Applications open for grants to support food animal veterinary medicine

Rural practices, veterinary colleges, and other organizations can apply for funding through the federal Veterinary Services Grant Program, which helps mitigate shortages of food animal veterinary service in the United States.

On Feb. 23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced the opening of the 2022 application cycle. The goals of the VSGP are to support food animal veterinary medicine through Education, Extension, and Training funds for veterinary colleges and other organizations and through Rural Practice Enhancement funds for veterinary practices that provide services in any of 228 veterinary shortage situations. 

The request for applications is now available. The deadline is 5 p.m. Eastern on April 5. Grants.gov will be down for maintenance on April 2 and 3. 

NIFA provides a webpage with information for applicants. Informational webinars on the application process are available via the page. The VSGP staff will host live FAQ sessions from 3-4 p.m. Eastern on March 10 and March 24.

In 2021, NIFA awarded $2.8 million in VSGP funding for seven grants for education, extension, and training and 10 grants for rural practice enhancement. 

The AVMA’s governmental advocacy team is the leading advocate for the VSGP and the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, both of which expand veterinary capacity in USDA-designated veterinary shortage areas.

The AVMA provides a webpage about the VSGP and VMLRP. Veterinarians, veterinary students, and friends of veterinary medicine may join the AVMA Congressional Advocacy Network  and sign up for the AVMA Advocate newsletter.