Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - Washington

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill, administered in Washington by WSDA, funds projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The Funding Year 2027 competitive process is a two-phase process expected to award an estimated $4.7 million: a Phase I Concept Proposal followed by a Phase II Full Grant Proposal (by invitation only). FY2027 projects have a performance period beginning no earlier than 9/30/27 and ending no later than 9/29/30. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Acceptable projects benefit the specialty crop industry broadly rather than a single organization or a for-profit's own production. The program is authorized under section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (as amended by the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018) and implemented under 7 CFR part 1291.

Eligible organizations include industry associations, producer groups, commodity commissions, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, local/state/federal government entities, and educational institutions. Projects must solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and cannot benefit a single organization, institution, or individual; they must provide a public or industry-wide benefit. Requests to buy starter plants or equipment to grow specialty crops for a single organization's profit, or to promote a single organization to increase membership, are not acceptable.

Per-project award range. From WSDA's Request for Proposals: "Grant requests can range from $25,000 to $250,000," restated in the eligibility section as "Funding requests must fall between $25,000 and $250,000 per project. If awarded WSDA has the right to increase or decrease the amount of the award." So the range is a submission constraint as well as an award range, and the final figure is WSDA's call.

Grant period. "The maximum grant period for each award is three (3) years." The end date is hard: for the FY2026 cycle, "Extensions beyond September 29, 2029, will NOT be available. (This includes no-cost extensions)." FY2027 projects run no earlier than 9/30/27 to no later than 9/29/30.

Match. No cash or in-kind match requirement is published.

Funding pool, and a caveat on which year you are reading. The published $25,000-$250,000 range and the 3-year period come from the FY2026 RFP, which anticipated "approximately $3.9 million to award." WSDA's program page describes the current FY2027 two-phase competition as awarding "an estimated $4.7 million dollars" — but the FY2027 RFP is still forthcoming, so the FY2027 per-project range has not been published yet and could change. Note also that the pool is the total across all awards, not what one applicant can get.

How you get paid. Reimbursement, governed by 2 CFR 200 (Assistance Listing Number 10.170). The RFP sets terms on timely drawdown of funds, indirect costs, property and equipment disposition, procurement, and a limit on active projects. Awardees must hold a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active SAM.gov registration "at all times during which there is an active award or an application under consideration."

Conditions that disqualify a budget. "The SCBGP will not award grant funds for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. This program will not provide funds to start or expand a farm or other business venture." Recipients also "cannot use grant funds to compete with private companies." Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Applicants must apply online following the instructions and requirements in the Request for Proposals (RFP). For Funding Year 2027, the deadline to submit a Phase I Concept Proposal is 12:00 p.m. (PST) on October 30, 2026; late submittals are not accepted. Successful Phase I applicants are invited to submit a Phase II Full Grant Proposal. The FY2026 RFP is available to download for program requirements and eligibility, and the FY2027 RFP is forthcoming.