Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2023

To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to authorize capacity building grants for community college agriculture and natural resources programs. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2023 2. Capacity building grants for community college agriculture and natural resources programs Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3310 et seq. 1473I. Capacity building grants for community college agriculture and natural resources programs (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a junior or community college supporting agriculture advancement; and (B) a consortium or alliance of 2-year public colleges supporting agriculture advancement. (2) Junior or community college The term junior or community college 20 U.S.C. 1058 (b) Competitive grants The Secretary shall make competitive grants to eligible entities to assist the eligible entities in maintaining and expanding the capacity of the eligible entities to conduct workforce training, education, research, and outreach activities relating to— (1) agriculture; and (2) other similar disciplines. (c) Priority In making grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity coordinating with a local agriculture industry operator to provide experiential training and other opportunities for students. (d) Use of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (b) may use the funds made available through the grant to expand and maintain the capacity of the eligible entity— (1) to successfully compete for funds from Federal grants and other sources to carry out educational, research, and outreach activities that address priority concerns of national, regional, State, and local interest; (2) to offer educational programming on agricultural industry jobs, including farm business management-related subjects, such as accounting, paralegal studies, and finance; (3) to disseminate information relating to the priority concerns described in paragraph (1) to interested members of the agriculture and other relevant communities and to the public; (4) to encourage members of those communities to participate in priority education, research, and outreach activities through providing matching funding from sources other than funds received through the grant; and (5) through— (A) the purchase or other acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure (not including the alteration, repair, renovation, or construction of buildings); (B) the professional growth and development of faculty; and (C) the development of apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities. (e) Centers of agriculture advancement (1) In general An eligible entity may submit to the Secretary an application for designation and funding as a center of excellence for agriculture advancement. (2) Use of funds A center of excellence for agriculture advancement designated under paragraph (1) shall use funding received as a result of that designation— (A) to demonstrate best practices relating to agriculture; and (B) to provide leadership in capacity building at a regional or national level. (f) Evaluation and report Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall— (1) conduct an evaluation of activities carried out under this section; and (2) submit a report describing the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1) to— (A) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives; (B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029. .

Summary: Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2023 This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make competitive grants to assist eligible entities in maintaining and expanding their capacity to conduct workforce training, education, research, and outreach activities related to agriculture and similar disciplines. An eligible entity includes a junior or community college, or a consortium or alliance of two-year public colleges, supporting agriculture advancement. In awarding grants, USDA must give priority to entities coordinating with a local agriculture industry operator to provide experiential training and other opportunities for students. Grant funds may be used to expand and maintain the capacity of the eligible entity, including through the purchase or other acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure, the professional growth and development of faculty, and the development of apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities. An eligible entity may submit to USDA an application for designation and funding as a Center of Excellence for Agriculture Advancement. Funding received as a result of such a designation must be used to demonstrate agriculture best practices and to provide leadership in capacity building at a regional or national level.