Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

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Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Deadline: Closed - Proposals are currently being evaluated.

Program Purpose
The sole purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. TDA encourages organizations to develop projects to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to the following issues affecting the industry:

Food Safety
Marketing
Nutrition
Plant Health
Value Added/Industry Development

Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, nursery crops (including floriculture). See lists of eligible and ineligible crops from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website.

To be eligible for a grant, the project(s) must solely enhance the competitiveness of U.S.- or U.S. territory-grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets. Proposals for grant funds should describe how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.

Contacts

Grant Program Questions:
Mindy Fryer
Grants Specialist
(512) 463-6908

Project Topics:
Richard De Los Santos
State Marketing Coordinator for Horticulture,
Produce and Forestry
(512) 463-7472

Guidelines

Specialty Crop Links

FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

Project Examples

Specialty Crop Timeline

November / December	Submit final RFP to be published-Announce grant opportunity on website and through press release and emails
February	Submission deadline
March to June	Evaluation of proposals
Late June	Contact applicants of proposals that have been chosen to be included in Texas' State Plan to USDA - Compile proposal that are selected and contact applicant for revisions/updates of proposals that are include in State Plan
Mid July	Submit Texas' State Plan to USDA
Late August/ Early September	Receive approval from USDA to award sub grants
September	Send out grant agreements and project information packets- Announce grant awards through press release
October	Projects will officially start on October 1 of the current year