Apply Now: Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (US)

The Vermont SCBGP aims to support all of Vermont’s specialty crop industries and improve the performance of Vermont specialty crops within local, domestic, and international markets. Applications must describe projects that are supported by and address the needs of Vermont specialty crop producers. They encourage projects that will grow Vermont’s economy and sustain farmers’ livelihoods.

Purpose

• The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. 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.

Priorities

• Research, development, and dissemination of innovative production practices to enhance farm viability and natural resource conservation
• Pest and disease management
• Enhancing food safety and improving the capacity of specialty crop businesses to comply with Food Safety Modernization Act or food safety audit program requirements
• Value chain enhancement including strengthening relationships between producers, aggregators, processors, distributors, retail businesses, and consumers
• Technical assistance to address efficiency, conservation, climate change, business viability, workforce development, labor issues, succession planning, and challenges facing beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers
• Market access (local, regional, national, or international), marketing, branding, and consumer education
• Producer collaboration including establishing or strengthening producer associations and cooperatives
• Climate adaptation and resilience

Funding Information

• VAAFM will competitively award approximately $180,000. Awards will be granted for a minimum of $15,000 and a maximum of $45,000. Approximately 4-6 grants will be awarded for this cycle.
• Duration: Projects can be funded for up to 30 months (2 years, 6 months).

Eligible Projects

• Projects must be supported by and address the needs of Vermont specialty crop producers.
• SCBGP funds must enhance the competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. territory-grown specialty crops in domestic or foreign markets.
• If matching funds will be used to ensure all grant funds enhance the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops, you must keep adequate records to identify and document the specific costs or contributions proposed to meet the match, the source of funding or contribution, and document how the valuation was determined.
• Applicants must identify at least one outcome measure that specifically demonstrates the project’s impact in enhancing the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops.
• They will not award funds to an entity to compete unfairly with private companies that provide equivalent products or services.
• Projects where one organization specifically attempts to disparage the mission, goals, and/or actions of another organization are unallowable.
• Projects that have not received SCBGP funding in the past are preferred, but applications that build on previously funded SCBGP projects are eligible. In this case, the applicant must describe how the project will differ from and build on previous efforts.
• Applicants who have demonstrated incomplete or unsatisfactory performance with prior VAAFM grants may be ruled ineligible for participation at the sole discretion of VAAFM.
• Multi-state projects that address challenges and opportunities that cross state boundaries are eligible.

Ineligible Projects

• A company requests grant funds to purchase starter plants or equipment used to plant, cultivate, and grow a specialty crop and expand production of a single business.
• An organization requests grant funds to make grants to individual specialty crop businesses or roadside stands to promote their individual businesses.
• An organization uses grant funds to purchase and sell produce to other entities, competing with private companies who sell produce in the area.
• A sole proprietor requests grant funds to redesign the business logo in order to make a specialty crop value-added product stand out at the local farmers market.
• A single specialty crop organization requests grant funds to market its organization so that it can increase its membership and does not explain how the project will increase the competitiveness of specialty crops.

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 Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.