CFAs: Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (US)

Specialty crop grant funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and is allocated to the state to be awarded through a competitive grant process.

Eligible Projects

• Enhance the Competitiveness of U.S. Specialty Crops
  • Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops
  • Pest and disease control
  • Sustainability
  • Enhancing food safety
  • Developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops
  • Improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems
  • Developing and enhancing domestic and international markets
  • Expanding availability and access to specialty crops
  • Enhancing local food systems
  • Improving production practices through innovative technologies
  • Improving agricultural workforce
  • Improving the capacity of all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing good agricultural, handling, or manufacturing practices.
  • Investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes.
• Benefit More Than One Product or Organization
  • Applications for grant funds should show how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual. Grant funds will not be awarded for projects whose products or services promote or provide profit that solely benefits a single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.

Eligibility Criteria

• ISDA is seeking proposals from eligible non-profit organizations, local, state, and federal government entities, for-profit organizations, and universities for projects that aim to enhance the production and competitiveness of Idaho specialty crops.

Application Requirements

• Applications must include the following:
  • Application –Must use their application template
  • Letters of Support (Optional)

For more information, visit Idaho State Department of Agriculture.