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Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program

The Specialty Crop Multi-State Program is a new federal grant program offered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. The program competitively funds projects to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through collaborative, multi-state projects that address specialty crop issues, including food safety; plant pests and disease; research; crop-specific projects addressing common issues; and marketing and promotion on regional or national-levels. AMS will award approximately $10 million and proposals can request between $250,000 and $1,000,000.

Eligible projects must address:

  • Food safety
  • Plant pests and disease
  • Research
  • Crop-specific projects addressing common issues
  • Marketing and promotion

SUBMISSION

Multi-state partners must submit their proposals to a Participating State department of agriculture to be considered for funding. Participating States will accept proposals from multi-state partners; screen proposals to ensure they are complete and meet the basic requirements outlined in the 2019 SCMP Request for Applications; and submit all eligible proposals to AMS. AMS will make all final funding decisions. Multi-state partners must select only one participating State department of agriculture to work with. Multiple submissions of the same application are not allowed.

The deadline for submitting proposals to a Participating State department of agriculture has been set for 5 PM Eastern time on September 1, 2019. The deadline for the multi-state proposals is also posted on the USDA website. Please keep checking the USDA –AMS for updated information and other pertinent information provided by their office. Once proposals are received Participating State department of agricultures will screen individual proposals and submit all qualified proposals the AMS by October 1, 2019.

List of the Participating State departments of agriculture

GRANT ADMINISTRATING

Participating States department of agriculture will then assume administrative responsibility for any funded proposals they submitted. As the official award recipients, Participating States will establish sub-grant agreements with multi-state partners to complete funded projects. Participating States do not determine which projects are funded or assist multi-state partners in proposal development.   If your project is selected for funding opportunity there will be a negotiation phase to determine the 8% indirect cost allotment to the states participating in the project and the Participating State department of agriculture responsible for administering the project.

PROCESS SUMMARY

1.       Multi-State Partners review the 2019 SCMP Request for Applications 

2.       Develop your application

3.       Choose a start date for your project in calendar year 2019

4.       Select a Participating State department of agriculture with whom to file application

5.       Check USDA-AMS website for postings of Submission Deadline to State department of agriculture and updates

6.       Participating States will screen proposals for eligibility once submitted

7.       Participating state will submit eligible proposals to USDA-AMS

8.       USDA-AMS will review proposals and select

9.       Funded projects and their Participating State department of agriculture will negotiate indirect costs

10.   USDA-AMS will make final award announcements

11.   Contracting between Multi-State Partners and their Participating State department of agriculture

CONTACT

Michelle Estay, Director
Commodity Promotions and Research
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
985-345-9483
email