Subject: 2017 State Cooperative Program Grants in support of Grade “A” Milk Safety Programs and National Shellfish Sanitation Programs – Grant Application Portal Opens December 6^th!

Message:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS), the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC), and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), are proud to announce the 2017 State Cooperative Program Grants for Grade “A” Milk Safety and National Shellfish Sanitation Programs.

This grants program provides funds for training and equipment purchases in support of milk and shellfish regulatory programs.  The grant portal will be open to accept applications for the 2017 funding year on December 6, 2016; and will close on January 5, 2017 at 7:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Complete instructions, including the 2017 Grant Guidance, will be available at http://afdo.org/msgrants prior to the opening of the portal.

Grant funding is open to state or territorial (Puerto Rico) agencies that have the regulatory authority to implement the Grade “A” Milk Safety Program and/or the National Shellfish Sanitation Program.

Applicants to this program can expect a simple application process, up-front funding when required by the project, and simple reporting requirements.  Project categories include:

• Category 1 – 2017 Annual Program Training Needs Grants for Milk and Shellfish Programs: Funding for Milk Sanitation Rating Officers (SROs), Laboratory Evaluation Officers (LEOs), Shellfish Sanitation Officers (SSOs) and other Regulatory Staff Members to attend Required Training and Other Courses for Calendar Year 2017 (Minimum: $500/No Maximum, but total requested funding should not average more than $2,000 per person per course unless justification is provided in the Detailed Budget). Example: Applicants will have the opportunity to request travel funds for your program’s annual training needs to allow attendance at training courses, workshops, and seminars that advance the goals of the Grade “A” Milk Safety and/or the National Shellfish Sanitation Programs.
• Category 2 – Equipment Grants for Milk and Shellfish Programs: Equipment purchases that support the Grade “A” Milk Safety Program (maximum of $3,000 per agency) and/or the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (maximum of $5,000 per agency) – Example: Purchase of program-related equipment that helps to improve Milk or Shellfish safety and/or increase the efficiency and/or effectiveness of your regulatory program.

What’s Next?

Please visit http://afdo.org/msgrants as it will always contain the most up-to-date information about the grant program. If you would like to receive news and updates when new information is available, please register your email address here.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (850) 583-4593 or msgrants@afdo.org.

The retirement of Ken Vorgert on September 2, 2016 created a vacancy in the USDA representative position on the NCIMS Executive Board.  Per Section 5, Subd.3, of the NCIMS Constitution, the USDA member of the Board is appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.   In appointing William G. Francis to the Board, Elanor Starmer, USDA, noted that “Mr. Francis is no stranger to the Conference having previously served on the Board representing the State of New York from 2005 until 2009.  Since 2009 Mr. Francis has been employed by the USDA and he became acting Director of the Agricultural Marketing Service, Dairy Program, Grading and Standardization Division in May 2016.”

In notifying the Board, Chair Beam stated “Will is of course very familiar with the Conference having been highly involved with its activities in the past as a representative of the state of New York, including service on the NCIMS Executive Board.  It will be great having Will back again in his new role representing the USDA. “

On August 26, 2016, based on the recommendation of Dr. Stephen Beam, Chair and unanimous vote of the Executive Board.  Mr. Jimmy Williamson of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control was appointed to the NCIMS Executive Board to fill the vacant Eastern States regulatory member position as a result of the retirement of Gary Newton from the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Section 8 of the NCIMS By-Laws added by the delegates at the last Conference specifies that Board vacancies occurring between Conferences shall be filled by the Chair and confirmed by the Board.  The appointee serves until the next biennial or special meeting of the Conference, at which time the vacancy is filled for the balance of the term by a qualified registrant who is nominated by the Nominating Committee, or from the floor of the General Assembly, and is elected by the voting delegates.

G.M Gallaspy representing southeastern states in Region I provided the following information: “Mr. Williamson is the program manager and is a State Rating Officer for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s milk program.  Mr. Williamson attended the last NCIMS Conference and has been South Carolina’s voting delegate for a number of conferences.  He has served the conference on numerous committees and presently sits on council I.  Jimmy’s knowledge of the dairy industry; his knowledge of how the NCIMS is structured; his knowledge of how the NCIMS committees and councils are able to work through multiple issues to accomplish the goals of the NCIMS and his personality would make him a very good candidate to fill this position.”