2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) – Oregon - fundsforNGOs

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is pleased to announce a competitive solicitation process to award Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds for proposals that solely enhance the competitiveness of Oregon specialty crops.

Donor Name: Oregon Department of Agriculture

State: Oregon

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 01/31/2023

Size of the Grant: $25,000 to $175,000

Grant Duration: 2.5 years

Details:

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) receives grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance the competitiveness of Oregon’s specialty crops. ODA accepts competitive applications for specialty crop grant funds annually.

Grant Priorities

Market development and access
- International —
  - Understanding and addressing trade barriers or regulatory constraints in foreign markets (e.g. tariffs, TRQs, FTAs, quotas, bilateral agreements).
  - Obtaining market information and providing product exposure through trade shows, conferences, seminars, market research, consumer testing, in-bound and outbound trade missions, etc.
  - Applying new technologies to help identify new customers and facilitate shipments (e.g. packaging configurations, customer data, logistics, transportation enhancements, etc.).
- Local/farm-direct, regional and domestic markets —
  - Obtaining market information and providing product exposure through trade shows, conferences, seminars, market research, consumer testing, in-bound and outbound trade missions, etc.
  - Connect farmers to consumers by enhancing direct marketing opportunities that highlight production practices, farmers, and growing locations.
  - Support the development and advancement of co-operatives to leverage grower and producer efforts.
  - Develop and enhance economic opportunities in local communities that increase the awareness and consumption of specialty crops.
  - Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops by expanding access at schools, at work and in local neighborhoods.
On-farm labor needs, connecting growers with hiring resources, providing technical information about laws and compliance, or developing mechanization or methodologies for routine or repetitive labor demands. Create and implement workforce training programs or tools to maintain the technical skills required to keep the Oregon specialty crops sector competitive.
Promoting cross commodity collaboration on specialty crop projects that address industry wide issues faced by growers/producers. Assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain through transferable results that may enhancing market access and increase sales by addressing food safety, sustainability, or other outcomes.
Investing in specialty crop research toward food safety compliance and traceability through implementation of practices, trainings, or systems development and preparation for and/or assistance in compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Investing in projects that address regulatory burden on specialty crop growers. Connecting growers with resources, providing technical information about laws and compliance, or developing mechanization or methodologies for routine or repetitive laws and compliance.
Investing in projects that address productivity enhancements, innovation, value added products and other production efficiencies for specialty crops.
Agriculture and food-related priorities identified by Oregon Solutions Network Regional Solutions Centers to address rural economic development in Oregon. Projects must also comply with one or more of the required previously listed program priorities.

Funding Information

A range of $25,000 to $175,000 per project is suggested.

Grant Period

Grant funds will be available for projects lasting 2.5 years and cannot be expended before a project initiation date is given by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Eligible Crops