MorrisonGrants

The 2012 California Specialty Crop Block Grant application period is likely to be announced any day now and Morrison & Company is already preparing for the program.

Specific program rules will not be known until the 2012 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is released; the following outline is based on the 2011 program (Click here for more details).  These may change for 2012 but the California SCBG rules have been fairly static in recent years.  With the NOFA expected any time, it's not too early to start planning. 

Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations (including trade and industry associations); for-profit organizations; local, state and federal government entities; tribal governments, and; public and private colleges and universities.  Proposals must solely benefit the production of and access to California specialty crops. Grant funds will not be awarded for proposals that directly benefit or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual.  Cooperatives and other for-profit organizations are awarded SCBG grants with sufficient evidence that the project will benefit the industry; please talk to us about specific approaches. 

Grants may be for $50,000 to $500,000; matching funds have not been required but are preferred.  In recent years, total California funding has been about $17 – 18 million.  Eligible applicants can submit (and be awarded) multiple proposals as long as each submission represents a unique project.

California has a two-step process, which is not the case in every state.  Applicants first submit a concept proposal; CDFA will then invite selected applicants to submit full proposals based on their review of the concept proposals.  Applicants typically have about 30 days to complete a concept proposal and about 45 days to complete a full proposal. 

FUNDING AREAS: 

There are three general funding areas, each with its own sub-areas:

I.     Research:

A. Plant Health and Pest Challenges

B. Environmental Concerns and Conservation

C. Food Safety

II.  Marketing:

A. Agriculture Education/Outreach

B. International Trade

C. Market Enhancement and Promotion

III. Nutrition:

A. Food Security

B. Healthy Eating

Click here for more information on the funding areas above and other details.

For any further questions, be sure to contact Brent  at bmorrison@morrisonco.net or at (530) 893-4764 ext. 202.