Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA/AMS), is soliciting applications for the 2026 cycle of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). This program is part of a national initiative aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops, with GDA administering the Georgia-specific arm of the program. The SCBGP is designed to provide funding for projects that focus on research, education, and marketing efforts to support Georgia’s specialty crop industry. Eligible specialty crops under this program include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticultural crops, Christmas trees, turfgrass, sod, and nursery or greenhouse crops, including floriculture. Projects must clearly demonstrate benefit to the broader Georgia specialty crop industry and show potential for measurable impact. To be considered, applicants must focus on advancing competitiveness within the state through innovative production techniques, market development, food safety, or educational outreach. Funding requests must range between a minimum of $20,000 and a maximum of $100,000, though larger marketing-focused proposals may be considered with prior approval from GDA. Funded projects will have up to three years to complete their scope of work, with no possibility of extension. The grant imposes no matching fund requirement; however, administrative overhead is capped at 8%, which GDA retains—no indirect costs may be charged by the subgrantee. Applications are expected to be thorough and must align with one of the predefined outcome measures and associated indicators. The “Miscellaneous” outcome category is not permitted. Applicants must be Georgia-based organizations, including grower associations, commodity commissions, colleges and universities, local or state government entities, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. First-time nonprofit applicants must partner with a Georgia-based academic institution, ideally one of Georgia’s Land Grant universities (UGA or FVSU). Businesses, including farms, and individuals are not eligible. Applications must be submitted electronically to [email protected] by 12:00 PM ET on Friday, February 27, 2026. Incomplete or late applications will be disqualified without exception. The SCBGP strongly encourages collaborative projects, and applications that include evidence of statewide industry support and letters of partnership are more likely to score favorably. Three letters of support are required with each application, and none may come from GDA or USDA personnel. Proposals must avoid previously unfunded project ideas that were submitted more than twice, and adherence to previous grant compliance (reporting, budget adherence, and timely spending) is closely evaluated during the review process. Applications will undergo review in early April 2026, with award notifications expected in mid to late April. If selected, award letters and contract execution are projected for late September or early October 2026, at which time the three-year project period will begin. Awardees will be required to submit annual progress reports, draw down at least 50% of awarded funds by March 31, 2028, and complete their projects no later than September 29, 2029. Final reports will be due by November 2029. For more information, questions must be submitted in writing to [email protected].

Read all template instructions carefully; avoid submitting previously rejected projects; ensure PI limits and budget rules are followed.