Colorado Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is a federal grant program administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) to enhance the competitiveness of Colorado specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). For a list of plants commonly considered specialty crops, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.

Applications are closed. Applications for 2028-2029 projects will open in January 2027.

FFY 2026 Schedule

Phase 1: Concept Proposal (open to eligible applicants)

• Application Opens: Monday, January 5, 2026

• Informational Webinar (Watch the recording): Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 12 pm MST

• Application Closes: Friday, February 13, 2026 at 5 pm MST

• Review Period: mid-February to mid-March 2026

• Notices Sent to Applicants: Delayed until further notice

Phase 2: Project Plan (by invitation only)

• Invitation to Submit Project Plan: Delayed until further notice

• Project Plan Due: Delayed until further notice

• Project Plans Submitted to USDA: Delayed until further notice

• Project Plan Revisions with USDA: Delayed until further notice

Grant Award

• USDA Notice of Award: By September 30, 2026

• Grant Agreement Process: October to December 2026 (estimate)

• Earliest Project Start Date: January 1, 2027*

• Latest Project End Date: November 15, 2028

• Annual Reports Due: November 2027, November 2028, November 2029

*Subrecipients cannot be reimbursed for project costs incurred before the effective date of their agreement with the State.

CDA may deviate from this anticipated schedule as needed and without notice.

• Producer groups, organizations, and associations, as well as state and/or local organizations, academia, and other specialty crops stakeholders are eligible to apply with projects lasting from approximately January 1, 2024 to November 15, 2025, either as single entities or in combined efforts.

• Proposals submitted by individual producers must demonstrate that the potential impact of the project will accrue to a broader group of similar producers, region or industry segment. Projects may not solely benefit individuals, individual operations, or individual companies or businesses.

• All projects must solely enhance the competitiveness of Colorado specialty crops.

Money available. CDA does not publish a per-project cap. For FFY 2026: "CDA estimates that Colorado's total FFY 2026 SCBGP allocation will be approximately $800,000. CDA anticipates awarding approximately $700,000 of that allocation to subrecipient projects."

Match. None: "Applicants are not required to provide a cash or in-kind matching contribution" and "This funding opportunity does not have a federal cost-sharing requirement." Whether you are contributing match is still a scored review factor.

How you get paid. Reimbursement after the fact — "Funds will be released to the subrecipient through the reimbursement of eligible, documented expenses incurred within the grant agreement dates. Claims for reimbursement may not be made more often than monthly." You submit a claim form, invoice and supporting documentation; "Eligible project expenditures will not be reimbursed without proof of payment." Late reports can get reimbursement withheld.

What is not payable. No paying down debt or general administrative expenses (rent, phone, printers/copiers, legal services); no capital expenditures for general-purpose equipment, buildings or land; no lobbying or political activity. Special-purpose equipment over $10,000/unit is allowable if used solely to benefit specialty-crop competitiveness. Items under $10,000 count as supplies, not equipment. Grant funds "are intended to supplement (not replace) private, state, and/or third-party funding."

Insurance. "Each subrecipient must obtain and maintain at least $1,000,000 in general liability, at least $1,000,000 in automobile liability, and workers' compensation insurance per statute for the full length of the grant agreement."

Term. Projects start no earlier than January 1, 2027 and end no later than November 15, 2028; nothing incurred before your agreement's start date is reimbursable. Annual reports due November 2027, 2028 and 2029.

Status. "Applications are CLOSED. Applications for 2028-2029 projects will open in January 2027."

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) will accept concept proposals between January 5, 2026 and February 13, 2026 for projects starting no earlier than January 1, 2027 and ending no later than November 15, 2028.

CDA anticipates awarding approximately $700,000 to FFY 2026 projects.

Producer groups, organizations, and associations, as well as state and local governments, colleges and universities, nonprofits, and other specialty crop stakeholders are eligible to apply either as single entities or in combined efforts. Proposals submitted by individual producers must demonstrate that the potential impact of the project will accrue to a broader group of similar producers, region, or industry segment. Projects may not solely benefit individuals, individual operations, or individual companies or businesses.

CDA encourages applicants to submit concept proposals that focus on the following State priorities:

1. Creating and expanding pathways to increase profitability and access diverse markets;

2. Addressing labor challenges;

3. Investing in new agricultural technology; and

4. Responding to pest, disease, and climate pressures.

CDA’s competitive solicitation process will be divided into two (2) phases: 

• Phase 1: Concept Proposal

• Phase 2: Project Plan

Applicants may submit one or more concept proposals in Phase 1 using the online application form by 5:00 pm MST on February 13, 2026. All eligible concept proposals will be evaluated by a review committee comprised of experts and qualified individuals.

Applicants will be notified whether they have been selected to participate in Phase 2 and complete a project plan to be included in Colorado's FFY 2026 state plan in mid-March or early April 2026. CDA will provide further instructions at that time.

• Watch a recording of the 1/13/2026 informational webinar on YouTube

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• Obtain a Unique Entity ID (UEI) from SAM.gov

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• View USDA's list of plants commonly considered specialty crops as well as ineligible commodities

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• Read summaries of previously funded SCBGP projects

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• Review last year's (FFY 2025) Request for Applications (RFA) from USDA-AMS

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• Read through USDA-AMS Grant Division's General Terms and Conditions

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For any technical issues, email us at cda_scbgp@state.co.us

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The Colorado Department of Agriculture is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to its services, programs, activities, education, employment, and applications. If accommodation or assistance is requested, please contact us at cda_a11y@state.co.us

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