Opportunity Overview
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2026 Agriculture and Youth Program Grant. The program supports youth-centered agriculture education, workforce development, leadership, vocational skills, safety training, capital projects and equipment.
Funding and Timing
The Commonwealth has announced $500,000 for two grant types. Direct, non-matching reimbursement grants provide up to $7,500 for eligible projects. Matching reimbursement grants provide up to $25,000 for eligible capital projects or equipment purchases and may cover no more than 50% of the project cost.
Applications are due October 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM. The controlling Commonwealth program page does not state a time zone, so Atlas does not infer one.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants are agriculture and youth organizations, including organizations composed mainly of youth or organizations with programs benefiting youth and organized to promote agriculture, community leadership, vocational training and peer fellowship. The Commonwealth expressly states that the definition includes a school district.
Eligible Uses
Eligible activities include education and workforce development programs, field trips and seminars, career exploration, agricultural safety training, capital projects and equipment purchases. Examples include laboratory equipment, agricultural equipment, greenhouse structures, watering systems and related capital assets. Staffing, wages, stipends, subawards and costs outside the approved work plan and budget are not eligible.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. This is a legitimate Pennsylvania school and vocational-education funding opportunity because school districts are expressly eligible and education, workforce development, safety training, laboratories and equipment are authorized uses.
N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 15/100 conditional. N9+ should not be positioned as a general school-health purchase under this program. A narrow applicant-led equipment pathway could exist only where a school or youth organization can document a legitimate agriculture, veterinary, animal-health or related vocational-instruction use that fits the approved project and budget. No allowability claim is made without applicant-specific confirmation. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100.
Next Action
Confirm applicant eligibility, select the direct or matching grant track, document the agriculture and youth education or workforce-development purpose, build the work plan and reimbursement budget, and confirm the live application system deadline clock. New Atlas outreach is blocked until an authoritative source establishes the deadline time zone.
Official source: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Agriculture and Youth Program Grant.