Tuesday, February 25, 2014

2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce the competitive solicitation process to award the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant. The SCBGP funds projects that “enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.” Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass, sod, nursery and greenhouse crops, including floriculture. Click here for a listing of all eligible crops.
 
The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service will make grant funding available, with Georgia’s share being approximately $1.2 million. Grant amounts will be awarded from $10,000 to approximately $150,000 per project. Grants will be awarded for up to three years. 
 
The Department's intent is to fund projects that can produce the highest degree of measurable benefits to Georgia’s specialty crop producers, in relation to each dollar spent.
 
The Department is seeking applications from organizations that seek to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Georgia including: nonprofit organizations and corporations, commodity commissions, associations, state and local government entities and colleges and universities. Applicants must reside or their business or educational affiliation must be in Georgia.
 
USDA-AMS rules state: Grant funds will NOT be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual.  Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.
 
Grant applications must be received by the Department by Friday, April 18, at 4:30 p.m., via email in Word format. Please refer to the Department's grants webpage for the application, guidelines and additional information.
 
Once all applications are submitted to the Department, each one will be carefully reviewed and evaluated by a Review Committee. Compliance and/or non-compliance of previous sub-grantees fulfilling their annual and final reporting requirements of their past grant award agreements is an important evaluation criterion. 
 
All Department-approved projects will then be combined and written as one grant submission to USDA-AMS. Upon approval from USDA, the Department will notify applicants (sub-grantees) of their status. No awards to any sub-grantee will be made until a final grant award is made to the Department (grantor) by USDA. 
 
Final approval is expected in early September 2014, but is subject to change.
 
For questions or additional information contact:
Jeanne Maxwell, Esq. Director of Grants Development & Compliance
Georgia Department of Agriculture
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill
19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive SW Room 216
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404-657-1584
 
TIMELINE:  2014 SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM 
 
FEBRUARY 25 - Tuesday
*Announcement of grant opportunity; Request for proposals and applications 
 
APRIL 18 - Friday
*Proposal, application submission deadline to Department
*Proposal, application must be received by 4:30 p.m., via email in Word format 
 
MAY
*Review Committee evaluation of proposals, applications 
 
JUNE
*Notice to applicants of acceptance or denial of their proposals by Review Committee 
 
JULY
*Submit Georgia’s State Plan to USDA-AMS-SCBG 
 
EARLY SEPTEMBER
*Send out award letters to sub-grantees
*Send out grant contract agreements to sub-grantees
*Announce grant awards through press release 
 
END OF SEPTEMBER
*3-year grant period will begin

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