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California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) has released the Request for Concept Proposals for the 2016 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. This is a two-phase competitive grant program, with a first-phase deadline on December 4, 2015. Successful applicants will then be invited to submit a detailed second-phase proposals in March 2016. Applicants must submit proposals for projects that enhance the competitiveness of the California specialty crops. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

Each proposal must fall under one of the following 2016 SCBGP Program Priorities:

1.  Market Enhancement
   • California Grown Promotion
   • Market Expansion & Access
2. Training & Education
   • Specialty Crop Nutrition Education
   • Equipping Current & Next Generation Specialty Crop Farmers
3. Research
   • Environmental Stewardship & Conservation
   • Plant Health & Pest Management
   • Food Safety

Funding & Duration: Grant amounts being requested can range from $50,000-$450,000. The program maximum amount can be two years and six months, and grant funds cannot be expended before October 1, 2016 or after March 31, 2019.

Eligibility: Non-profit and for-profit organizations; local, state, and federal government entities, including tribal governments and cooperatives; and public or private college and universities are eligible to apply. Individuals are not eligible to apply and projects may not benefit or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Applicants are permitted to submit more than one concept proposal as long as the projects are different from one another.

We currently are accepting clients interested in pursuing this grant opportunity, but do have limited space available. If you are interested in applying, please reach out to the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764 no later than November 4, 2015.