How the Agricultural Industry in Norfolk is Benefiting from A USDA Cooperative Agreement and Grant Funding

Northeast Community College’s leadership in agricultural innovation is evident in the growth of the Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement (C2A3), a national nonprofit network dedicated to preparing students for the next agricultural revolution. Supported by grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, C2A3 has evolved into a 501(c)(3) alliance of 29 community colleges across 22 states, building local capacity in agriculture, natural resources and conservation.

“When I began working at Northeast Community College, the college was interested in developing a strategic plan to support growth in agriculture and new facility development. We reviewed the landscape and explored funding options, but there wasn’t a lot of USDA funding available to support true programmatic growth at the community college level,” said Dr. Tracy Kruse, Vice President of Development and External Affairs at Northeast and Executive Director of C2A3. “We wanted to build a precision agriculture program and position ourselves on the cutting edge of the technology transforming the ag industry. With 350 to 400 students already in agriculture programs and a 500 acre farm in place, we knew there was strong demand. The challenge was finding the dollars to support that growth.”

According to Dr. Kruse, at that time most USDA funding either flowed directly to land-grant institutions or was offered through programs where community colleges were technically eligible but required to compete head-to-head with universities. That made it difficult for two-year colleges like Northeast Community College to access the resources needed to expand and innovate.

Momentum for C2A3 began in 2015 with a USDA Rural Development grant and support from the Soil Health Partnership. In 2016, the alliance formalized its first memorandums of understanding with USDA-NRCS and hosted its first conference. During that time, C2A3 achieved nonprofit status and secured a SARE grant, strengthening its foundation. 

In 2020, the first USDA-NRCS cooperative agreement focused on applied research. A second cooperative agreement in 2023 expanded training efforts. In 2024, the alliance launched ASPIRE Student Leadership Program and secured a third USDA-NRCS cooperative agreement– a $9 million investment supporting applied research and expansion across 50 colleges.

“The cooperative agreement and funding from the USDA are transforming how community colleges collaborate and serve students. At Northeast Community College, funds are enhancing precision agriculture programming, expanding applied research opportunities, and equipping students with advanced technologies and data-driven tools,” said Dr. Kruse. “The cooperative model also enables shared curriculum development, micro-credentials, faculty professional development and national learning communities.”

According to Dr. Kruse, since 2015 Northeast has developed precision agriculture, natural resources and urban agriculture programs, bringing its total ag-related programs to 13. It has built new facilities– the Acklie College Farm, the Large Animal Handling Facility and the Veterinary Technology building– and increased capacity in its agriculture programs, especially in graduates interested in large animal and precision agriculture. Additionally, Northeast has added acreage to the College Farm and has increased the opportunities to add interdisciplinary, hands-on applied research in the fields contiguous to campus.

Beyond Northeast, USDA support strengthens partnerships with federal agencies and industry leaders nationwide. C2A3 provides applied research project support, technical assistance, needs assessments, student mentorships, internships and national advocacy for funding opportunities. Open to both rural and urban colleges and continuing to expand, C2A3 ensures two-year institutions remain at the forefront of agricultural advancement– equipping students and communities to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.

Together, the USDA grant and cooperative agreement represent a transformational investment, not only in Northeast Community College, but in the long-term vitality of agriculture and rural communities nationwide.