The American Sheep Industry Association offers two yearly grant programs to its 44 state member associations—the Wool Outreach Grant and the Mentor Grant. Reports for funds awarded in 2022-2023 are due in from the state associations by Sept. 8.
Wool Outreach Grants are designed to fund a number of activities at the state level and represent a redistribution of federal funds awarded to ASI through the Wool Trust. These funds can be used for activities such as:
- Procuring a wool speaker or specialist at your state meeting.
- Funding for the Make It With Wool program.
- Conducting a festival or workshop.
- Support for a wool value-added program such as making wool blankets or other specialty products.
- Wool education, including handling, classing and shearing schools.
- Printed wool education materials.
- Wool equipment, such as a baler.
Mentor Grants are awarded to states to provide for new producer education. High priorities for this funding include mentoring and beginning shepherd support, youth education, hands-on participation with sheep production skills, and cost sharing with state associations on new and expanded sheep production education.
Submission of these reports will close out the programs for this fiscal year. The programs will accept applications for fiscal year 2023-2024 funding in the fall. For more information, contact Chris Jones at [email protected].
