Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

 

To increase fruit, vegetable, and nut consumption and improve the competitiveness of United States specialty crop producers.

Deleted 01/15/2013 (Archived.) 10.169 Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Agricultural Marketing Service PROJECT GRANTS Not Applicable. Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004, Section 101, 7 U.S.C. 1621 note. State department of agriculture, agency, commission, or department of a State government responsible for agriculture within the State. Producers, processors, marketing agencies, universities, and general public. A grant agreement is entered into between the Agricultural Marketing Service and the State department of agriculture that submits the application. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The State department of agriculture submits SF-424 and a State plan identifying the lead agency charged with the responsibility of carrying out the plan and indicating how the grant funds will be utilized to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Applications are reviewed by the Agricultural Marketing Service. Grantees are notified of the amount awarded by allotment letter. Grant payments are made by the electronic transfer system. Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. 90 to 180 days from the application deadline. No formal appeal procedure. Awards are for 3 years. Additional time to complete the project may be requested. Proposals are evaluated based on the potential for enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. No program reports are required. As provided for in agreements. Annual performance reports are required. A final performance report and financial report are required within 90 days after the expiration date of the grant period. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. The State is required to conduct an audit of the expenditures of specialty crop block grant funds in accordance with Government Auditing Standards not later than 60 days after expiration of the grant period. Not later than 30 days after completion of the audit, the State shall submit a copy of the audit results with an executive summary to the Agricultural Marketing Service. The State shall retain financial and other records relating to the funds and these programs for a period of three years after expiration of the grant period or until final resolution of any audit findings or litigation claims relating to this program. Statutory Formula: Title 7, Part 1290.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements. Funds are advanced in one lump sum. Applicants generally have 3 years to use the funds, but extensions may be granted. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: As provided for in agreements. None. Trista Etzig, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Rm. 2077, Stop 0235, Washington, District of Columbia 20250 Email: trista.etzig@ams.usda.gov Phone: (202) 690-4942. None. 12-2501-0-1-352. (Formula Grants) FY 09 $7,796,000; FY 10 $843,000; FY 11 $0 - This program was not funded in FY 2009 or 2010 and is not expected to be funded in FY 2011. Not Applicable. Not Applicable. Not Applicable.