2027 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Purpose: The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects that enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. The SCBGP is designed to support all sectors of California's specialty crop industry and improve the performance of California specialty crops within international markets. Description: Funding and Duration: Grant amounts for the conventional program range from $100,000 to $600,000. The maximum grant duration is two (2) years, eight (8) months, and grant funds cannot be expended before November 1, 2027, or after June 30, 2030.   Projects submitted through the Additional Assistance for Limited Resource Applicants (Additional Assistance) Program will range from $75,000 to $250,000. Program requirements and submission deadlines differ for Additional Assistance Program applicants. The 2027 Request for Concept Proposals - Additional Assistance Program will be available in November 2026.   Please email [email protected] for more information.   CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount different than the amount requested. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Business Nonprofit Public Agency Tribal Government Non-profit and for-profit organizations; federal government entities, including Tribal and public or private colleges and universities are eligible to apply. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Eligibility requirements for the Additional Assistance Program (opening in November 2026) differ. Please visit the SCBGP website or email [email protected] for more information. Eligible Geographies: All projects must benefit the California specialty crop industry. Matching Funding Requirement: CDFA includes the ability to outline cost share in proposals so that projects can demonstrate that unallowable costs and/or activities (such as projects that also benefit non- specialty crops) will not be funded with SCBGP grant funds. Cost share is not required and is unscored. Note that if a project will utilize cost share, this must be described in the cost share section of the proposal. Important Dates Application deadline The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight. 9/21/26 09:00 Expected award announcement The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant. Fall 2027 Period of performance The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized. 11/1/2027-06/30/2030 Funding Details Total estimated available funding The total projected dollar amount of the grant. $28,000,000 Expected number of awards A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Dependent Estimated amount per award Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. $100,000 – $600,000 Letter of Intent Required? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent. No Requires Matched Funding? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source. No Funding Source: The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number. Federal Funding Source Notes: Funding is contingent upon passage of a Farm Bill and available funding from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service.

Purpose: The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects that enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. The SCBGP is designed to support all sectors of California's specialty crop industry and improve the performance of California specialty crops within international markets. Description: Funding and Duration: Grant amounts for the conventional program range from $100,000 to $600,000. The maximum grant duration is two (2) years, eight (8) months, and grant funds cannot be expended before November 1, 2027, or after June 30, 2030.   Projects submitted through the Additional Assistance for Limited Resource Applicants (Additional Assistance) Program will range from $75,000 to $250,000. Program requirements and submission deadlines differ for Additional Assistance Program applicants. The 2027 Request for Concept Proposals - Additional Assistance Program will be available in November 2026.   Please email [email protected] for more information.   CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount different than the amount requested. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Business Nonprofit Public Agency Tribal Government Non-profit and for-profit organizations; federal government entities, including Tribal and public or private colleges and universities are eligible to apply. Individuals are not eligible to apply.