Sponsors (4)
The bill invests federal funds to expand and professionalize agricultural training at community colleges—helping students and local employers build a stronger workforce—while concentrating benefits among better‑resourced programs and adding a modest recurring federal cost that may leave facility needs and the most under‑resourced colleges less served.
Students at 2-year public colleges will gain funded access to workforce training, apprenticeships, and industry-aligned agricultural education, improving job-ready skills and employment prospects.
Eligible community colleges and programs receive dedicated federal support of $20 million per year (FY2026–FY2031) to strengthen agricultural education and research capacity.
Regional centers of excellence will scale best practices and coordinate training nationally, strengthening the agricultural workforce pipeline and creating clearer pathways from education to employment.
Taxpayers will fund $20 million per year for six years, increasing federal spending and potentially crowding out other budget priorities.
Smaller or non-coordinating colleges and their students may be disadvantaged because the Secretary is directed to prioritize applicants with industry partnerships, concentrating benefits among better‑resourced programs.
The requirement for matching funds and emphasis on non-construction program/equipment support may limit participation by very low‑resourced colleges and rural communities that cannot meet matches.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive grant program for public two‑year colleges to build agriculture-related workforce, education, research, and training capacity, authorizing $20M annually for FY2026–FY2031.
Introduced September 18, 2025 by Trent Kelly · Last progress September 18, 2025
Creates a competitive grant program that directs federal funds to public two‑year colleges and consortia to build capacity in agriculture and related fields. Grants may fund workforce training, education, research, outreach, equipment and non‑building infrastructure, faculty development, apprenticeships and work‑based learning, and local industry coordination, with an option to designate regional or national centers of excellence and an authorization of $20 million per year for FY2026–FY2031.