Florida A&M University Wins $50,000 Grant From Ford College Community Challenge

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Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been selected as one of the 2010 winners of the Ford College Community Challenge (Ford C3) and the recipient of a $50,000 grant to develop a student-led community project focused on sustainability in the farm community. Ford C3 is a national initiative of Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, which challenges students from within Ford's national network of higher education partners to develop innovative programs to create sustainable change in their communities.

Students at Florida A&M University will implement an on-farm demonstration and education model for renewable biofuel production that provides an essential alternative energy road map for the future. This innovative, student-led demonstration project will test the use of biofuel made from oil seed crops and waste vegetable oil for use as an alternative energy source for farm machinery in the university's StateWide ^® Small Farm Collaborative. The project will involve students from the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA) and the School of Architecture, as well as community stakeholders including schools interested in green and alternative energy, local businesses, and governmental entities.

"We are honored to receive the Ford Motor Company Fund C3 Grant to implement an organic farm alternative energy demonstration and education model for small farms and innovative communities," said Jennifer Taylor, FAMU's Coordinator for the Small Farms Program. "This project will provide a unique opportunity to partner with community collaborators, provide education and training experiences to FAMU students, while equipping small farms and the community with exciting options for a thriving sustainable future."

The Ford College Community Challenge (Ford C3) is a national challenge grant competition that recognizes colleges and universities that utilize a school's resources to address an urgent community need related to the grant's theme: Building Sustainable Communities. This year's proposals were expected to incorporate the use of alternative energy in a unique way. Unlike many traditional college grant programs, Ford C3 requires colleges to create proposals that have significant student input, involvement, and leadership from beginning to end.