Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
About the Grant Program
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program provides funding for projects to enhance the competitiveness of crops such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and nursery crops.
Grant funding is provided by the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service. Grants range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $150,000. In addition, all applicants must provide a minimum match of 25 percent of the requested grant amount.
Food and agricultural non-profit organizations, associations or commodity groups, universities and research institutions are eligible to submit specialty crop proposals. Projects that have a focus on the benefit a particular commercial product, or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual will not be considered.
FY2022 & FY2023 Grant Timeline:
| Remaining 2022 Award Timeline (All FY22 dollars have been allocated) | |
| USDA approval (anticipated) | September 2022 |
| ODA issues approval letters to successful applicants and initiates contracting | October 2022 |
| Project work can begin (anticipated) | November 1, 2022 |
| Project end date | September 29, 2024 |
| Latest project end date (upon approved extension request) | September 29, 2025 |
| 2023 Grant Proposals | |
| SCBG Stakeholder Meeting | January 2023, Date TBD |
| Ohio's 2023 SCBG RFP Opens | February 2023 |
| Applications Due to ODA | February 2023 |
| SCBG Committee review and selection | Spring 2023, Date TBD |
| ODA submits state plan to USDA for approval (Pending USDA deadline announcement) | Spring 2023, Date TBD |
| 2023 Award Timeline | |
| USDA approval (anticipated) | September 2023 |
| ODA issues approval letters to successful applicants and initiates contracting | October 2023 |
| Project work can begin (anticipated) | November 1, 2023 |
| Project end date | September 30, 2025 |
| Latest project end date (upon approved extension request) | September 29, 2026 |
Planning for Next Year (2023)
Ohio is seeking input on project priorities for the next Request for Proposals (RFP). Your suggestions will be used to help improve the competitive review process. Please submit comments to Ashley McDonald at SCBG@AGRI.OHIO.GOV by December 8, 2022, for consideration for FFY2023 SCBG RFP.
Reporting Dates (All Grant Years)
Download printable version here
| Find your grant number at the top of the column, then locate the next report due. | ||||||
| Due Dates | 2022 | 21SCBPOH1070 (2021 Stimulus) | 21SCBPOH1033 (2021 Farm Bill) | AM200100XXXXG067 (2020) | AM190100XXXXG021 (2019) | AM180100XXXXG033 (2018) |
| All Projects | Projects 2021-07 through 2021-14 | Projects 2021-01 through 2021-06 | All Projects | All Projects | All Projects | |
| Saturday, April 30, 2022 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | ||
| Saturday, July 30, 2022 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | ||
| Saturday, October 30, 2021 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | ||
| Thursday, December 1, 2022 | NONE | ANNUAL REPORT or Quaterly (type TBD) | ANNUAL REPORT | FINAL REPORT OR SECOND ANNUAL | FINAL REPORT | FINAL REPORT (pandemic extension) |
| Sunday, April 30, 2023 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | ||
| Sunday, July 30, 2023 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | ||
| Monday, October 30, 2023 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | ||
| Friday, December 1, 2023 | ANNUAL REPORT | ANNUAL REPORT | FINAL REPORT OR SECOND ANNUAL | FINAL REPORT | ||
| Tuesday, April 30, 2024 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | |||
| Tuesday, July 30, 2024 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | |||
| Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | |||
| Sunday, December 1, 2024 | FINAL REPORT OR SECOND ANNUAL | FINAL REPORT OR SECOND ANNUAL | FINAL REPORT | |||
| Wednesday, April 30, 2025 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | ||||
| Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | ||||
| Thursday, October 30, 2025 | Quarterly Memo | Quarterly Memo | ||||
| Monday, December 1, 2025 | FINAL REPORT | FINAL REPORT | ||||
| Project recipients may request a third year to complete their project, if needed. Submitting a second annual report in lieu of a final will trigger an automatic extension. | ||||||
| Please submit all reports via email to SCBG@AGRI.OHIO.GOV with your grant project in the subject line. | ||||||
Additional SCBG References
To view SCBG projects previously funded by USDA, visit https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/awards.
Full list of USDA approved Specialty Crops
NEW Specialty Crop Outcomes and Indicators (FY 2022 Grant Cycle and forward)
Specialty Crop Outcomes and Indicators (FY 2018-2021 Grant Cycles)
2022 SCBG Reporting Documents
Final Performance Report Template
Annual Performance Report Template