Evaluating USDA AMS Grant 

Programs Successes and Challenges

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has partnered with Florida A&M University and University of Maryland Eastern 

Shore on a project to work with socially disadvantaged individuals and communities, centering their voices and learning from their 

experiences. This project will:

1. evaluate barriers to AMS grant opportunities1 for socially disadvantaged communities

2. invest in building trust and confidence between these communities and the USDA

3. take action to rectify inequalities in program access through targeted outreach, training, and technical assistance.

The project team will conduct nationwide listening sessions and evaluate the AMS grant application and review process from the view 

of these groups in cooperation with a vast network of universities, community organizations, and food system practitioners. Project 

participants will share their experiences and discuss their needs along with any barriers they have faced. The knowledge gained from 

these discussions will be used to develop training materials, technical assistance programs, and other resources.

we want to hear from you! join a listening session.

Topics to be discussed during the listening sessions include, but are not limited to: 

z Perceptions of the relationships between the USDA and socially disadvantaged communities and what can be done to strengthen

them. This includes getting a better understanding of the historical experiences that individuals have had with USDA AMS grants.

z Barriers to entry, challenges, opportunities, or other concerns relating to socially disadvantaged individuals, including successfully

applying for Federal grants and how USDA can mitigate identified challenges. What additional tools could help grant applicants to

submit successful applications for competitive funding.

z Input from participants, who have applied previously, on their experiences working with USDA, grants management specialists, and

getting access to information/resources.

z Grant recipients’ experiences working with AMS including positive interactions, challenges faced while executing the grant

agreement and identifying future opportunities to provide culturally appropriate technical assistance.

Contact Information

If you need any additional information or have any questions, please reach out to any of the following project leads.

1  AMS Grants that are the primary focus of this project include Famers Market and Local 

Food Promotion Program, Regional Food System Partnership Grant and the Specialty Crop 

Block Grant Program, though all experiences with AMS Grants are valuable and the project 

team welcomes discussion of experiences with all AMS programs. 

“

This critical partnership will enable AMS to better support historically 

underserved farmers, ranchers, fishers and agricultural businesses by assessing 

their challenges and creating a support network. As a part of USDA’s commitment 

to equity in all that we do, this agreement will build strong relationships and broaden our 

ability to serve diverse communities, ensuring inclusive access to vital programs. 

— Jenny Moffit, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Focus on Socially Disadvantaged Communities

Florida A&M University 

(Southern States)

Dr. Jennifer Taylor

Jennifer.Taylor@famu.edu

University of Maryland Eastern 

Shore (Northern States)

Dr. Virginie Zoumenou 

vmzoumenou@umes.edu

USDA AMS 

Yvette Garcia

Yvette.Garcia@usda.gov

Samantha Schaffstall

Samantha.Schafftstall@usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

November 2021