Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) administered by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) supports projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in both domestic and international markets. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS), with approximately $1.2 million anticipated for the 2026 grant cycle. These funds will be competitively distributed across multiple grantees and are contingent upon USDA’s final approval of the state-submitted plan. The 2026 SCBGP will fund projects that focus on promoting specialty crops, facilitating research, improving food safety, developing better crop varieties, reducing production and distribution costs, enhancing sustainability, and increasing consumer knowledge and consumption of specialty crops. Priority areas identified for North Carolina include increasing consumption of local specialty crops, improving post-harvest handling and storage, addressing labor reduction strategies, pest and disease management, and promoting sustainability and soil health practices. Eligible applicants include state and local governmental units, academic institutions such as universities and local school systems, and nonprofit organizations including producer associations and community-based entities. For-profit entities and individuals are not eligible to apply directly, though they may participate as partners in project proposals. The funded projects must benefit the broader specialty crop industry or public at large, and not solely a single organization or individual. All applicants are required to submit complete application packets that include a cover page, unaltered project profile template, IRS tax-exempt status documentation, biographical sketches of project leads, and letters of external support. The application timeline for the 2026 cycle begins with an open call for proposals on January 15, 2026. Draft applications may be submitted by January 28, 2026 for optional review and feedback. Final applications must be submitted electronically by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on March 10, 2026. Projects selected through internal review and scoring will be compiled into a state plan and submitted to the USDA by May 2026. Final award decisions from the USDA are expected by late September or early October 2026, with contracts issued in late 2026 and a tentative project start date of January 1, 2027. Projects must select measurable outcomes and indicators, adhere to budget constraints with no indirect or equipment costs allowed, and comply with state and federal regulations including SAM registration and performance reporting. Grantees must submit interim and annual reports, and a final performance report within 60 days of project completion. A 20% holdback on awarded funds will remain until final reporting requirements are fulfilled. Reimbursement is based on incurred and approved costs, and budget modifications must be pre-approved in writing. For questions or additional information, applicants can contact Jenni Keith, Program Administrator for the NC SCBGP, via email at [email protected] or phone at (919) 707-3158. Further resources, including application templates and FAQs, are available at [http://www.ncspecialtycropgrant.org](http://www.ncspecialtycropgrant.org).

Focus on choosing measurable and limited indicators; follow template instructions strictly.