Panetta Announces $289,532 Federal Grant for California State University Monterey Bay

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), announced California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) received a federal grant totaling $289,532 to teach the next generation of food and agricultural science professionals. The grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program.

The HEC grant awarded to CSUMB will be used to establish a partnership with Hartnell College to develop two new agriculture degree programs – Food Safety, and Plant and Soil Science. These degrees will equip students with the skills necessary to address the needs of the agriculture industry, while also providing a pipeline to support students seeking a college degree. Additionally, this grant will expand outreach to local high schools to increase enrollment in agricultural programs, particularly focusing on first-generation college students and traditionally underrepresented populations.

"The vibrant agriculture industry of the Central Coast is reliant upon the work of qualified agricultural scientists," said Congressman Panetta. "This USDA-funded grant will provide CSUMB with the resources necessary to establish an effective partnership with Hartnell College that not only benefits this region's agriculture industry, but to also provides opportunities to students in our local community. I strongly support NIFA, called to increase NIFA funding in the FY 2018 appropriations cycle, and will continue to work to strengthen its funding in the upcoming Farm Bill."

"NIFA invests in the development of future agricultural professionals," said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. "NIFA helps advance education of our nation's agricultural workforce at our public and private colleges and universities."

About the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program

The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program supports colleges and universities in their efforts to educate the next generation of the food and agricultural scientific and professional workforce. The program seeks to improve formal, baccalaureate or master's degree level food, agricultural, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) education and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine (DVM). HEC projects may improve the economic health and viability of communities through the development of degree programs that emphasize new and emerging employment opportunities. Projects may also address the national challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering the FANH sciences.