Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) — Georgia

USDA-AMS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Funds projects that enhance the competitiveness of Georgia specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass/sod, and nursery/greenhouse crops including floriculture) through research, education, or marketing. Georgia priorities include increasing specialty-crop consumption in schools, food safety, improved industry practices, sales/marketability, and research. The 2026 application deadline is closed; the 2027 RFA is expected to post on/around February 1, 2027.

Only Georgia-headquartered grower associations, commodity commissions, colleges, universities, state/local governments, and IRS-designated nonprofits (in partnership with a Georgia college/university). Individuals and businesses (including farms) are NOT eligible to apply directly (institutional). First-time nonprofit applicants must partner with a PI from a Georgia college/university, preferably UGA or FVSU.

From the 2026 Request for Applications: "Individual project award funding requests require a minimum request of $20,000 up to a maximum of $100,000. Grants may be applied-for in excess of $100,000 for certain marketing or education projects, but must be approved by GDA (by email) well in advance of submission."

Project term: "Awarded projects will have up to 3 years to complete the requirements of the grant."

Match: "No match is required for this grant."

Overhead is not recoverable: "Note that no indirect/administrative/F&A costs can be charged for this grant. This is because USDA caps it at 8% for SCBG and GDA retains that amount to cover its overhead costs. No program income should be listed on the application."

Expect to be funded below your request, if at all: "Please also note that this is a very competitive grant. Only a fraction (appx. 1/4) of the applications received will be funded, and often at an amount reduced from the requested amount."

Figures are from the 2026 RFA, which GDA posts for reference while the 2026 cycle is closed; the 2027 RFA is expected on or around February 1, 2027.

Submit during an open RFA period to the Georgia Department of Agriculture at grants@agr.georgia.gov. 2026 cycle closed; check back on/around February 1, 2027 for the 2027 RFA.