Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant-H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding. This additional funding has been provided due to COVID-19 impacts to the food system. USDA encourages projects that respond to COVID-19 impacts. This may include projects to assist farmworkers, farmers, food businesses and other relevant entities to respond to risks and supply chain disruptions.
Funding Priorities for HR 133 SCBGP:
- Promotion & Marketing
- Grower educational programs to for new farmers and seasoned farmers
- Increasing market opportunities for specialty crops
- Enhancing food safety
- Pest and disease control
- Increasing knowledge and consumption of specialty crops
- COVID-19 related impacts to the specialty crop industry
Priority will be given to projects that have the potential to provide solutions that lead to measurable benefits to specialty crop growers.
Projects funded through this program must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and cannot benefit one particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, farm, or individual (Funds cannot be awarded to create or expand a specialty crop farm or operation).
Specialty crops include commonly recognized fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
Applications must be submitted to MDAC by June 23, 2022. No late applications will be accepted.
The application and detailed information about the grant is included below. For more information, contact Susan Lawrence at (601) 213-7542 or susan@mdac.ms.gov.
Please forward to any potential applicants. Thank you for your time and let me know if you have any questions!
Request for Applications (PDF)
Application Template (word document)