Deadline: 1-Mar-21
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) is pleased to announce grant funds to strengthen Vermont’s specialty crop industries. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture crops (including honey, hops, and maple syrup), and nursery crops (including Christmas trees and floriculture).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) awards Specialty Crop Block Grants to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. In Vermont, the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) administers these funds to enhance the competitiveness of Vermont and regionally grown specialty crops.
Program Purpose
Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by–
- leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops;
- assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops;
- expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and
- addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers.
Specialty crops are fruits and tree nuts; vegetables; culinary herbs, spices, and medicinal plants; nursery, floriculture, horticulture, and Christmas trees; honey; hops; maple syrup; and mushrooms.
Funding Information
- There is no minimum or maximum award; however, they competitively award around $200,000 total each year. Over the past 5 years, they competitively awarded individual projects between $7,000 and $52,000. The average award over this period was around $27,000, and 50% of awarded projects received between $15,000 and $34,000.
- Projects can be funded for up to 30 months (2 years, 6 months).
Eligibility Criteria
Any entity may apply, but projects must benefit more than one specialty crop business, individual or organization. Applicants must describe how their project will benefit and produce measurable outcomes for specialty crop industries rather than a single business, organization, or individual.
For more information, visit https://agriculture.vermont.gov/grants/specialtycrop