CDA to award nearly $1M to help specialty crops recover from pandemic

The Colorado Department of Agriculture has begun accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, a federal grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This application period is in addition to the annual application period that opens in December. CDA has approximately $900,000 in stimulus funds to award through this application process.

In addition to the regular SCBGP funding authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (“Farm Bill”), the U.S. Congress has awarded additional one-time SCBGP funding to state departments of agriculture due to the COVID-19 impacts on the food system under House Resolution 133 (“H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding”).

“The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is an important resource for supporting and strengthening the Colorado specialty crop industry,” said Jennifer Benson, a grant specialist with CDA. “This grant opportunity will help producers who are trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and who are thinking creatively about how to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, sustain the livelihood of farmers and strengthen local economies.”

Qualifying projects may focus on marketing, promotion, education, research, trade, nutrition or food safety.

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