Washington has had very few applications for either the VMLRP or the VSGP in the last decade. If you are having trouble recruiting or retaining veterinarians in your food animal practice or you need specialized equipment or support to expand services in a shortage area, consider these two grant opportunities.
The VMLRP will pay up to $25,000 each year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians who agree to serve in a NIFA-designated veterinarian shortage situation for a period of three years. To learn more about the VMLRP visit: The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov). If you believe you are in a shortage area situation, contact the State Veterinarian to establish a nomination. A panel of animal health experts will evaluate the nomination to determine if the area can be designated as a shortage area. Each year approximately 190 shortage situations are approved with about 150 veterinarians applying for 60-70 available awards.
The purpose of the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) is to relieve veterinarian shortage situations and support veterinary services. There are two types of grants for VSGP: Education, Extension, and Training (EET) to support veterinary students, and Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE). The EET grants aim to develop, implement, and sustain veterinary services through education, training, recruitment, placement, and retention of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and students of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology. The RPE grants aim to establish or expand veterinary practices in rural areas and allow veterinarians to buy specialized equipment to expand services. To learn more about VSGP visit: Veterinary Services Grant Program | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov)
Source: WA Department of Agriculture
Posted September 10, 2021