Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) — West Virginia

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), administered by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) with USDA Agricultural Marketing Service funds, awards competitive grants that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops — fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture/nursery crops including floriculture. Applications are competitively reviewed before selection and submission to USDA.

West Virginia specialty crop stakeholders (producers, businesses, nonprofits, and institutions) proposing eligible specialty crop projects. Grants run on a two-year cycle in West Virginia; the maximum award for any grant is $100,000.

Two live WVDA sources give different ceilings. The FY2026 Instruction Manual (the Request for Applications) is the operative document for the current cycle and sets tiered awards with a tiered match:

• "Tier 1-$1,000-$15,000-micro grants (no match required)"

• "Tier 2-$15,001-$50,000-intermediate grants (10% match required)"

• "Tier 3-$50,001-$75,000-large grants (25% match required)"

Match rules: "Funds from other federal sources MAY NOT be used to meet the match requirement." It must be satisfied with "CASH — for example, funds contributed from private sources or state and local governments such as a portion of someone's salary, or IN-KIND SERVICES — for example, services and goods donated by the applicant organization or other entities such as a volunteer, or donated food," and must be "directly related to the project goals and objectives." Critically, the "[a]mount of match required is calculated as a percentage (10% or 25%) of the total project cost (the sum of grant funds and match funds), NOT just the amount of grant funds requested." WVDA's own worked example: "$75,000 divided by .75=$100,000-Total Project; $100,000 minus $75,000=$25,000-25% match required for $75,000 grant request."

The program landing page states a different, higher cap: "Grant are on a two-year cycle in West Virginia and the maximum amount for any grant is $100,000." That conflicts with the FY2026 manual's $75,000 top tier — flagged for a human to confirm which figure governs (award.max in this record is still the landing page's $100,000).

Ineligible costs: "Costs for general administrative, accounting or indirect costs are not" allowed. Equipment is defined as items with a useful life "of more than one year, and an acquisition cost that equals or exceeds $5,000."

Round size, for scale: "The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) anticipates receiving approximately $300,000 in FY 26 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds. The WVDA expects to award multiple grants from this funding." "The WVDA awarded more than $302,000 in SCBG funding in FY2025."

Complete the FY2026 SCBG Application per the Instruction Manual (with the Grantee Self-Assessment, Attachment A) and submit to WVDA. FY2026 applications were due Friday, January 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM, with grants awarded September 2026. Biennial cycle. Questions: 304-558-2210 or grants@wvda.us. Forms at agriculture.wv.gov.