Arizona Grain Research and Promotion Council - FY27

The Arizona Grain Research and Promotion Council (AGRPC) administers a grant program designed to support research and innovation that directly benefits grain producers within the state of Arizona. The Council operates under the Arizona Department of Agriculture and is funded primarily through assessments collected on barley and wheat seed produced in Arizona for food, feed, seed, or commercial use. Unlike many state grant programs, AGRPC is exempt from standard state grant procurement statutes and instead follows specific competitive solicitation requirements defined in Arizona Administrative Code R3-9-205. This allows the Council to tailor its funding approach specifically to the needs of Arizona’s grain industry. The primary purpose of this grant program is to identify and support solutions to production challenges faced by Arizona grain producers. Projects funded through this program are expected to generate actionable research findings that can improve productivity, sustainability, or economic outcomes for grain growers. All outputs generated through funded projects, including research reports, abstracts, and findings, must be made publicly available through AGRPC to ensure broad dissemination and benefit to the agricultural community. Funding under this program is relatively modest in scale, with a total available funding pool of 40,000 dollars. The Council retains flexibility in how funds are distributed, including the ability to fund multiple projects or support multi-year initiatives depending on the scope and availability of funds. While individual award sizes are not explicitly defined beyond a maximum threshold, the structure suggests that awards may vary based on project merit and scope. There is no matching requirement, which lowers barriers to participation and encourages a broader range of applicants. Eligibility for the program is inclusive and spans multiple organizational types. Eligible applicants include local governments, academic institutions, consortia, Native American tribes, nonprofit organizations, private sector entities, schools and school districts, and state government agencies. Individual applicants may also apply, provided they meet additional requirements, including documentation of lawful presence in the United States. Organizations that employ staff must demonstrate compliance with the federal E-Verify program. These requirements ensure both regulatory compliance and accountability in the use of public funds. The application process is conducted entirely online, and applicants must submit their proposals within the designated application window. For the current cycle, applications open on April 28, 2026, and close on August 14, 2026. There are no stated pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers. Applicants are expected to follow the submission guidelines provided by the Council and submit all required materials through the designated portal. Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Council Administrator. The review and selection process is competitive, with awards expected to be announced in August 2026. While specific evaluation criteria are not detailed in the summary, the emphasis on solving production issues suggests that proposals will be assessed based on relevance, feasibility, and potential impact on Arizona grain production. The Council may prioritize projects that demonstrate clear benefits to producers and strong plans for dissemination of results. Administrative oversight of the program is provided by the Arizona Department of Agriculture, with Ashley Estes serving as the AGRPC Administrator and primary point of contact. Applicants can reach out via email or telephone for assistance. The program appears to operate on a recurring basis, aligned with annual funding cycles tied to agricultural production timelines and assessment revenues, though specific recurrence language is not explicitly stated.