The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (Department) is seeking applications for its 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Donor Name: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry
State: Maine
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/19/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) authorized the USDA to provide grants to State departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is eligible to submit a State Plan for these funds. The State Plan will include projects that are submitted, reviewed, and recommended to be approved by the USDA through this formal RFA process.
Phase I Concept Proposals Must:
- Demonstrate a concept plan for a proposed project with a high likelihood of success.
- Demonstrate a plan to implement a project that will benefit multiple specialty crop growers by enhancing the competitiveness of Maine specialty crops
- Identify the specific and existing issue, problem, or need the project will address.
- Demonstrate industry need and support.
- Demonstrate readiness to conduct outreach to encourage participants to participate in project-related activities.
- Demonstrate willingness to share project results and lessons learned with specialty crop growers. (Note that advertising is not considered outreach to industry.)
Funding Information
The Department anticipates that up to $500,000 will be awarded to projects enhancing the competitiveness of Maine specialty crops. Grant amounts will range from $15,000 to 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program $100,000.
Project Period
The grant duration will be two (2) years.
Eligibility Criteria
Non-profit and for-profit organizations; local, state, and federal government entities, including Tribal governments (federally and non-federally recognized); and public or private colleges and universities are eligible to apply. Individuals are not eligible to apply. One applicant entity will not be selected to receive more than 30% of the total amount awarded.
For more information, visit DACF.
