The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) begin each fiscal year with nominations of veterinary shortage situation areas submitted by State Animal Health Officials (SAHO). The deadline for nomination submissions for FY2022 was November 8, 2021. NIFA received 228 veterinary shortage situation area nominations which are now available for both VMLRP and VSGP applicants to review on the Veterinary Services Shortage Situations Map. [Source: USDA January 4 2022]
The VMLRP helps qualified veterinarians offset a significant portion of the debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medicine degrees in return for their service in certain high-priority veterinary shortage situations. The VSGP aims to relieve veterinarian shortage situations and support veterinary services by providing Education, Extension, and Training (EET) and Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE) grants. More information about both programs can be found in the links above or email us with questions at: VMLRP@usda.gov or VSGP@usda.gov.