WSDA Washington State Department of Agriculture : Feb. 5 deadline for grant proposals to boost Washington specialty crops

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For immediate release: Jan. 10, 2018 Contact: Mike Louiselle [phone]

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, Washington 98504-2560 This news release is also available as a PDF.

OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is accepting proposals for innovative projects to support the state's fruit, vegetable and nursery industry through the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Proposals for the grants to fund these projects are due to WSDA by 4 p.m. Feb. 5.

WSDA has just over $4 million in grant funding available to support Washington's specialty crop industry. WSDA manages the grants, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Private and non-profit organizations, commodity commissions and other public entities may request funds for projects ranging between $25,000 to $250,000 that benefit the competitiveness of fruit, vegetable, tree nut and nursery crop producers.

The first step in applying for grant funding is to submit a brief concept proposal at www.wsda.fluidreview.com and using the online application system. WSDA staff will review proposals and successful applicants will be asked to submit full proposals for further review. Visit agr.wa.gov/Grants/SCBGP for application information, forms and schedules. For additional information on the grants, visit USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp or contact WSDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program manager Leisa Schumaker at [e-mail] or [phone].

Based on comments from Washington's specialty crop industries, WSDA is seeking projects that:

• Control pests and diseases.
• Improve food safety.
• Develop and enhance markets.
• Improve production practices through innovative technologies.
• Increase nutritional knowledge and consumption of specialty crops and enhance food safety.
• Develop organic and sustainable production practices or preserve and increase farmland.
• Preserve and increase farmland.

Projects that benefit the specialty crop industry in other ways are also encouraged to apply. Washington ranks second in the nation in production of specialty crops and funded 20 projects in 2017.

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