Idaho Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Specialty crop grant funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and is allocated to the state to be awarded through a competitive grant process. Projects must solely enhance the competitiveness of U.S. grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets and must provide a benefit to more than just the applicant. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.

Projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops 

• Pest and disease control 

• Sustainability 

• Enhancing food safety 

• Developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops 

• Improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems 

• Improving the capacity of all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain to comply with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act

• Investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes 

Funds are available to interested local, state, and federal government agencies, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and universities.

Ambrook recommends thoroughly reading the Application guidelines before submitting their application packet, which must include the following (All available below):

• Application – Must use our application template below and it must be no more than fifteen (15) pages

• Application Information Sheet (Exhibit A)

• Letters of Support (Optional, but highly encouraged)

Applications must be emailed to Brenden.Meyet@isda.idaho.gov no later than Sunday, March 5, 2023.

• 2023 SCBG Application

• Sample Project

• 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Application Guidelines

• 2023 Application Information Sheet (Exhibit A)

• 2023 Application Outcome Measures and Indicators

• 2023 Application Checklist

• 2023 SCBG Application Webinar Presentation (February 7th, 1 PM MTN)

• Register with SAM.gov