Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announced today the availability of grant funds for the purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of Vermont specialty crops, defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture crops (including honey, hops, and maple syrup), and nursery crops (including Christmas trees and floriculture). These funds are awarded through a competitive review process guided by industry, nonprofit and government stakeholders. VAAFM plans to award approximately $200,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds in 2016.
Prospective applicants may download the Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) Request for Proposals on the Agency’s website at http://go.usa.gov/3JGBG. The US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awards Specialty Crop Block Grants to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. In Vermont, the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets administers these funds to enhance the competitiveness of Vermont specialty crops. Visit http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp for more information about the SCBGP.
VAAFM strongly encourages projects proposing innovative partnerships and, in collaboration with statewide specialty crop industry stakeholders, has identified the following (unranked) state funding priorities for 2016:
• Development of innovative horticultural production practices and efficiencies to positively impact farm viability and/or conservation
• Pest and disease management
• Food safety—including the handling, preparation, transport, and storage of specialty crops in ways that reduce foodborne illness
• Value chain enhancement—including strengthening relationships between individuals, businesses, and organizations that build specialty crop value from production to consumption
• Market access (local, regional, national, or international), marketing, branding, and consumer education
• Organizational development—including strengthening producer associations and cooperative development
VAAFM will conduct a webinar to provide an overview of the program, the 2016 application process—including new USDA standards for outcome measures—and VAAFM’s new online grants management system. Interested parties may register for the webinar at http://bit.ly/webinar0216.
Applicants to the Vermont SCBGP must submit a letter of intent by March 11, 2016. A review committee will invite the top-ranking projects to submit full proposals, which will be due by May 6, 2016.
For more information about Vermont Agency of Agriculture grants, visit our Funding Opportunities & Resources for Businesses page at http://agriculture.vermont.gov/producer_partner_resources/funding_opportunities
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets: VAAFM facilitates, supports and encourages the growth and viability of agriculture in Vermont while protecting the working landscape, human health, animal health, plant health, consumers and the environment. www.Agriculture.Vermont.Gov