The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is a federal grant program administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of Colorado specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
Donor Name: Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA)
State: Colorado
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/24/2023
Size of the Grant: $700,000
Grant Duration: 1 year 15 months
Details:
The SCBGP assists State departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by:
- Leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops;
- Assisting producers with research and development related to specialty crops;
- Expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and
- Addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers.
Priorities
Applicants are encouraged to develop projects pertaining to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry:
- Enhancing food safety;
- Investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes;
- Developing adaptation and mitigation strategies for farmers impacted by drought;
- 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;
- Developing local and regional food systems;
- Improving food access in underserved communities and among veterans; and
- Sustainability
CDA’s priorities include:
- Supporting the next generation of farmers and ranchers;
- Scaling-up high-value agriculture and diverse market opportunities;
- Investing in new agricultural technology; and
- Promoting and incentivizing soil, water, and climate stewardship.
Funding Information
Colorado will award approximately $700,000 to projects through the FFY23 SCBGP application period.
Grant funds are available only for projects that support specialty crops grown in the State of Colorado and are intended to supplement (not replace) private, state, or third party participant funding.
Project Period
Projects awarded from this application period will begin on or after January 1, 2024 and end no later than November 15, 2025.
Project Eligibility
A project is a set of interrelated tasks with a cohesive, distinct, specified, and defined goal. It follows a planned, organized approach over a fixed period of time and within specific limitations (cost, performance/quality, etc.). Additionally, it uses resources that are specifically allocated to the work of the project and usually involves a team of people.
Projects are different from other ongoing operations in an organization because, unlike operations, projects have a definitive beginning and end – they have a limited duration. A project has an overarching goal that the applicant wants to accomplish through a series of individual activities or tasks.
Examples of acceptable projects:
- A university requests funding to conduct research on the feasibility of planting, cultivating, and growing a specialty crop in a particular area, the results of which will be shared with many growers throughout the State during the project.
- A single grower requests funds to demonstrate the viability of organic small fruit production and partners with 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 a region that currently does not have one
- A single non-profit organization requests funds to conduct an advertising campaign that will benefit their specialty crop members
- A single farmer erects high tunnels on his/her 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 method.
Example of unacceptable projects:
- A company requests grant funds to purchase starter plants or equipment used to plant, cultivate, and grow a specialty crop for the purpose of making a profit, or to expand production of a single business
- A State requests grant funds to make grants to individual specialty crop businesses or roadside stands to promote their individual business
- A non-profit organization uses grant funds to purchase produce and then sells that produce to other entities at cost or a higher price than the purchase price while competing with other private companies who sell produce in the area
- A non-profit organization uses grant funds to purchase produce for donation to a local school or community food pantry
- A sole proprietor requests grant funds to redesign her/his logo in order to make her/his specialty crop value-added product stand out at the local farmers’ market
- A single specialty crop organization requests grant funds to market its organization so that it can increase membership in the organization.
Eligibility Criteria
- Producer groups, organizations, and associations, as well as state and/or local organizations, academia, and other specialty crops stakeholders are eligible to apply with projects lasting from approximately January 1, 2024 to November 15, 2025, either as single entities or in combined efforts.
- Proposals submitted by individual producers must demonstrate that the potential impact of the project will accrue to a broader group of similar producers, region or industry segment. Projects may not solely benefit individuals, individual operations, or individual companies or businesses. All projects must solely enhance the competitiveness of Colorado specialty crops.
For more information, visit Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
