TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS WANTED FOR 2021 SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

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SACRAMENTO, September 18, 2020 - California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross is welcoming volunteers with knowledge and expertise regarding California's specialty crop industry to serve as reviewers on the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) Technical Review Committee. This committee reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations to CDFA on proposals submitted for funding to California’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The SCBGP is a competitive solicitation process designed to enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Grant awards will range from $50,000 to $450,000 per project and projects may last for up to two years and six months.

The Technical Review Committee consists of representatives from government and non-government organizations. Technical Review Committee members will attend one training webinar in October 2020 and two phases of online reviews in December 2020 and March/April 2021 respectively, to make recommendations on concept and grant proposals.

All individuals interested in serving on the Technical Review Committee must submit a completed application form and a copy of their résumé to grants@cdfa.ca.gov before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Please reference the first page of the application form for requirements and restrictions.

Within the form, applicants must identify one primary and one alternate funding category related to their area of expertise. The SCBGP funding categories are as follows: 
• Grown in California
• Healthy Specialty Crops for All Californians
• Equity, Opportunity, and Education for All California Specialty Crop Farmers
• Environmental Stewardship and Conservation
• Plant Health and Pest Management

For a description of each funding category and more details about the program, please reference the 2021 SCBGP Request for Concept Proposals. The application form and the 2021 SCBGP Request for Concept Proposals can be found on the CDFA SCBGP website. Prospective applicants may contact CDFA’s Office of Grants Administration at (916) 657-3231 or grants@cdfa.ca.gov for additional information.

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