Description
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is soliciting proposals for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Massachusetts. The program aims to leverage efforts to market and promote specialty crops, assist producers with research and development, expand availability and access to specialty crops, and address local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. Eligible applicants include farmers, ranchers, non-profit organizations, local government entities, for-profit organizations, industry trade associations, producer groups, and commodity commissions. The grant period must begin no earlier than October 1, 2026, and end no later than September 29, 2029. The suggested dollar value of projects is between $40,000 and $90,000 per project.
• Examples of eligible projects include increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops, improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems, and investing in specialty crop research.
• Ineligible projects include proposals for funds to purchase starter plants or equipment used to plant, cultivate, and grow a specialty crop for the purpose of making a profit, and proposals that seek to support a non-specialty crop project.
• The evaluation criteria include the project's purpose, objectives, expected measurable outcomes, data collection plan, timeline, budget, and community support.
• The application must be submitted electronically, and the deadline for submission is April 3, 2026, 2:00 PM.