Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS SCBGP 09082008
Apply for USDA AMS SCBGP 09082008
- The Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Farm Bill" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.170 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Farm Bill.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 15, 2008 and posted on Aug 16, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 8, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 56 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill (SCBGP FB) is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity created under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). Its purpose is to provide funding to strengthen and improve the overall competitiveness of specialty crops across the United States and U.S. territories. In this program, "specialty crops" specifically refers to fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. The program is structured as a block grant, meaning USDA awards funds to eligible state-level agencies, which then manage and distribute support through projects intended to benefit the specialty crop sector.
AMS announced approximately $10,000,000 in total funding available for this cycle (minus USDA administrative costs). The opportunity is categorized as a mandatory grant program, with an expected 56 awards and an award floor of $100,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed, which generally reduces the burden on applicants and can make participation easier for states and their project partners. The funding is listed under CFDA number 10.170.
Only state departments of agriculture are eligible to apply directly to USDA. In this context, that includes agencies, commissions, or departments of a state government responsible for agriculture in the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories and commonwealths: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Organizations that are not state departments of agriculture (for example, nonprofits, universities, producer groups, local governments, and other community-based organizations) are not eligible to apply directly to USDA under this announcement. Instead, those groups are encouraged to coordinate with their state department of agriculture, which may include them as partners or subrecipients in state-led proposals. The announcement explicitly encourages state departments of agriculture to involve industry groups, academia, and community-based organizations both when developing the application and when administering projects, reflecting the program's intent to support broad, statewide or regionally meaningful initiatives rather than narrow, single-entity activities.
The application process for these Farm Bill SCBGP funds is intended to mirror the requirements and approach used in the existing SCBGP framework described in 7 CFR part 1290. A key practical detail is timing: the Farm Bill required USDA to obligate the funds by the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2008. Because of that deadline, AMS set a short application window and urged state departments of agriculture to prepare submissions promptly. Applications were due by September 8, 2008 (posted August 16, 2008; created August 15, 2008), and the opportunity was later archived on October 8, 2008.
For further details or access to the full announcement, the listing provides an additional information link on the AMS website and names a program contact: Trista Etzig, Project Manager, at (202) 690-4942. The contact is intended to help with questions, including directing interested parties to the appropriate state contact. For anyone seeking to participate but not eligible to apply as a state agency, the clear route is to contact their local state department of agriculture to explore partnership or project inclusion under the state's application.
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill (SCBGP FB) FAQs
What is the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill (SCBGP FB)?
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill (SCBGP FB) is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity created under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). It provides funding intended to strengthen and improve the overall competitiveness of specialty crops across the United States and U.S. territories.
What does the program mean by "specialty crops"?
In this program, "specialty crops" specifically refers to fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
How is this grant program structured?
This opportunity is structured as a block grant. USDA awards funds to eligible state-level agencies, and those state agencies then manage and distribute support through projects intended to benefit the specialty crop sector.
How much funding was available for this cycle?
AMS announced approximately $10,000,000 in total funding available for this cycle (minus USDA administrative costs).
How many awards were expected?
The listing indicates an expected 56 awards.
What is the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor listed is $100,000.
Is this considered a mandatory grant program?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as a mandatory grant program.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed for this opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The funding is listed under CFDA number 10.170.
Who is eligible to apply directly to USDA for SCBGP FB funds?
Only state departments of agriculture are eligible to apply directly to USDA under this announcement. That includes agencies, commissions, or departments of a state government responsible for agriculture.
Which states and areas are included in eligibility?
Eligibility includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the following U.S. territories and commonwealths: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Can nonprofits, universities, producer groups, or local governments apply directly to USDA under this announcement?
No. Organizations that are not state departments of agriculture (including nonprofits, universities, producer groups, local governments, and other community-based organizations) are not eligible to apply directly to USDA under this announcement.
If my organization is not eligible to apply directly, is there a way to participate?
Yes. Organizations that are not eligible to apply directly are encouraged to coordinate with their state department of agriculture. A state department of agriculture may include those organizations as partners or subrecipients in state-led proposals and projects.
Does the announcement encourage partnerships in state applications?
Yes. The announcement explicitly encourages state departments of agriculture to involve industry groups, academia, and community-based organizations both when developing the application and when administering projects.
What kinds of initiatives does the program aim to support?
Based on the announcement language, the intent is to support projects meant to benefit the specialty crop sector broadly, reflecting a focus on statewide or regionally meaningful initiatives rather than narrow, single-entity activities.
What rules or framework does the application process follow?
The application process for these Farm Bill SCBGP funds is intended to mirror the requirements and approach used in the existing SCBGP framework described in 7 CFR part 1290.
Why was there a short application window for this opportunity?
The 2008 Farm Bill required USDA to obligate the funds by the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2008. Because of that deadline, AMS set a short application window and urged state departments of agriculture to prepare submissions promptly.
When was the application due?
Applications were due by September 8, 2008.
When was this opportunity posted and created?
The listing indicates it was posted on August 16, 2008 and created on August 15, 2008.
When was this opportunity archived?
The listing indicates the opportunity was later archived on October 8, 2008.
Where can applicants find more details or the full announcement?
The listing provides an additional information link on the AMS website for further details or access to the full announcement.
Who is the program contact listed for questions?
The program contact listed is Trista Etzig, Project Manager, reachable at (202) 690-4942.
What kind of help can the program contact provide?
The contact is intended to help with questions, including directing interested parties to the appropriate state contact.
What is the recommended next step for an interested organization that cannot apply directly?
The announcement indicates the clear route is to contact your local state department of agriculture to explore partnership or project inclusion under the state's application.
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