ALCORN STATE RECEIVES $1.9 MILLION USDA GRANT
TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC & RESEARCH CAPABILITIES

Alcorn Receives Funds as an 1890 Historically Black School

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today reported that Alcorn State University (ASU) at Lorman, Miss., has been awarded more than $1.9 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants to promote agriculture science and research professions.

ASU, designated a land-grant university in the Second Morrill Act of 1890, will receive two grants through USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture programs that support historically black colleges and universities.

“Alcorn State University will be able to use these grants to improve its agriculture research capabilities.  As an institution of higher learning, Alcorn State has strived to offer students the tools they need to excel in agriculture-related careers,” said Cochran, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Agriculture Committee.

ASU is receiving $929,901 through the 1890 Institution Research, Extension and Teaching Capacity Building Grant program to advance its research, extension and teaching in food and agriculture sciences.  A separate $977,673 grant through the 1890 Facilities Grant program is intended to improve food sciences facilities and equipment.

The grants to ASU derive from the FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act that was signed into law late last year.  In all, the USDA awarded $32.5 million in the 1890 CBG Program and $18.9 million in 1890 Facilities Grants to 18 historically black land-grant colleges and universities in 17 states.

For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov