Opportunity Information: Apply for AMS FV 2011
Apply for AMS FV 2011
- 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 Apr 22, 2011 and posted on Apr 22, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 13, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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 (SCBGP) under the Farm Bill is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity designed to strengthen and improve the competitiveness of specialty crops across the United States and its territories. For this funding cycle, AMS announced approximately $55 million in available grant funds (with the note that USDA administrative costs would be deducted), and the program is explicitly limited to activities that benefit specialty crops. In this context, "specialty crops" are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. The overall intent is to support projects that expand market opportunities, improve product quality and safety, enhance distribution systems, foster innovation, and generally help specialty crop industries compete more effectively.
A key feature of this opportunity is that the direct applicants are not individual farmers, nonprofits, universities, or private businesses, but state-level government entities. Eligible applicants are state departments of agriculture (or equivalent agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture) within the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories and commonwealths, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The program is structured as a block grant: AMS awards funds to these state departments of agriculture, and then states typically distribute those funds within their jurisdictions through their own competitive subaward processes. Because of this setup, individuals or organizations that want to pursue funding but are not eligible to apply directly to AMS are directed to contact their own state department of agriculture. AMS provides a directory of state contacts at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.
States are encouraged to actively publicize the program and run an open, competitive process for selecting projects to support, with a strong emphasis on outreach to specialty crop stakeholders. The announcement specifically highlights the importance of reaching socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers, signaling that states should make sure those communities are aware of funding opportunities and are able to participate meaningfully in the proposal process. In practical terms, this often means state agencies convene stakeholder meetings, issue requests for proposals, and evaluate submitted project ideas based on expected benefits to specialty crop competitiveness statewide.
Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as mandatory funding and uses a grant instrument. The funding opportunity number is AMS-FV-2011, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 10.170 (Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill). AMS anticipated making 56 awards, which aligns with the number of eligible state and territory applicants. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed, meaning applicants are not required by the federal program rules to provide matching funds in order to receive an award, though states may set additional expectations or preferences in their own subaward competitions.
The timeline for this cycle is clear: the opportunity was posted on April 22, 2011, and applications from eligible state departments of agriculture had to be submitted to USDA by July 13, 2011. The listing indicates an archive date of August 12, 2011, reflecting that this particular announcement is no longer active. For additional program information, AMS directs readers to www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp. For assistance accessing the full announcement or for program questions, the listed contact was John Miklozek, Acting Project Manager, reachable by phone at 202-720-1403.
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - FAQs
What is the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP)?
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant program under the Farm Bill that is intended to strengthen and improve the competitiveness of specialty crops across the United States and its territories.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program is designed to support projects that help specialty crop industries compete more effectively. The stated intent includes expanding market opportunities, improving product quality and safety, enhancing distribution systems, fostering innovation, and other activities that increase specialty crop competitiveness.
What does the program mean by "specialty crops"?
For this program, "specialty crops" are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
Is the program limited to activities that benefit specialty crops?
Yes. The opportunity is explicitly limited to activities that benefit specialty crops.
Who can apply directly to USDA AMS for SCBGP funds?
Eligible direct applicants are state-level government entities: state departments of agriculture (or equivalent agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture) in the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and certain U.S. territories and commonwealths.
Which territories and commonwealths are included as eligible applicants?
The eligible territories and commonwealths listed are Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Can individual farmers apply directly to AMS for this funding?
No. The announcement states that direct applicants are state departments of agriculture (or equivalent agencies), not individual farmers.
Can nonprofits, universities, or private businesses apply directly to AMS for this funding?
No. The announcement specifies that nonprofits, universities, and private businesses are not direct applicants to AMS under this opportunity.
If I am not a state department of agriculture, how do I pursue SCBGP funding?
Because this is a block grant, AMS awards funds to eligible state and territory agriculture agencies, and states typically distribute funds through their own competitive subaward processes. Organizations and individuals seeking support are directed to contact their own state department of agriculture.
Where can I find my state or territory SCBGP contact?
AMS provides a directory of state contacts at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.
How are funds distributed after AMS awards a block grant to a state?
The program is structured so that AMS awards funds to states and territories, and then those state agencies typically run their own competitive subaward process within their jurisdictions to select and fund projects.
Are states expected to run an open and competitive process?
Yes. States are encouraged to publicize the program and run an open, competitive process for selecting projects, with outreach to specialty crop stakeholders.
Does the announcement emphasize outreach to any specific groups?
Yes. The announcement highlights the importance of reaching socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers, indicating states should make sure these communities are aware of opportunities and can participate meaningfully in the proposal process.
How much funding was announced for this cycle?
AMS announced approximately $55 million in available grant funds for this cycle, with a note that USDA administrative costs would be deducted.
Does the announcement say anything about deductions from the total funding amount?
Yes. It notes that USDA administrative costs would be deducted from the approximately $55 million in available grant funds.
How many awards did AMS anticipate making?
AMS anticipated making 56 awards, which aligns with the number of eligible state and territory applicants.
Is cost sharing or matching required by the federal program rules for this opportunity?
No. The listing indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement under the federal program rules. However, states may set additional expectations or preferences in their own subaward competitions.
What type of funding is this considered?
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as mandatory funding and uses a grant instrument.
What is the funding opportunity number for this SCBGP announcement?
The funding opportunity number listed is AMS-FV-2011.
What is the CFDA number associated with the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program?
The CFDA number provided is 10.170 (Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill).
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 22, 2011.
What was the application deadline for eligible applicants?
Applications from eligible state departments of agriculture had to be submitted to USDA by July 13, 2011.
Is this specific announcement still active?
No. The listing shows an archive date of August 12, 2011, indicating this particular announcement is no longer active.
Where does AMS direct readers for additional SCBGP program information?
AMS directs readers to www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp for additional program information.
Who was the listed contact for help with the full announcement or program questions?
The listed contact was John Miklozek, Acting Project Manager.
How can the listed contact person be reached?
The phone number provided for the listed contact is 202-720-1403.
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