The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is seeking project proposals from the state’s specialty crop sector for funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
The program offers federal funds annually to states to support their specialty crop industries. This year, Indiana will be allocating $471,000 to selected projects.
Eligible projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops.
Funding will not be awarded to projects that benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual. Each project must identify at least one of the USDA performance measures that specifically demonstrate the project’s impact on enhancing the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops.
The state is seeking projects with objectives such as increasing consumption and consumer purchasing, increasing access and distribution, developing new seed varieties and improving environmental sustainably, among other things.
The state and USDA encourage applications that benefit smaller farms, new and beginning farmers, underserved and veteran producers and underserved communities.
Applications open Feb. 22 and are due by noon March 22. Proposals must be submitted online through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s Grants Management System at in.gov/isda/grants-and-funding-opportunities. Application resources are located on ISDA’s Grants and Funding Opportunities website, in.gov/isda/grants-and-funding-opportunities.
For information, visit ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp.
For a list of eligible specialty crops, visit ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop.