Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) — North Carolina

NCDA&CS administers annual USDA-AMS Specialty Crop Block Grant funding to enhance the competitiveness of North Carolina specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants, nursery, floriculture, horticulture). Competitive; the program has traditionally received about $1.2 million to fund proposals, with individual grant requests up to $200,000.

Eligible applicants: state and local government units, academia (universities, colleges, local school systems), and non-profit organizations including producer associations, community-based organizations and other specialty crop stakeholders (single or combined entities). Individuals and businesses (including farms) are NOT eligible. Funds cannot benefit or profit a single organization, institution, or individual.

Award ceiling: $200,000 per request. The 2026 NC SCBGP Information & Guidelines state: "The maximum grant request for 2026 can be no more than $200,000." The NCDA&CS press release (1/20/2026) puts it the same way: "The department will accept grant requests of up to $200,000 from the eligible groups listed above." No minimum request is published.

Statewide pool, not an award: "The NCDA&CS anticipates awarding approximately $1.2 million using a competitive review process" and "will award multiple grants from these funds for the fiscal year 2026 grant cycle." Funding is contingent on the USDA-AMS allocation.

You may be offered less than you ask for: "The NCDA&CS reserves the right to offer an award amount less than the amount requested in the application."

Match: the guidelines state no cost-share or matching requirement.

Indirect costs are disallowed entirely: "Indirect or administration costs are not allowed. Please put $0 in this section" of the budget.

Project period: the 2026 cycle anticipates a project start date of January 1, 2026, and "Projects will not be extended past June 30, 2029." Budget adjustments during the project period require a written request.

Structural limit worth knowing: "Grants are not available for projects that directly benefit or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual" — and individuals and businesses, including farms, cannot apply at all. This is a program a farmer benefits from through an association or university partner, not one they draw a check from.

Apply during the annual window at ncspecialtycrops.com/apply. The 2026 window ran Jan 20 – March 10, 2026 (now closed); an optional draft-review deadline was Jan 28. Reopens annually around January. Guidelines, cover page, and project profile templates posted at ncagr.gov/grants/specialty-crops/apply.