Opportunity Overview
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Agriculture and Youth Organization Grant Program. The program supports youth-centered agriculture education, workforce development, agricultural safety, capital projects, and equipment purchases. Pennsylvania schools and school districts may apply for eligible projects conducted by or for the benefit of an agriculture and youth organization operated under the school or district.
Funding
At least $500,000 is available statewide. The program offers two grant types:
- Direct, non-matching reimbursement grants up to $7,500 for eligible projects.
- Matching reimbursement grants up to $25,000 for capital projects, with the grant covering no more than 50% of eligible project costs.
Program awards are reimbursement grants. Grant funds may not reimburse recipient staff wages or salaries, stipends, subawards, in-kind contributions, or costs paid or reimbursed through another federal or state grant program.
Eligibility and School/Education Fit
Eligible applicants are agriculture and youth organizations composed mainly of youth, or organizations with programs benefiting youth and organized to promote agriculture, community leadership, vocational training, and peer fellowship. For this program, youth are individuals age 24 or younger. The official guidance expressly includes school districts. Schools and districts may apply for eligible projects conducted by or for the benefit of an agriculture and youth organization operated under the applicant school or district.
Eligible projects include educational and workforce-development programs, seminars and field trips, agricultural safety training, capital projects, and equipment purchases. The Department specifically identifies career exploration, laboratory or agricultural equipment, greenhouse structures and components, watering systems, facility improvements, and related eligible costs.
Application Window and Deadline
Applications must be submitted through Pennsylvania’s Single Application for Assistance system between August 31, 2026 at 8:00 AM and October 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM.
Important deadline control: the controlling Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture page and Pennsylvania Bulletin notice state the 5:00 PM closing time but do not state a time zone. Atlas does not infer one. New applicant outreach is therefore blocked until an authoritative source establishes the deadline time zone, while the verified open opportunity remains published for applicant awareness.
Application Requirements
Applications must identify the applicant, explain its agriculture-and-youth role, select the direct or matching grant type, and provide project or equipment details. The official Bulletin requires a project budget, maximum amount requested, implementation/construction/equipment-purchase schedule as applicable, identification of participating and benefiting entities, a completion date no later than June 30, 2028, and an applicant attestation.
Strategic Fit
Atlas Opportunity Score: 86/100. This is a strong Pennsylvania school and youth education opportunity because school districts are expressly eligible and the program supports career exploration, workforce development, education, laboratory and other equipment, and capital improvements.
School/Education Funding Fit: 92/100. The program directly supports education and workforce-development activities and expressly permits school and school-district applicants for qualifying agriculture-and-youth projects.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The current program is agriculture-and-youth focused and does not establish an allowable or defensible pathway for the N9+ remote physical examination platform.
QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. The program does not fund clinical-services delivery as a stated purpose.
Official Sources
Program page: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture — Agriculture and Youth Program Grant
Controlling program notice: Pennsylvania Bulletin, Doc. No. 26-1248