USDA NIFA WIC Workforce Grant: Enhancing Diversity & Participation

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) National Workforce Strategy (WIC Workforce National Strategy), is part of a joint agency initiative between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that is expected to cultivate comprehensive and sustained solutions for WIC workforce development. The joint agency initiative aims to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce, with the ultimate goals of increasing: 1) WIC participation through reaching those populations that are eligible, but not enrolled; and 2) WIC participants use of benefits and services, including nutrition education and breastfeeding support.

NIFA requires that applications for WIC Workforce Implementation Projects respond to and implement components of the National WIC Workforce Strategy. They should assess and address regional and national priorities, target critical workforce needs, and increase the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce. 

Eligible institutions include:
1. State Agricultural Experiment Station;
2. colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities (see NIFA’s Hispanic Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities page);
3. university research foundations;
4. other research institutions and organizations;
5. non-profit organizations
6. Federal agencies;
7. Governmental agencies
8. Tribal organizations
9. national laboratories;
10. private organizations or corporations;
11. individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; or
12. any group consisting of two or more entities identified in 1) through 11).

Eligible institutions do not include foreign or international organizations.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) National Workforce Strategy (WIC Workforce National Strategy),  is part of a joint agency initiative between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that is expected to cultivate comprehensive and sustained solutions for WIC workforce development. The joint agency initiative aims to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce, with the ultimate goals of increasing: 1) WIC participation through reaching those populations that are eligible, but not enrolled; and 2) WIC participants use of benefits and services, including nutrition education and breastfeeding support.

In support of the WIC Workforce National Strategy, this RFA seeks projects that will increase the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce and address barriers to recruitment and retention of WIC staff. Implementation projects must respond to and implement components of the WIC Workforce National Strategy, assess and address regional and national priorities, and target critical workforce needs.