Updated 11/10/09

Grant Opportunities

REQUEST FOR INDUSTRY PRIORITIES
2010 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill

WSDA is seeking stakeholder input on specialty crop priority needs for 2010. Funding priorities may be set based on the information submitted. The deadline to submit input is November 25, 2009.

To provide your input, please complete this form: 2010 Priority Needs, e-mail to WSDA at specialtycrop@agr.wa.gov, or mail to:   

Washington State Department of Agriculture
Grants and Contracts
PO Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560

For additional information, please e-mail specialtycrop@agr.wa.gov or call (360) 902-2177.

2010 Specialty Crop Grant Program

WSDA anticipates conducting a competitive process for 2010 Specialty Crop Grant awards. Updated information coming soon.

General information: Under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill, the USDA provides grants to each state to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Funding may only be used for activities that impact specialty crops, and projects must have multiple beneficiaries.

What are Specialty Crops? Specialty crops include most fruits, vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, tree nuts, nursery, floriculture and horticulture crops. For a list of commonly considered specialty crops, see Definition of Specialty Crops [external link].

For additional information, or to be added to WSDA’s Specialty Crop email distribution list, please contact WSDA at specialtycrop@agr.wa.gov.

2009 Specialty Crop Grant Program

WSDA conducted a two-phase competitive process to award 2009 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill funds. The award process is now complete. Fourteen projects were selected and have been approved by USDA. See News Release [internal link] for the full list of Washington State projects.

2009 Value-Added Producer Grant Program

On September 1, 2009 USDA Rural Development (RD) announced the availability of approximately $18 million in competitive grants for FY 2009 to help independent agricultural producers enter into or expand value-added activities.  

Applications are due to USDA on November 30, 2009. For application materials [external link] and requirements, visit the USDA Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG) website at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm [external link].  

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) [PDF 101 kB]

2010 Farmers Market Promotion Program

The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) provides grants to help improve and expand domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agri-tourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Entities submit applications directly to USDA.

Approximately $5 million is allocated for 2010 and $10 million for 2011 and 2012. The maximum amount awarded for any one proposal cannot exceed $100,000.

2010 application instructions will be posted once announced by USDA. See FMPP website for more details.