Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program administered by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is part of a federally authorized initiative designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops across the United States. The program originates from the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004, which enables the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Marketing Service, to allocate funds to state departments of agriculture. These state agencies are responsible for distributing funds through competitive processes to support projects that benefit specialty crop industries. In Kentucky, the Department of Agriculture administers the program annually, managing the state’s allocation and conducting a competitive review process to select projects that align with both federal and state priorities. The primary purpose of the program is to fund projects that improve the competitiveness of specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, culinary herbs, dried fruits, and nursery crops. Projects must demonstrate measurable benefits to the broader specialty crop sector or the public, rather than serving the interests of a single organization or individual. Eligible project activities may include research, pest and disease management, food safety improvements, supply chain efficiency enhancements, and initiatives that promote consumption and awareness of specialty crops. Projects are expected to produce quantifiable outcomes and contribute to industry-wide improvements, particularly in areas identified as priorities such as conservation-focused research, distribution efficiency, and food safety. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture utilizes a two-tier application process for this program. Applicants are first required to submit a Project Concept Proposal, which serves as a preliminary application outlining the proposed project and its anticipated impact. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full application for further consideration. The concept proposal must be submitted using the designated application form and emailed directly to the program coordinator. While letters of support from project partners are encouraged, they are not mandatory for submission. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, government entities, universities, small businesses, and privately owned companies. However, all proposed projects must benefit multiple stakeholders within the specialty crop sector and cannot be structured to generate profit solely for a single entity. The program explicitly excludes projects that focus on individual commercial gain or those that do not demonstrate broader industry or public impact. Applicants are required to clearly articulate how their projects will produce measurable outcomes and contribute to the competitiveness of specialty crops within Kentucky. The application period for the 2026 funding cycle opened in April 2026 and closes on May 11, 2026. Concept proposals are required to be submitted by this deadline to be considered for inclusion in Kentucky’s State Plan, which is subsequently submitted to the USDA for final approval. Following submission, proposals undergo evaluation based on criteria such as project feasibility, alignment with program priorities, expected outcomes, and return on investment. Selected projects are included in the state’s submission to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, which makes final award determinations. For the 2026 cycle, Kentucky anticipated receiving approximately $413,908.66 in federal funding to distribute through this program. The overall national funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program was approximately $86.6 million, allocated to states based on production metrics and acreage. Projects funded under this program typically operate within a defined performance period, with federal award timelines indicating a multi-year implementation window. Applicants seeking additional information or clarification could contact the program coordinator at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture via email or phone for assistance throughout the application process.

Focus on demonstrating measurable outcomes and broad industry impact. Align proposal with priority areas such as food safety, pest control, and distribution efficiency. Clearly show benefit beyond a single organization.