MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday morning funding for Hartnell University and California State University’s Monterey Bay Agriculture Program.

Hartnell College has nearly $10 million in grants to help students pursue careers in agriculture.

According to school officials, this is the largest grant in the history of the university. Funding from the USDA will fund a project called Hartnell College Learning to Lead: Career Pathways support US Leafy Green Production.

The program’s goal is to promote equity in agricultural jobs for disadvantaged, low-income students.

Hartnell’s program will be conducted in partnership with California State University, Monterey Bay, Imperial Valley College, and the University of Arizona, Yuma.

CSUMB’s Agricultural Plant and Soil Science Program will receive a $5 million grant to expand and provide fulfilling career paths for graduates.

José Pablo “JP” Dandor Arias, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology at CSUMB, said 62 students will receive scholarships and about 12 student areas and research projects will be supported each year.

“Having strong, high-profile programs that meet local needs will increase the profile of the institution, which will ultimately benefit all of CSUMB’s programs,” Lawson said.

As a result of the funding, Dandor Arias said the grant will pay for 70 full-time summer internships in the local agricultural industry and the Ministry of Agriculture.