Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP)

2025 USDA/AMS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) For Georgia

2025 Request for Applications RFA (PDF)

Proposal/Application template: USDA Template (PDF)
(Please note: this form will not open in all web browsers. If you cannot view this form in your browser, you will need to download it and open with Adobe Acrobat.)

Applications must be RECEIVED by GDA by NOON on Tuesday, MARCH 4, 2025. No exceptions/extensions. Send only to grants@agr.georgia.gov

Note that ONLY grower associations, commodity commissions, colleges, universities, local governments, and current IRS-designated non-profits (in partnership with a Georgia college or university) may submit a Concept Proposal for this grant: Individuals and businesses (including farms) are not eligible to apply for the SCBGP in Georgia.

After reading the RFA, direct any questions (in writing, no calls please) to Grants@agr.georgia.gov

About the SCBGP

The purpose of the SCBGP is to provide funding for projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Georgia. Your proposal must focus on research, education, or marketing, and it must benefit the specialty crop industry.

Specialty crops eligible for the SCBGP are: fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turf grass/sod, and nursery and greenhouse crops (including floriculture). See a full detailed list at the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.

The current funding priorities for the SCBGP for Georgia are

increasing consumption of specialty crops in Georgia’s schools,
enhancing specialty crop food safety,
helping the industry develop improved practices,
increasing sales and marketability for commercially grown specialty crops, and
research projects.

Got a suggestion for other funding priorities? Contact us at the email below.

We aim to fund projects that benefit Georgia’s specialty crop producers. Applications will be scored based on their potential impact on Georgia’s Specialty Crop industry.

Who can apply

Your group MUST be based in Georgia.
Your group MUST fall into one of the following categories: grower associations, commodity commissions, colleges, universities, state/local governments, and IRS-designated non-profits (in partnership with a Georgia college or university).
Individuals and businesses (including farms) are NOT eligible to apply for the SCBGP.
Non-profit organizations that are applying for the first time MUST partner with a principal Investigator (PI) from a Georgia college or university, preferably from either of Georgia’s Land Grant institutions (UGA or FVSU).
If you have submitted the same project to GDA twice in the past and it hasn’t been funded, it cannot be submitted again. You’re welcome to submit a new project for consideration.