The Illinois Department of Agriculture has been allocated funds next federal fiscal year from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Agriculture
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/15/2022
Size of the Grant: $75,000
Grant Duration: 33 Months
Details:
These funds will support projects beginning in the calendar year 2023 that are intended to expand the availability of fresh, locally-grown produce and strengthen the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop industry.
Illinois currently devotes more than 100,000 acres of farmland to growing specialty crops, which produce nearly $500 million in sales for Illinois farmers. To encourage further expansion of this industry, and to take full advantage of the allocated funds, the Department invites the development of projects pertaining to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry:
- Enhancing food safety;
- Improving the capacity of all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain to comply with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (21 U.S.C. Chapter 27), for example, developing “Good Agricultural Practices,” “Good Handling Practices,” “Good Manufacturing Practices,” and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems (including USDA GroupGAP) for small farmers, packers and processors;
- Investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes;
- Developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops;
- Pest and disease control;
- Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops;
- Improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems;
- Sustainability.
Funding Information
- The maximum grant award will be $75,000.00.
Grant Period
- The proposal grant cycle will start on January 1, 2023, and the final end date will be September 29, 2025.
Eligible Projects
- A State requests funding to contract with a university to conduct research on the feasibility of planting, cultivating, and growing a specialty crop in a particular area, the results of which can be shared with many growers throughout the State.
- A single grower requests funds to demonstrate the viability of organic small fruit production and partners with Cooperative Extension to publicize the working model of diversification to other regional growers.
- A single company requests funds to provide a viable pollination alternative to specialty crop stakeholders in the region, which currently does not have one.
- A non-profit organization requests funds to conduct an advertising campaign that will benefit its specialty crop members.
- A single farmer erects high tunnels on their property to extend the growing season of tomatoes and lettuce and conducts a field day and farm tour to encourage other small family farmers to adopt the production methods.
Eligibility Criteria
Proposals should describe how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for either the entire specialty crop industry or the public as opposed to a single organization, institution, or individual. Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a benefit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.
- Proposals will be accepted from non-profit organizations, producer organizations, government agencies, universities, and other organizations related to Illinois’ specialty crops industry.
- Proposals cannot be accepted by individuals, individual producers, for-profit businesses, or commercial entities unless the project is focused on research, education, demonstration, or in some way benefits the entire specialty crop industry.
- Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a benefit or profit to a single organization, institution, or individual.
- Projects must have very strong information dissemination and outreach component where results from the project are shared with others so that others may benefit from the project.
- Proposals that involve collaboration or partnerships between producers, industry groups, academics, or other organizations are encouraged.
- Applicants may cooperate with any public or private organization involving agricultural development, research, and/or marketing to enhance Illinois’ specialty crop industry.
- If two or more individuals or organizations propose a joint project, they must submit one application as co-applicants
For more information, visit 2023 Illinois Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
