AVMA News

Federal grant program accepting applications

Rural veterinary shortage areas also announced for fiscal year 2023

A federal grant program designed to help address rural veterinary shortages is accepting applications for 2023. Applications are due by 5 p.m. EDT on March 29 for the Veterinary Services Grant Program.

The program, overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, provides grants to support food animal veterinary services and relieve veterinarian shortage situations across the United States. It has two components:

  • Rural Practice Enhancement Grants support veterinarians who practice in USDA-designated veterinarian shortage areas. These grants can be used for equipment, reasonable overhead expenses of veterinary practices, and mobile veterinary facilities that will also address extension or educational needs.
  • Education, Extension, and Training Grants support training and education for veterinary students, interns, and residents. They also provide funding for veterinary continuing education and extension; accredited veterinary education programs, including faculty recruitment and retention; veterinary residency and fellowship programs; and veterinary internship and externship programs carried out in coordination with AVMA Council on Education–accredited veterinary colleges. Small businesses, nonprofits, VMAs and other AVMA-allied organizations, and other entities are eligible to apply.
Veterinary technician vaccinating a pig while veterinarian records data
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians was one of eight recipients of an Education, Extension, and Training Grant from the Veterinary Services Grant Program in 2022. The grant funded the AASV’s participant-led early-career swine veterinarian development program.

Congress appropriated $4 million to fund the Veterinary Services Grant Program for federal fiscal year 2023. The award amounts can range from $75,000 to $250,000.

In 2022, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded 12 grants for rural practice enhancement and eight grants for education, extension, and training.

NIFA will host two live FAQ events during which potential applicants will have the opportunity to pose questions regarding VSGP applications directly to the VSGP team. The live FAQ events will be from 3-4 p.m. EST on Feb. 22, and from 2-3 p.m. EDT on March 15. Registration is required for the live FAQ events.

Additionally, NIFA published the FY 2023 veterinary shortage areas. The 237 areas are now available for applicants to both the VSGP and the federal Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program to review on the Veterinary Services Shortage Situations Map.

The AVMA has consistently advocated for funding of the VSGP and the VMLRP, both of which expand veterinary capacity in USDA-designated veterinarian shortage areas.

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