**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PROJECT TITLE:REBUILDING AN AGRICULTURAL RURAL ECONOMY (RARE)RURAL COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE WORKFORCE AND TRAINING PROGRAMSTRENGTHENING A RURAL ECONOMY BY SUPPORTING THE FOOD, LAND, WATER AND CULTURES OF THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICOPRIMARY AFRI FARM BILL PRIORITY AREA FOCUS OF THE PROJECT:AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS AND RURAL COMMUNITIESUSDA STRATEGIC GOALS:THIS AFRI ORIENTED PROGRAM PRIMARILY ALIGNS WITH THE FOLLOWING USDA STRATEGIC GOALS:• STRATEGIC GOAL 4: FACILITATING RURAL PROSPERITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT;• STRATEGIC GOAL 7: PROVIDING ALL AMERICANS ACCESS TO A SAFE, NUTRITIOUS, AND SECURE FOOD SUPPLYAS WELL AS, THE SECONDARY GOAL OF:• STRATEGIC GOAL 2: MAXIMIZING THE ABILITY OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO PROSPER BY FEEDING AND CLOTHING THE WORLD; AND• STRATEGIC GOAL 3: PROMOTING AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND EXPORTS;PROJECT DURATION: 3 YEARS; TIMELINE:· YR 1O MONTHS 1-6 (JULY 1, 2021-JANUARY 1, 2022) PROJECT PLANNING AND CURRICULUM DESIGN,FINAL STRATEGIC PLANNING, COHORT RECRUITMENT AND PROGRAM ENROLLMENTO MONTHS 7-12 (JANUARY 1, 2022 - JUNE 30, 2022) COMMENCEMENT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAM YR 1 - COHORT #1 (15 STUDENTS)§ FIRST 2 SEMESTERS OF RARE COURSEWORK (12 CREDIT HOURS)· YR 2O MONTHS 1-6 (JULY 1, 2022-JANUARY 1, 2023) LAST (3RD) SEMESTER OF COHORT #1, BEING RECRUITMENT OF COHORT #2.O MONTHS 7-12 (JANUARY 1, 2023-JUNE 30, 2023) COMMENCEMENT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAM YR 2 - COHORT #2 (15 STUDENTS)§ FIRST 2 SEMESTERS OF RARE COURSEWORK (12 CREDIT HOURS)· YR 3O MONTHS 1-6 (JULY 1, 2023-JANUARY 1, 2024) LAST (3RD) SEMESTER OF COHORT #2O MONTHS 7-12 (JANUARY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2024) PROJECT DATA/PERFORAMNCE ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION, REPORTING, DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY, REPLICATION MANUAL, IMPLEMENT INSTITUTIONALIZED SUSTAINABILITY MEASURESSUBMITTING ORGANIZATION:UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO-TAOS BRANCH CAMPUS1157 COUNTY ROAD 110RANCHOS DE TAOS, NM 87571OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT:PRIMARY:· NOT FORGOTTEN OUTREACH - VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION· TAOS HIVE INNOVATION CENTER· TAOS COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (TCEDC)SECONDARY: · TAOS LAND TRUST· ALIANZA-AGRICULTURA· TAOS VALLEY ACEQUIA ASSOCIATION· TAOS ENTREPRENEURIAL NETWORK· TAOS COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONLOCATION(S) (COLLEGES, BUSINESSES, ETC.) AT WHICH THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES WILL OCCUR: UNM-TAOS KLAUER CAMPUS, 1157 COUNTY ROAD 110, RANCHOS DE TAOS, NM 87557TAOS HIVE INNOVATION CENTER, 1146 GUSDORF ROAD, TAOS, NM 87571NOT FORGOTTEN OUTREACH VETERANS CENTER, 610 PASEO DEL PUEBLO NORTE, TAOS, NM 8757TAOS COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (TCEDC) FOOD CENTER: 1021 SALAZAR ROAD, TAOS, NM 87571NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS PER YEAR: ACADEMIC PROGRAM: 15 PARTICIPANTS/YR (2 COHORTS/2 YEARS)COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING: 100+ABSTRACT:FRAMED BY A DEARTH OF REGIONAL LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURE IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, AND SUPPORTED BY THE TAOS VALLEY'S FOUNDATION IN THE CENTURIES-OLD PRACTICE OF FARMING USING ACEQUIAS (MAN-MADE COMMUNAL WATER COURSES DIVERTED FROM NATURAL TRIBUTARIES), THE UNM TAOS BRANCH CAMPUS AND TAOS HIVE INNOVATION CENTER WILL PARTNER WITH NOT FORGOTTEN OUTREACH, INC., AND THE TAOS COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO CREATE THE RARE (REBUILDING AN AGRICULTURAL RURAL ECONOMY) WORKFORCE TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM WHICH SUPPORTS THE LOCAL FOOD AND SMALL-SCALE FARMING ECONOMY IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO. THE RARE PROGRAM WILL TRAIN 2 SEPARATE COHORTS OF 15 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS (30 TOTAL PROSPECTIVE FARMERS, RANCHERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS, RECRUITED FROM UNDERSERVED AND VETERAN POPULATIONS) THROUGH AN IMMERSIVE CURRICULUM OF FARMING PRACTICES, SAFE AND HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCTION, AND SMALL BUSINESS/ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS REQUIRED TO CREATE AND ENHANCE LOCAL INDUSTRY, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF SMALL-SCALE SUSTAINABLE FARMERS, RANCHERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.THE PART-TIME CURRICULUM IS 18 TOTAL CREDIT-HOURS OFFERED OVER 12 MONTHS (SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL SEMESTERS) THAT PROVIDES INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED STACKABLE CERTIFICATIONS, A FOCUS IN TRADITIONAL, SUSTAINABLE AND DROUGHT-CONDITION FARMING METHODS, AS WELL AS ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING FROM SMALL BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS AND INNOVATION EXPERTS AT THE TAOS HIVE INNOVATION CENTER, AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL FOOD PRODUCERS AT THE TAOS COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION'S (TCEDC) COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNSHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP AT LOCAL FARM SITES OR FOOD BASED BUSINESSES. PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE A TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION ALLOWING FOR ENTRY INTO A MODERN RURAL AGRARIAN ECONOMY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT OR ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

University Of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM

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