The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) administers the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to support the growth and competitiveness of Hawaii’s specialty crop industry. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. The program prioritizes projects that offer measurable benefits and return on investment to the sector, particularly those that increase production and consumption or foster the development of new or organic specialty crops.
The grant is open to eligible non-profit organizations, local, state, and federal government entities, for-profit organizations, universities, and individuals. All applicants must either reside in Hawaii or be registered to do business or operate educational services in the state. To qualify for funding, applicants must comply with all laws governing entities doing business in Hawaii.
Applications are currently being accepted through June 20, 2025, at 12:00 PM HST. The SCBGP is a recurring annual program, expected to reopen in June 2026. While no explicit application start date is provided, the opportunity is active and accepting submissions. The grant is not offered on a rolling basis.
Recipients, known as subawardees, will be required to submit performance documentation during the 12-month project period. This includes an Interim Progress Report due six months from the contract signing and a Final Performance Report due within thirty days after project completion. These reports must cover accomplishments, challenges, upcoming activities, and expenditures.
The funding amount per project is not specified, nor is there a defined minimum or maximum award. The total funding pool and number of awards available have also not been disclosed. However, matching funds are not required to apply. All applicants should retain a copy of their application for reporting purposes at the end of the grant term.
For additional information, prospective applicants can contact the HDOA Market Development Branch at hdoa.md@hawaii.gov or by calling (808) 973-9594.
