USDA awards research/education grants to Alcorn

LORMAN — Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) reports that Alcorn State University (ASU) has been awarded more than $1.9 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants to promote agriculture science and research professions.

ASU will receive two grants through USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture programs that support historically black colleges and universities.

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 come 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.