Renewable Resources Extension Act (10.515)
Renewable Resources Extension Act (Assistance Listing 10.515) is run by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $19.2 million in 379 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $50,785 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $47,897. Half of the 379 awards fell between $13,500 and $75,096, and they ranged from $1,866 to $153,786.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$19.2 million
- Grant awards379
- Typical award$47,897
- Awarded in FY 2025$3.8 million
- Size rank1,331 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceFormula grants, project grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $4.1 million in fiscal 2021 to $3.8 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1331st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 48% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 54 states and territories.
What the program funds
The goal of this program is to support Extension activities designed to assist forest and range landowners and managers in making resource management decisions based on research findings and to support extension projects that focus on forest and rangeland renewable resources of national or regional relevance. Forest and rangeland resources include vegetation, water, fisheries and wildlife, soil, and recreation.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
RREA: In accordance with the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978, applications may only be submitted by the 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions. RREA-NFF: Applicants for the RREA-NFF must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Applications may only be submitted by 1862 (7 CFR 3430.2, 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq; and 7 U.S.C. 7601(1)) and 1890 land-grant institutions (7 U.S.C. 7601(2) and 7 CFR3430.2). Project Directors must have an Extension appointment. An Extension appointment is a formal appointment by an Extension Director/Administrator in the institution’s extension service. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award.
What the money can and cannot pay for
RREA: Carrying out an extension program designed to assist forest and range landowners and managers in making resource management decisions based on research findings. RREA-NFF: The RREA-NFF addresses the sustainable use of natural resources, by providing funding to the Cooperative Extension System to conduct educational programs for private forestland owners that contribute to well-managed forests and the nation’s and world’s fiber supply in support of rural economic systems. RREA: Approved NIFA RREA Projects RREA federal funding must be used on the strategic issues from the RREA Strategic Plan identified in the institution’s approved Five (5) Year Project. Indirect Costs and Tuition Remission In accordance with section 1473 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. §3319), indirect costs and tuition remission are unallowable as RREA formula grant expenditures. Carryover of Funds RREA funds are expected to be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation, but they may be carried over for one (1) additional year and must be expended by September 30th of that year. However, if the carryover is in excess of 50% of the allocation, a waiver request for excess carryover is required. RREA- NFF: RREA is an Extension-only program, therefore research cannot be conducted with NFF funds. Indirect costs are not allowed. Funds may not be spent on tuition remission, food, or gifts.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Award range and average, in the agency's words
See the annual RREA RFA for the annual Distribution Schedule. See the annual RREA - NFF RFA for funding averages.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: In FY2025, the RREA program supported 73 Cooperative Extension projects and two additional projects with regional relevance. Funded efforts addressed forest health and invasive species management, natural resources education, ecosystem monitoring and resilience, private woodland sustainability, sugarbush and maple syrup production, wildlife and forest economic benefits, and improve rangeland management, among others. Regionally focused projects advanced rangeland benefits and strengthened prescribed fire capacity in Texas.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Renewable Resources Extension Act (10.515) awarded $19.2 million across 379 grant awards, an average of $50,785 per award.
Who usually wins
Almost all of the money went to colleges and universities.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 378 | $19.2 million | 100% |
| Other | 1 | $76,464 | 0.4% |
By state
17 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 9 | $902,123 |
| Georgia | 11 | $679,484 |
| Texas | 11 | $678,031 |
| Arizona | 8 | $632,510 |
| California | 6 | $622,850 |
| Alabama | 15 | $573,225 |
| Florida | 11 | $566,193 |
| North Carolina | 10 | $519,103 |
| Washington | 6 | $512,014 |
| Virginia | 10 | $480,412 |
| Alaska | 5 | $479,878 |
| Ohio | 11 | $472,408 |
| Mississippi | 10 | $464,255 |
| Missouri | 10 | $441,210 |
| Oregon | 5 | $438,812 |
| Tennessee | 10 | $434,116 |
| New York | 5 | $430,361 |
| Louisiana | 10 | $418,515 |
| South Carolina | 10 | $413,329 |
| Arkansas | 10 | $409,986 |
| Kentucky | 10 | $404,566 |
| Oklahoma | 10 | $394,557 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | $392,138 |
| Minnesota | 6 | $369,526 |
| Wisconsin | 5 | $363,943 |
| West Virginia | 10 | $349,152 |
| New Mexico | 5 | $338,301 |
| Montana | 5 | $302,895 |
| Maryland | 10 | $299,582 |
| Maine | 5 | $295,815 |
| Colorado | 5 | $288,732 |
| Utah | 6 | $282,797 |
| Illinois | 5 | $274,569 |
| Delaware | 9 | $272,432 |
| Indiana | 5 | $267,489 |
| Idaho | 5 | $260,406 |
| Nevada | 5 | $246,243 |
| Wyoming | 5 | $239,163 |
| North Dakota | 5 | $232,083 |
| New Jersey | 5 | $232,083 |
| Vermont | 5 | $232,083 |
| Hawaii | 5 | $232,081 |
| Iowa | 5 | $232,080 |
| Kansas | 5 | $232,080 |
| Massachusetts | 5 | $232,080 |
| Nebraska | 5 | $232,080 |
| South Dakota | 5 | $232,080 |
| Rhode Island | 5 | $231,572 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $231,267 |
| New Hampshire | 5 | $228,298 |
| Guam | 5 | $67,370 |
| District of Columbia | 5 | $65,263 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 5 | $62,093 |
| Puerto Rico | 5 | $61,955 |