FY27 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

FY27 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is a participating state in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) funded Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). IDOA accepts applications for Illinois grant project proposals to be included in Illinois' annual State Plan.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) assists the Illinois Department of Agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by:
(1) leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops;
(2) assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops;
(3) expanding availability and access to specialty crops;
(4) addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers; and
(5) for such other purposes determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with specialty crop stakeholders and relevant State departments of agriculture.

Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). The Illinois Department of Agriculture is the agency, commission, or department of the State government responsible for agriculture within Illinois. Additional information specialty crops may be found on the USDA-AMS website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop.

Details

• Awarding Agency: Agriculture
• Departments: Bureau of Marketing & Promotion
• CSFA Number: 406-32-0039
• CSFA Popular Name: SCBGP
• Funding Opportunity Number: 406-32-0039
• Assistance Listings Number: 10.170
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $796,255.11
• Funding Sources: Federal Or Federal Pass Through
• Indirect Costs Allowed: Yes
• Posted Date: 2026-05-07
• Award Period: 2027-01-01 – 2029-09-29

Funding Source Description

Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) requests applications for the 2026 fiscal year (FY) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The purpose of this program is to award grants to eligible State departments of agriculture to carry out projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

The amount available for the SCBGP in 2026 is approximately $86.6 million.

This announcement identifies the eligibility criteria for SCBGP projects and applicants, and the application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for a SCBGP award.

Project funding is contingent on funding for the SCBGP being made available by USDA-AMS.

Indirect Cost Description

Negotiated indirect cost rates above the 8 percent threshold, including the 15 percent de minimis indirect cost rate, cannot be used under this grant.

Restrictions on Indirect Costs

Yes

Citation Governing Indirect Cost Restriction

Section 101(k)(2) of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. § 1621 note), as amended

State Award Notices

This notification will include the amount of funding for which the grant administrator has determined the project is eligible. The Notice of State Award (NOSA) will specify the funding terms and specific conditions resulting from the pre-award risk assessments. The NOSA must be accepted in the GATA Portal/AmpliFund by an authorized representative of the grantee organization. The NOSA is not an authorization to begin performance or incur costs.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Grant Uniform Requirements: The Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (30 ILCS 708/1 et seq.) (and its related administrative rules, 44 Ill. Admin. Code Part 7000), was enacted to increase the accountability and transparency in the use of grant funds from whatever source and to reduce administrative burdens on both State agencies and grantees by adopting federal guidance and regulations applicable to those grant funds; specifically, the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200).

Reporting Grantees funded through this NOFO are required to submit in the format required by the Grantor, at least on a quarterly basis, the Periodic Financial Report and Periodic Performance Report electronically. Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.328, Periodic Financial Reports shall be submitted no later than 30 calendar days following the period covered by the report. Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.329, Periodic Performance Reports shall be submitted no later than 30 calendar days following the period covered by the report. Any additional reporting requirements will be disclosed in the NOSA. Grantees are required within 60 calendar days following the end of the period of performance to submit a final closeout report in the format required by the Grantor (See 2 CFR 200.344; 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.440(b)).

Monitoring and Access to Information. Grantee must monitor its activities to assure compliance with applicable state and federal requirements and to assure its performance expectations are being achieved. Grantor will monitor the activities of Grantee to assure compliance with all requirements, including applicable programmatic rules, regulations, and guidelines that the Grantor promulgates or implements, and performance expectations of the Award. Grantee must timely submit all financial and performance reports, and must supply, upon Grantor’s request, documents and information relevant to the Award. Grantor may make site visits as warranted by Program needs. 2 CFR 200.329; 200.332.

Audits. Grantee is subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 USC 7501-7507), Subpart F of 2 CFR Part 200, and the audit rules and policies set forth by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. 30 ILCS 708/65(c); 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.90.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

As part of the Notice of Award (NOA), all grant recipients must abide by the AMS General Terms and Conditions, which reference applicable Administrative and National Policy Requirements. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/FY26AMSGDGeneralTermsandConditions.pdf

Reporting

Quarterly Progress and Financial Reports, Annual Progress Reports, Final Progress Reports, and Close Out Reports.

Additional Information

https://agr.illinois.gov/assistance/illinoisfarmprograms/specialty-crop-grants.html

For more information about the Illinois Specialty Crop Block Grant Opportunity.