Illinois Specialty Crop Block Grant

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) administers USDA AMS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery/floriculture crops). Eligible project areas include food safety, FSMA compliance, specialty crop research and technology, nutrition/consumption, pest and disease control, food access in underserved communities and among veterans, pollinator health, distribution efficiency, and new/improved seed varieties.

Nonprofit organizations; local government entities; tribal governments; institutions (schools, universities, hospitals); and for-profit farmers or producers connecting the public and/or other farmers/producers to specialty crops with educational programs. Applicants must be registered and in good standing with SAM.gov and GATA, and registered on Euna Grants. Projects must benefit the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.

No match requirement. Federal award maximum $75,000 per applicant; IDOA may offer partial awards. Anticipated funding to Illinois: $796,255.11 (FY2027). Implementation/funding period January 1, 2027 – September 29, 2029. Reimbursement grant — recipients pay expenses up front and request reimbursement. Illinois priorities: beginning farmers/first-time specialty crop producers, nutrition/health education, sustainability/conservation. Ineligible: projects benefiting a single organization/individual, real property acquisition, activities already federally funded. FOA: USDA-AMS-TM-SCBGP-G-26-0004; CFDA 10.170.

Pre-register in SAM.gov, the GATA Grantee Portal, and Euna Grants (Amplifund). Complete the application within Euna Grants (Uniform Grant Application, USDA Project Profile Application, Illinois Funding Priorities section, budget, and attachments). Achieve GATA 'qualified' status and submit by the application deadline (2026 window: May 7 – June 5, 2026, 12:00 PM CDT). Competitive review by an independent panel; final award by USDA AMS.