The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” The Illinois Department of Agriculture has been allocated funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to administer the program. These funds are supporting projects that are intended to expand the availability of fresh, locally-grown produce and strengthen the competitiveness of the state's specialty crop industry.

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE, AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF

Section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) and amended under section 10107 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-334 (the Farm Bill)

Legislative authority is provided under section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. §1621 note) and amended under section 10107 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-343 (the Farm Bill). SCBGP is currently implemented under 7 CFR § 1291 (published March 27, 2009; 74 FR 13313).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) implements the Specialty Crop Block Grants through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). The SCBGP issues non-competitive, formula grants to state departments of agriculture for the purposes of leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops; expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. SCMP competitively awards funds for collaborative, multi-state projects that address the following regional or national level specialty crop issues: food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing.

Yes

As defined in the RFA

Government Organizations; Education Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations; Individuals; Small Businesses; For-Profit Organizations;

Eligible entities for the SCBGP include the State department of agriculture, agency, commission, or department of a State government responsible for agriculture within any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Eligible entities for SCMP are the same; however, non-Federal entities residing in nonparticipating States may apply for, compete, and if merited receive a grant directly from AMS.

Producers, processors, growers, state agencies, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers, and general public.

Project Grants

Economic Development

A grant agreement is entered into between the AMS and the eligible entity that submits the application. OMB Guidance for Grants Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 400 applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Grants are awarded through a competitive review process that includes the use of an independent committee of stakeholders from the agricultural community. The proposals selected are submitted to the United State Department of Agriculture for final approval as part of Illinois’ State Plan Application. If approved by the USDA for funding, the organization responsible for the successful project and the Department enter into a grant agreement. By signing the document, the grantee agrees to: 1) execute all aspects of the grant agreement according to applicable state and federal regulations (or as they may be later revised) and successive published regulations as appropriate; 2) complete activities outlined in the approved proposal, any approved revisions thereto, and the approved project budget; and 3) adhere to the SCBGP-FB Award Terms and Conditions as set forth within the grant agreement.

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. AMS only accepts electronic applications which are submitted via Grants.gov in response to the specific RFA. Please refer to the RFA for further details for submitting applications. The most current RFAs are available at www.ams.usda.gov/grants. Any specific instructions in the RFAs supersede the general information provided in the Assistance Listing database.

Criteria for selecting proposals are within guidelines established for the program as described in the RFA. The most current RFA is available via Grants.gov or www.ams.usda.gov/grants.

Grants are awarded through a competitive review process that includes the use of an independent committee of stakeholders from the agricultural community. The proposals selected are submitted to the United State Department of Agriculture for final approval as part of Illinois’ State Plan Application. If approved by the USDA for funding, the organization responsible for the successful project and the Department enter into a grant agreement. By signing the document, the grantee agrees to: 1) execute all aspects of the grant agreement according to applicable state and federal regulations (or as they may be later revised) and successive published regulations as appropriate; 2) complete activities outlined in the approved proposal, any approved revisions thereto, and the approved project budget; and 3) adhere to the SCBGP-FB Award Terms and Conditions as set forth within the grant agreement.

Application Deadline 3/22/2024, State Plan due to USDA 5/2/2024

Eligible applicants should contact the headquarters office for application deadlines. Annual application deadlines are posted in Grants.gov. More information can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/grants.

No formal appeal procedure.

Awards are for 3 calendar years.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program does not have a cost-sharing or matching requirement.

Applications should describe how the proposed project would impact and produce measurable outcomes for the betterment of the specialty crop industry and/or the general public. The program will not award funds for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual. The following are examples of eligible projects: • A State requests funding to contract with a university to conduct research on the feasibility of planting, cultivating and growing a specialty crop in a particular area, the results of which can be shared with many growers throughout the State. • A single grower requests funds to demonstrate the viability of organic small fruit production and partners with Cooperative Extension to publicize the working model of diversification to other regional growers. • A single specialty crop organization requests funds to conduct an advertising campaign that will benefit their specialty crop members. • A single company requests funds to provide a viable pollination alternative to specialty crop stakeholders in the region, which currently does not have one. • A single farmer erects high tunnels on their property to extend the growing season of tomatoes and lettuce and conducts a field day and farm tour to encourage other small family farmers to adopt the production methods. The following are examples of ineligible projects: • A company requests grant funds to purchase starter plants or equipment used to plant, cultivate, and grow a specialty crop to make a profit or to expand production of a single business or organization. • A single specialty crop organization requests grant funds to market its organization so that it can increase its membership.

Quarterly and final reports are required for all projects. Annual reports also are required if a project spans more than one year. Grantees who do not submit the reports, or who submit incomplete reports, may have funds withheld or be required to return previously distributed funds. Grantees must maintain adequate books, records and supporting documents to verify the expenditure of all grant funds for a minimum of three years after the submission of their final report.

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 For each year that a State receives a grant under this section, the State shall conduct an audit of the expenditures of grant funds by the State in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart F- Audit Requirements. This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General.

Recipients must retain financial and other records relating to grant for a period of three years after the final Federal Financial Report (SF-425) is received by the Agricultural Marketing Service or until final resolution of any audit findings or litigation claims relating to this program.

12-2501-0-1-352

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As provided for in the applicable request for applications.

Accomplishments for the SCBGP and SCMP can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/grants.

Program guidelines are published in the Proposal Submission Guide, which is included in application packets and made available free of charge on the department's website at www.agr.state.il.us/grants.An RFA is announced each fiscal year via www.grants.gov. Additional information about the SCBGP and SCMP is available at www.ams.usda.gov/grants.

USDA AMS SCBGP 1400 Independence Ave SW, RM 2055, Stop 0201, Washington, DC 20250 SCBlockGrants@usda.gov 202-260-8702 Website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp

1400 Independence Ave. SW Rm. 4534, Stop 0269 , Washington, DC 20250

Additional information about the program is available on the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service’s website www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp.

10.179 Micro-Grants for Food Security Program

can be found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/awards

2/1/2024