Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is seeking grant applications from organizations or groups of individuals interested in solely enhancing the competitiveness of the state's specialty crop industry. Grant applications are due on March 31, 2010. Applications will be considered on a competitive basis and ranked by a peer review panel. Selected applications will be included in the Missouri specialty crop state plan and reviewed and approved by the USDA.

Applications for grant funds should show how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual. Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners. Grant funds may not be used for administrative overhead.

Applicants must be a legal entity and have the legal capacity to contract. Applicants also are strongly encouraged to provide a cash match for their projects.

Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops, including floriculture. Some examples of enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops are research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, food safety and security, plant health, education, "buy local" programs, addressing environmental concerns and developing cooperatives. For more information about the specialty crop block grant program, including a current list of eligible crops, visit USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

For additional program information, please contact:

Tony Anderson (573) 751-2969 or Tony.Anderson@mda.mo.gov
Bart Hawcroft (573)-526-6666 or Bart.Hawcroft@mda.mo.gov
Sarah Gehring (573)522-9213 or Sarah.Gehring@mda.mo.gov

MDA Grant Application Information

FY 2010 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Application Manual and sample grant.

Application due March 31, 2010

Specialty Crop Block Grant Recipients for Fiscal Year 2009
Specialty Crop Block Grant Recipients for Fiscal Year 2010

Additional Resources

As a guide for unallowable and allowable costs, the MDA provides the following link to the USDA, AMS Specialty Crop Unallowable and Allowable Costs for State Governments. The MDA disallows specialty crop funds used for administrative overhead.
Specialty Crop Block Grant Allowable Costs
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Logic Model