Deadline: 13-Jan-22
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is pleased to announce a competitive solicitation process to award U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds for projects that enhance the competitiveness and increase demand for Washington’s specialty crops.
Definition of a Specialty Crop
A specialty crop is:
- fruits and vegetables
- tree nuts
- dried fruits
- horticulture
- nursery crops (including floriculture)
Funding Information
- WSDA anticipates receiving approximately $4.6 million to award to projects enhancing the competitiveness of Washington’s specialty crops. Grant requests can range from $25,000 to $250,000.
- The maximum grant period for each award is three (3) years. The projects will start no earlier than September 30, 2022 and end no later than September 29, 2025
Projects
- Acceptable Projects
- A non-profit requests funds to show the viability of organic small fruit production. They partner with University Extension to promote the working model to other regional growers.
- A state requests funding to contract with a university to conduct research on the feasibility of planting, cultivating, and growing a specialty crop in a specific area, the results of which will be shared with growers throughout the state
- Unacceptable Projects
- A company requests funds to buy starter plants or equipment to grow specialty crops to make a profit or to expand production for single organization.
- A single specialty crop organization requests funds to promote themselves to increase membership.
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-profit organizations; local, state, federal government entities, including tribal governments; and public or private colleges and universities, and for-profit organizations are eligible to apply.
- The project must clearly and directly impact Washington state specialty crop producers or processors. Eligible organizations include industry associations; producer groups; commodity commissions; non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; local, state and federal government entities; and educational institutions.
- The SCBGP will not award grant funds for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. This program will not provide funds to start or expand a farm or other business venture.
- Projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
For more information, visit https://agr.wa.gov/services/grant-opportunities/specialty-crop-block-grant-program