Specialty Crop Multi-State Program
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Specialty Crop Multi-State Program
Deadline: Closed.

Legislative Authority
Legislative authority for the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) is provided under section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note), as amended under section 10107 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-343.

Program Scope

Administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), SCMP competitively awards funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through funding collaborative, multi-state projects that address the following regional or national level specialty crop issues:

  • Food safety. 
  • Plant pests and disease. 
  • Research. 
  • Crop-specific projects addressing common issues.  
  • Marketing and promotion.
Project(s) must enhance the competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. territory-grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets.

 Projects and Activities Not Eligible for Funding

  • Duplicate the content of food safety training curricula or any resources or materials already developed;
  • Provide direct financial assistance to producers or processors to offset the cost of, or to cost share for, funding audits of production, handling, or management systems;
  • Benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Funds cannot be used to compete unfairly with private companies that provide equivalent products or services; or
  • Generate no direct, assessable benefits for the U.S. specialty crop producers or agricultural community.

DEFINITION OF SPECIALTY CROPS
Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). See the SCBGP website for a definition of specialty crops and processed products, including a list of eligible specialty crops and ineligible commodities.

Eligibility 
All applicants must be domestic entities owned, operated, and located within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Eligible applicants include:

 

Entity Type  Description 
Participating States State departments of agriculture that elect to submit proposals to AMS on behalf of interested entities as well as oversee the administration of awarded agreements.
Nonparticipating States State departments of agriculture that do not elect to submit proposals to the AMS on behalf of interested entities as well as oversee the administration of awarded agreements.
Entities in Nonparticipating States Local governments, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, or nonprofit organizations residing in Nonparticipating States. Entities located in a Nonparticipating State would apply directly to AMS or choose to contact an adjacent participating state to apply on behalf of the entity.
Nonprofit Corporations Any organization or institution, including nonprofits with State or IRS 501 (c) status, where no part of the organization or institution’s net earnings of which inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
 
  • Entities residing in a participating state must apply through their State Department of Agriculture. Entities residing in a participating state are ineligible to apply directly to AMS.
  • Entities in a non-participating state may apply to AMS directly or choose to contact an adjacent participating state to apply on behalf of the entity.
  • Non-profit entities must apply directly to AMS.
  • Partnerships must include two or more states/territories.
 
Contact
Grant Program Questions:

Kat Neilson
Lead Grants Specialist
Tel: (512) 463-6695

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Application Instructions
 
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