SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANTS $2.8 MILLION IN FUNDING AVAILABLE

SACRAMENTO, Friday, July 18, 2008 – Secretary A.G. Kawamura has announced that $2.8 million in federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Funds will now be awarded on a competitive basis to qualified applicants. 

“Our goal is to stimulate innovation in marketing California’s specialty crops by funding projects that can produce the highest degree of measurable benefits to meet and exceed the needs of people around the world—people who rely on our products, solutions and services,” said Secretary Kawamura.

The $2.8 million is the combined amount from two different grants from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), with two different solicitation rounds.  The process and guidelines for both rounds of grants are the same. Anyone who applies and meets the USDA criteria will be considered, and applicants may apply for both grants. 

CDFA will be soliciting two-page concept papers and then notifying those applicants who have been selected to turn in full proposals.  Based on availability of funds, final proposals will be sent to USDA for final review and approval. Grant awards will range from $50,000 to $125,000 per project.

Round I—$1.6 Total Funds Available
Funds available through the Farm Bill Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Project:  CFDA #10.170
Concept Proposal Due:  Monday, July 28, 2008
Full Proposal Due: Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Anticipated Date of Award: October 2008

Round II—$1.2 Total Funds Available
Funds available through the pre-existing Specialty Crop Block Grant legislation
Project:  CFDA #10.169
Concept Proposal Due: Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Full Proposal Due Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Anticipated Date of Award: January 2009

Applications will be awarded under the following areas:  Trade Enhancement/Innovation; Nutrition and Food Security/Food Safety; Agricultural Education and Outreach; Environmental Concerns/Conservation; and Plant Pest and Health Problems.

For further instructions, information and to download the application, visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/grants. For more information, contact the Federal Funds Management Office at 916-657-3231 or at grants@cdfa.ca.gov.

-30-