Michigan Specialty Crop Block Grants

The Michigan Specialty Crop Block Grant Program supports projects to enhance the competitiveness of Michigan's specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, and horticulture. This initiative provides funding for marketing, research, and education to improve food safety and security while promoting sustainability. Grants up to $125,000 are available, and applicants must demonstrate a broad impact on the community and industry. The program fosters collaboration among various stakeholders to ensure the growth of specialty crops in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Program awards funds to projects to enhance the competitiveness of Michigan specialty crops, which include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
Purpose
The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Specialty Crop Block Grant
Program supports projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of Michigan specialty crops.
The funds can be used for projects involved in promotion, marketing, research, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education, increased child adult nutrition knowledge and consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product development, good agricultural practices, good handling practices, and good manufacturing practices.
Funding Priorities
Market Enhancement to promote specialty cropsMarket Expansion, Availability, and Access to Specialty CropsConsumer Marketing Campaigns
Economic Impact Studies
Farm to institution, including but not limited to restaurants, food service, grocery stores, schools and institutionsResearch and Development relevant to specialty cropsPlant Health & Pest Management
Farm Sustainability
Training & Education addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producersEnhancing Food SafetyConsumer Awareness Education to increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty cropsConservationEnvironmental Sustainability
Workforce and labor across the supply chain
This is a cost reimbursement program. Grantees must expend funds initially and may request reimbursement from MDARD according to the reporting requirements outlined in the Grant Agreement. This will include sending the report, invoice to MDARD, and proper documentation for proof of payment for expenses
The State of Michigan and the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development prohibit
discrimination on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, marital status, partisan considerations, or a disability or genetic information that is unrelated to the person's ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position.
Award Information
The maximum award amount is $125,000 regardless of proposal type.   Projects must be completed within two years after project is given its initiation date.

Eligibility

Eligible entities include non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, local, state, and federal government entities, including tribal governments.If you are a university applying for funding, your application must be submitted by the commodity group or other eligible organization for which the work is being performed.  Benefit More Than One Product or OrganizationProposals for grant funds should show how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.Applicants must include a plan to disseminate results, research findings, and conclusions to specialty crop growers, target industries or stakeholders.Applicants must reside, and/or conduct their business or organization in Michigan and must be in good standing. See a list of Eligible commodities.

Ineligibility

Ineligible Criteria:
Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that directly benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual, as these projects do not enhance specialty crop industry competitiveness.Incomplete proposals, including proposals with one or more unanswered questions and/or
missing, unreadable, or otherwise unusable attachments. Proposals with activities outside the grant duration.
Proposals with more than the maximum award amount.
Proposals with unallowable costs and activities necessary to complete the project
objectives. Proposals for ineligible or non-specialty crop commodities.