South Carolina is currently ineligible for USDA EPSCoR funding

South Carolina is currently ineligible for USDA EPSCoR funding

For the current fiscal year the State of South Carolina is not listed as an eligible participant in the USDA Experimental Program for Stimulating Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program. States eligible for USDA EPSCoR funds are those that have a funding level no higher than the 40th percentile of all States participating in the USDA's National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI), based on a three-year average (excluding strengthening set-aside funds). Based on the most recent three-year average, South Carolina has graduated from the USDA EPSCoR program by having an NRI funding level above the 40th percentile. South Carolina is no longer in the group of 20 states that receive the lowest amount of funding.

As a result, the NRI 2003 Program Description (www.reeusda.gov/nri) does not include South Carolina on its list of states eligible for the NRI Strengthening Program. Although MUSC investigators are not currently eligible for Strengthening Grants, investigators may submit standard research grants, new investigator applications, postdoctoral proposals and conference grants to the USDA National Research Initiative.

In three years (for fiscal year 2006) a recalculation of the success of states in the NRI program will be done in order to determine those below the 40th percentile. At that time, South Carolina may again be eligible for USDA EPSCoR funding, depending on the success of South Carolina scientists applying to USDA over the next three years.

If you have questions, please contact:
Peter J. Johnson, DVM, Ph.D. (PJohnson@reeusda.gov)
National Program Leader (Animals)
USDA-CSREES-Competitive Programs
National Research Initiative (www.reeusda.gov/nri)