Specialty Crop Block Grant

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), funded by the USDA and administered in West Virginia by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), is designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops across the state. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. The program does not fund individual farms for start-up or expansion, but rather supports projects that benefit multiple growers or industry stakeholders. In West Virginia, this grant operates on a two-year cycle and focuses on marketing, research, and educational initiatives that have statewide impact. The FY2026 SCBGP aims to fund projects that address key challenges and opportunities within the specialty crop sector in West Virginia. The priorities for this funding round include increasing farmer education, supporting research related to specialty crops, enhancing infrastructure, expanding consumer awareness through education and marketing, utilizing broadband for outreach and training, and fostering agritourism and farm-based education. Emphasis is placed on quantifiable outcomes such as increases in beginning farmers, farm income, and employment in the specialty crop sector. Applicants must be organizations such as state or local government entities, producer associations, community-based organizations, or academic institutions. While single organizations may apply, the project must provide benefits beyond the applying entity—serving multiple products, producers, or stakeholders. Multi-state or regional collaborations are also allowed. All applications will undergo a competitive review process at the state level prior to being forwarded to USDA for final approval. Projects are expected to commence no earlier than September 30, 2026, and must conclude by September 29, 2028. The program offers tiered funding levels with corresponding match requirements: Tier 1 ($1,000–$15,000) requires no match, Tier 2 ($15,001–$50,000) requires a 10% match, and Tier 3 ($50,001–$75,000) requires a 25% match. Matches can be satisfied through cash or in-kind services but cannot come from federal funds. All matching resources must be directly related to the project goals and clearly documented. The application must include several components, including a grantee self-assessment, budget, narrative, work plan, and cover sheet, along with identification of specific specialty crops involved. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov is required. Submissions must be sent to the WVDA by email or postmarked by 4:00 PM on January 30, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted. Applicants will be notified of the results following USDA-AMS review and the issuance of a federal award decision in late August or early September 2026. Evaluation criteria include project purpose, impact, sustainability, stakeholder involvement, and budget justification. Projects must demonstrate clear and measurable outcomes, relevance to WVDA’s priorities, and alignment with the USDA’s expectations for enhancing specialty crop competitiveness. Additional criteria assess the applicant’s ability to manage funds responsibly and deliver project results. All awards are contingent upon federal approval and compliance with the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act and applicable federal cost principles.

Focus on measurable impact across multiple producers; use match tier correctly; avoid projects that benefit only one farm or product.