The Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation is offering the Educational Assistance Competitive Grant for school year 2016-17.

The Educational Assistance Grant is an award of up to $3,000 toward the cost of tuition, on campus housing, lab fees and books that can be billed through the college or university. The top three application scores will receive an additional bonus amount, up to $2,000. Individuals who have a current Farm Service Number on record with the Farm Service Agency and reside in the 22 counties the Foundation serves, or tobacco quota owners, quota owners/growers, or grower/tenants of Farm Service Agency (FSA) record in any single crop year from 1997 through 2004 and their immediate family dependents whose permanent address is within the state of Ohio, are eligible. Students must have a minimum 2.0 college GPA verifiable by the school.

Applications and guidelines for the Educational Assistance Competitive Grant are available at the SOACDF office, Farm Service Agencies, local Extension offices, or online at www.soacdf.net. The application period is July 1, 2016 to Aug. 31, 2016. Applications will not be accepted after this period.

If you have questions, please call the foundation office at 937-393-2700.

The Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation serves 22 counties in southern Ohio by providing educational assistance, agricultural and economic development projects.

Submitted by Samantha Black, SOACDF.