Open Call for Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Mississippi

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the Farm Bill). These grants are to be utilized by state departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

This additional funding has been provided due to COVID-19 impacts to the food system. USDA encourages projects that respond to COVID-19 impacts. This may include projects to assist farmworkers, farmers, food businesses and other relevant entities to respond to risks and supply chain disruptions.

Funding Priorities for HR 133 SCBGP:

• Promotion & Marketing
• Grower educational programs to for new farmers and seasoned farmers
• Increasing market opportunities for specialty crops
• Enhancing food safety
• Pest and disease control
• Increasing knowledge and consumption of specialty crops
• COVID-19 related impacts to the specialty crop industry

Priority will be given to projects that have the potential to provide solutions that lead to measurable benefits to specialty crop growers.

Project Duration

Specialty crop block grant funds will be made available around October 1 each year. Funded projects must be completed within twenty-four months.

Eligible Projects

Projects must solely enhance the competitiveness of Mississippi grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets. Proposal activities and goals must focus on at least one of the Program Priority Areas as defined in the Request of Proposals. Examples of “enhancing the competitiveness” of specialty crops include, but are not limited to:

• Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops;
• Improving efficiency and reducing cost of distribution systems;
• Assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing “Good Agricultural Practices,” “Good Handling Practices,” “Good Manufacturing Practices,” and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers, and processors;
• Investing in specialty crop research, including organic research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes;
• Enhancing food safety;
• Developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops;
• Pest and disease control; and
• Sustainability.

Eligibility Criteria

• According to USDA guidelines, grant funds cannot be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual because these projects do not enhance the specialty crop industry’s competitiveness. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.
• Proposals are encouraged from state and local organizations, academia, producer associations, industry or community-based groups, and other specialty crop organizations.