**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE LAKE ERIE GRAPE BELT IS THE LARGEST CONCORD GRAPE GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD. THE AREA IS FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FROM AN AGING WORKFORCE AND THE NEED TO TRANSITION THE GRAPE INDUSTRY FROM A DEPENDENCE ON CONCORD GRAPES TO A GREATER DIVERSITY OF GRAPE VARIETIES TO INCREASE MARKETS FOR GROWERS. TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF THE GRAPE INDUSTRY THIS PROJECT WILL UTILIZE A COLLEGE-INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE A UNIQUE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN THE BASICS OF VITICULTURE AND VINEYARD MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS THE DOWNSTREAM PROCESSING OF GRAPE PRODUCTS FOR SALE IN A COMMERCIAL SETTING. THE PROGRAM WILL BE A FOUR-YEAR PROJECT INVOLVING AN EIGHT-WEEK SUMMER INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERIENCE FOR 32 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (EIGHT PER YEAR) INTERESTED IN THE SCIENCE OF VITICULTURE AND THE BUSINESS ASPECTS OF JUICE AND WINE PRODUCTION. THE PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON TRAINING AN ETHNICALLY AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE GROUP OF STUDENTS WHILE STRENGTHENING INDUSTRIAL AND ACADEMIC TIES TO DEVELOP THE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL WORKFORCE. STUDENTS WILL BE TRAINED THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF EIGHT NEW GRAPE VARIETIES THAT HAVE AGRICULTURAL IMPORTANCE TO THE LAKE ERIE CLIMATE. INSTRUCTION WILL ENHANCE THE TECHNICAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS NEEDED FOR EITHER FUTURE EMPLOYMENT IN THE WINE AND GRAPE INDUSTRY OR IN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS WHILE STRENGTHENING LONG-TERM INDUSTRIAL AND ACADEMIC TIES.