building Our American Communities grant projects have included improvements for local fairgrounds, rural intersections and parks, as well as renovations for damaged and aged public use structures in rural communities, including those used by area 4-H and FFA groups.

Each year, the Building Our American Communities Grant Program awards up to 12 $500 grants to 4-H clubs and 12 $500 grants to FFA chapters, two in each of the six districts, to support projects that benefit an agricultural community and/or promote community development. In 2013, nine 4-H clubs and eleven FFA chapters representing Andrew, Clinton, Cole, Douglas, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Lawrence, Lincoln, Linn, Morgan, Monroe, Ozark, Ste. Genevieve and Taney counties received grant funding. The grants are funded through Missouri's Agriculture Development Fund under an agreement with the USDA.

For a Building Our American Communities grant application or more information about this and other grant opportunities available through the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit the Department online at mda.mo.gov.