Idaho Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (HR133 Special Funding)

H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding and ISDA has provided an additional $2 million in competitive specialty crop block grants with a later deadline than the main annual program. Priority will be given to projects that respond to COVID-19 impacts.

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:

• Marketing and promoting specialty crops

• Addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers

• Expanding availability and access to specialty crops

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

• Pest and disease control

• Sustainability

• Enhancing food safety

• 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

• Responding to risks and supply chain disruptions

  • Making certain facility adjustments (Rearrangement and Reconversion Costs) to protect employees and the public from potential COVID-19 exposure. Facility adjustments as “Rearrangement and Reconversion Costs,” including installation of plexiglass barriers and other spacing adjustments to protect employees and the public from potential COVID-19 exposure. However, individual items should be considered supplies and must cost less than $5,000 per item.

• Implementing market adaptations related to COVID-19 for projects that benefit a variety of businesses.

• Purchasing and providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Single items must not cost more than $5,000 per unit price. (e.g. one box of masks counts as a unit, not each separate mask).

• Facility adjustments as “Rearrangement and Reconversion Costs,” including installation of plexiglass barriers and other spacing adjustments to protect employees and the public from potential COVID-19 exposure. However, individual items should be considered supplies and must cost less than $5,000 per

• General purpose equipment over $5,000 is allowable if it is rented or leased.

• Vaccination costs, such as paying stipends to cover leave and travel time.

• Worker housing to protect employees from COVID-19 exposure, as a direct cost connected to the purpose of the SCBGP and the objectives of the project. This does not include construction or expansion of facilities.

ISDA is seeking proposals from individual businesses, specialty crop producers, non-profit organizations, local, state, and federal government entities, and for-profit organizations for projects that aim to enhance the production and competitiveness of Idaho specialty crops. In order to be eligible to participate, applicants must reside in or their business or organization must be in Idaho.

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

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

• Application Information Sheet (Exhibit A)

• Line Item Budget (Exhibit B)

• Letters of Support (Optional)

Applications must be emailed to Laura.Johnson@isda.idaho.gov no later than Sunday, May 15th, 2022.

• HR133 SCBG Application

• HR133 Specialty Crop Block Grant Application Guidelines

• HR133 Application Information Sheet (Exhibit A)

• HR133 Line Item Budget Form (Exhibit B)

• HR133 Application Outcome Measures and Indicators

• HR133 SCBG FAQs

• HR133 Application Checklist

• Register with SAM.gov