An anticipated $1.2 million in specialty crop block grants is expected to come to North Carolina this year. The application period for nonprofits and government agencies is open now through 5 p.m. March 10. The goal of the grants is to grow the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace.
Commissioner Troxler and Southern Farm Network’s Mike Davis discuss specialty crop block grants
- Specialty crops represent a significant sector of North Carolina’s $111 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry, and we continue to work on ways to expand their production and develop new crops to grow.
- When we talk about specialty crops, we are including fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants and nursery crops, plus floriculture and horticulture plants.
- The department has been the recipient of USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant funding for a number of years, and we anticipate having $1.2 million in grants available this year, too.
- The grants are awarded to nonprofits and governmental agencies with the goal of increasing the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace.
- Commodity groups, colleges and universities, state and local governments and nonprofits can all apply.
- The deadline to apply is March 10 at 5 p.m.
Interested groups can find a link to the grant application on our website at www.ncagr.gov.