Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP)

The purpose of the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) is to relieve veterinarian shortage situations and support veterinary services. Grants will be made available on a competitive basis to qualified entities to develop, implement, and sustain veterinary services through education, training, recruitment, placement, and retention of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and students of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology. Grants will also be made to establish or expand veterinary practices in rural areas.

.Applications may only be submitted by the entities listed below if they carry out programs or activities that will: 1) substantially relieve veterinarian shortage situations; or 2) support or facilitate private veterinary practices engaged in public health activities. For Education, Extension, and Training Program Area: • a State, national, allied, or regional veterinary organization or specialty board recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association; • a college or school of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association; • a university research foundation or veterinary medical foundation; • a department of veterinary science or department of comparative medicine accredited by the Department of Education; • a State agricultural experiment station; or Research Farm (1890 institutions) • a State, local, or tribal government agency. For Rural Practice Enhancement Program Area: A for-profit or nonprofit entity located in the United States that, or individual who, operates a veterinary clinic providing veterinary services, (i) in a rural area, as defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)), and (ii) is either a current VMLRP awardee from any year (i.e., those with a current service obligation at the time of this application) and applies with reference to the single shortage area to which they are obligated to serve; or is not a current VMLRP awardee and applies with reference to a single veterinarian shortage situation (VMLRP shortage map webpage) designated as ‘Open’ under the VMLRP in 2019. Shortage area designation MUST be included in the proposal title and narrative and in the appropriate field on the form. For all program areas, award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or will preclude NIFA from making an award.

NIFA Help Desk Phone: 202-401-5048 Business hours are M-F, 7:00 am -5:00 pm ET, excluding Federal holidays