Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS SCBGP 2015
Apply for USDA AMS SCBGP 2015
- The Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialty Crop Block Grant Program" 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 Mar 16, 2015 and posted on Mar 16, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 8, 2015. (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), administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is a Farm Bill grant opportunity designed to strengthen and expand the competitiveness of specialty crops across the United States and U.S. territories. For this funding cycle, AMS made available roughly $63 million in total grant funding, and the program is structured to support projects that directly benefit specialty crop industries. Under SCBGP, "specialty crops" specifically include fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. The central idea is that funded activities should improve the position of these crops in the marketplace and throughout the supply chain, rather than supporting general agriculture in a broad or indirect way.
Eligibility is limited to state-level government entities responsible for agriculture, meaning state departments of agriculture and equivalent agencies, commissions, or departments. Eligible applicants include all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and several U.S. insular areas and territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. In other words, individual farmers, nonprofits, universities, and private businesses do not apply directly to AMS under this particular announcement. Instead, those groups typically participate by applying through their own state department of agriculture once the state runs its own competitive process. For anyone who is not an eligible applicant at the federal level, the practical next step is to contact the local state department of agriculture and look for the state's SCBGP request for proposals.
A key feature of the program is that states are encouraged to actively engage specialty crop stakeholders and to run outreach efforts that ensure a strong and diverse pool of project proposals. The announcement highlights outreach to specialty crop stakeholders generally, with particular emphasis on reaching socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers. States are also encouraged to conduct a competitive grant proposal process at the state level, which is how individual projects are usually selected and packaged into a state application submitted to AMS. Information on state contacts and state-run requests for proposals is provided through the SCBGP website at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was posted on March 16, 2015, and it is categorized as a mandatory grant funding opportunity in the agriculture activity area. The funding opportunity number is USDA AMS SCBGP 2015, and the CFDA number listed is 10.170 (Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill). The expected number of awards is 56, aligning with the number of eligible state and territorial applicants. No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated, meaning applicants were not required to provide matching funds as a condition of receiving an award under this specific announcement.
The application deadline for state departments of agriculture to submit to AMS was July 8, 2015, and the announcement was later archived on August 7, 2015. For applicants or stakeholders needing help accessing the full announcement or navigating questions tied to the federal notice, the listed program contact was John Miklozek, Grants Management Specialist, 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 USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Farm Bill grant program designed to strengthen and expand the competitiveness of specialty crops across the United States and U.S. territories. The program funds projects that directly benefit specialty crop industries and improve their position in the marketplace and throughout the supply chain.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
What kinds of crops count as "specialty crops" under SCBGP?
Under SCBGP, specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
What is the main purpose of SCBGP-funded projects?
Funded activities are expected to directly benefit specialty crop industries by improving the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace and throughout the supply chain. The intent is not to support broad or indirect general agriculture activities, but rather projects with a clear specialty-crop industry benefit.
How much total funding was made available for this funding cycle?
For this funding cycle, AMS made available roughly $63 million in total grant funding.
Who is eligible to apply directly to USDA AMS under this announcement?
Eligibility is limited to state-level government entities responsible for agriculture. This generally means state departments of agriculture and equivalent state agencies, commissions, or departments.
Are individual farmers eligible to apply directly to AMS under this announcement?
No. Individual farmers do not apply directly to AMS under this particular announcement. Participation typically happens through the applicant's state department of agriculture once the state runs its own competitive process.
Can nonprofits, universities, or private businesses apply directly to AMS under this announcement?
No. Nonprofits, universities, and private businesses are not eligible to apply directly to AMS under this particular announcement. These organizations typically seek funding by applying through their state department of agriculture when the state issues its SCBGP request for proposals.
Which states and territories are eligible applicants?
Eligible applicants include all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, and the following U.S. insular areas and territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
How are individual projects usually selected if only states can apply to AMS?
States are encouraged to conduct a competitive grant proposal process at the state level. Individual projects are typically selected through that state-run process and then included in a state application submitted to AMS.
What should an organization or individual do if they want to participate but cannot apply to AMS directly?
The practical next step is to contact your local state department of agriculture and look for the state's SCBGP request for proposals (RFP) or other state-run application process.
Where can applicants or stakeholders find state contacts and state-run requests for proposals?
Information on state contacts and state-run requests for proposals is provided through the SCBGP website at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.
Does the program encourage outreach to any specific groups?
Yes. States are encouraged to actively engage specialty crop stakeholders and to run outreach efforts to ensure a strong and diverse pool of project proposals. The announcement highlights outreach broadly to specialty crop stakeholders, with particular emphasis on reaching socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
This opportunity was posted on March 16, 2015.
What was the application deadline for state departments of agriculture to submit to AMS?
The application deadline for state departments of agriculture to submit to AMS was July 8, 2015.
When was the announcement archived?
The announcement was archived on August 7, 2015.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number is USDA AMS SCBGP 2015.
What is the CFDA number listed for SCBGP in this announcement?
The CFDA number listed is 10.170 (Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill).
How many awards were expected under this opportunity?
The expected number of awards was 56, aligning with the number of eligible state and territorial applicants.
Is cost sharing or matching required under this announcement?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the information provided, meaning applicants were not required to provide matching funds as a condition of receiving an award under this specific announcement.
How is this opportunity categorized in terms of funding type and activity area?
It is categorized as a mandatory grant funding opportunity in the agriculture activity area.
Who was the listed program contact for questions about the federal notice?
The listed program contact was John Miklozek, Grants Management Specialist.
How can the program contact be reached?
John Miklozek could be reached by phone at 202-720-1403.
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| 2015 Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS CIG AR 15 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CIG AR 15 001 Agency: NRCS Arkansas State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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