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Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Contact: Allison Ross, Grants Specialist, [email protected]

Due to recent Executive Orders, this federal funding may be reduced or cancelled. The State of Utah makes no guarantee about the availability of these funds. Applications will be open until April 9, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is a competitive grant program operated by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) in which funding from the United States Department of Agriculture is awarded to eligible applicants to support Utah’s specialty crop industry. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture — including nursery crops, and more. Click here for a complete list of eligible specialty crops.

This grant is open to producers, schools, trade associations, non-profits, farmers markets, farming and ranching co-ops, etc. headquartered in Utah. Potential projects may include a broad range of focus such as improving marketing, research, training, certifications, food safety, pest control, plant health and beyond for specialty crops. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to enhance the competitiveness of Utah grown specialty crops and benefit more than one producer or organization.

Applicants will apply through the Submittable platform using the link below and must have a Unique Entity Identifier to submit their application. Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI) can be acquired free-of-charge from the federal government at SAM.gov. This process can take some time, so applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process quickly, and not to wait until the last week as it is unlikely the UEI will be assigned in time. A guide to getting a UEI is in the Helpful Links and Documents section. Please read all the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant information below before applying.

2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Information:

Award Funding:

    • UDAF is anticipating receiving between $300,000 and $350,000 to have available to be awarded. Individual project requests may not exceed $100,000. There is no request minimum.

Important Dates:

    • Applications Open: March 5, 2025
    • Application Close Date: April 9, 2025 at 11:59pm
    • Application Review Period: April 2025
    • Awards Provisionally Announced: April-May 2025
    • Final USDA Award Approval: May-June 2025
    • Contracts signed and completed: September 2025
    • Project Start Date: September 30, 2025

*Note that the bolded events may or may not occur, depending on the availability of USDA funds. The State of Utah makes no guarantee about the availability of these funds.

Overview:

    • Selected projects must run no longer than September 30th, 2025 – to September 29th, 2028
    • This year, priority will be placed on projects that 
      • Strengthening the supply chain (including aggregation, distribution, storage, processing, and developing food hubs)
      • Improving market access (including marketing, consumer education, and developing local, international, and institutional markets)
      • Research and development (including developing new seed or plant varieties, pest & disease management, and conservation practices)
      • Producer education and workforce development
      • Enhancing food safety and regulatory compliance
*For project proposals outside the scope of the categories above, pre-approval must be granted; email [email protected] for more information.

Eligibility:

    • The grant is open to producers, private businesses, schools, trade associations, non-profits, farming and ranching co-ops, etc. headquartered in Utah.
Additional applicant types may be eligible, email [email protected] for more information.

Review Process:

The review process for this round of funding has two stages, an initial eligibility review followed by a selection committee review. Projects that only benefit one applicant, are centered on ineligible crops, or projects with incomplete applications will be disqualified.

Rating Criteria:

Projects will be rating on the following: 

    • Budget is reasonable and only includes necessary costs (5 points)
    • Objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, and aligned with the overall goals of the project (5 points)
    • Project demonstrates potential for long-term sustainability after grant funding ends (10 points)
    • Project includes a clearly identified problem, and sufficient details on how the project will address the stated problem (15 points). An extra 5 points will be awarded for a novel approach or innovative solution.
    • Project strongly relates to the following funding priorities (additional weight will be given to projects addressing higher priority areas or multiple priority areas) (maximum 20 points):
      • Strengthening the supply chain (including aggregation, distribution, storage, processing, and developing food hubs) (up to 18 points)
      • Improving market access (including marketing, consumer education, and developing local, international, and institutional markets) (up to 16 points)
      • Research and development (including developing new seed or plant varieties, pest & disease management, and conservation practices) (up to 14 points)
      • Producer education and workforce development (up to 12 points)
      • Enhancing food safety and regulatory compliance (up to 10 points)
    • Project impact on specialty crop industry as a whole (20 points)

2025 SCBG Scoring Sheet

 
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Success Stories:

Additional Information:

Note: Grant funds may be considered taxable income. Please consult a tax professional with any questions.