ISDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 2025

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is administering the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) for Federal Fiscal Year 2025. This program is supported by funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Indiana. The program is managed by ISDA’s Division of Economic Development, and a total of $534,076.75 has been allocated to the state, pending final federal budgetary approvals. Out of this amount, ISDA will retain $75,000 for a statewide Indiana Grown specialty crop initiative and $42,726.75 for indirect administrative costs, leaving $416,350 available through a competitive grant application process. The SCBGP is authorized under Section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 and aims to strengthen specialty crop production and marketing. Eligible project types include research and development, food safety improvements, enhanced distribution systems, environmental sustainability, pest and disease control, and nutrition education, among others. Projects must exclusively support the specialty crop industry and the broader public, not benefit a single entity or replicate existing funded activities. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops such as floriculture. Applicants must meet federal, state, and ISDA-specific eligibility criteria. Eligible applicants include for-profit and non-profit entities, local governments, and both public and private institutions of higher education. Sole proprietors may apply if properly registered with the Indiana Department of Revenue. All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov, the Indiana Department of Administration’s bidder portal, the Indiana Secretary of State’s registry (if not a sole proprietor), and the Indiana Department of Revenue. Additional documentation is required for nonprofits and higher education institutions, such as IRS letters of determination and state sales tax exemption certificates. Applications must be submitted via the electronic Grants Management System (GMS) no later than Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Technical assistance is only available until 5:00 PM on the same day. Applicants are advised to submit at least 24 hours in advance. Evaluation involves a threshold review and scoring by the Competitive Application Review Board (CARB), which uses a 200-point rubric assessing project summary, purpose, performance measures, and budget. The ISDA retains final approval authority, and all applicants will be notified of their status following review. The grant application requires detailed narratives and supporting documentation across several areas, including project needs, goals, sustainability, budget justifications, and anticipated outcomes. Performance measures must align with one of the SCBGP’s seven core outcomes, and applicants should clearly state their alignment with ISDA’s funding priorities, which include market enhancement, access/education/training, and research. ISDA has also provided extensive guidance documents and application tips to help applicants prepare high-quality submissions. For further assistance, applicants can contact Emily Conwell for program-related questions, Leah Harmon for technical system issues, Alissa Ferguson for compliance matters, and Tim Parthun for grant policy inquiries. Contact details for each are provided in Appendix E of the Notice of Funding Opportunity.