The US virgin islands department of agriculture will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; assisting producers with…

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture will receive $325,454.45 under a Specialty Crop Block Grant Program award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service. The funding period is from September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2025.

Under this federal Block Grant, the Department of Agriculture will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the U.S. Virgin Islands through marketing and promotion efforts, research and development assistance to producers, and expanding access to specialty crops. Projects will also address local, regional and national challenges facing specialty crop producers. Performance reporting on measurable outcomes is required. As the official state department of agriculture, the Department of Agriculture will oversee grant activities and work with specialty crop industry stakeholders in the U.S. Virgin Islands to implement the terms of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program award.

The US virgin islands department of agriculture will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops; expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers through a variety of activities/projects with their grant recipients. The H.R. 133 stimulus funding encourages states to prioritize projects that respond to covid-19 impacts. Beneficiaries include the residents of all 50 states, 5 territories, and the district of columbia. Performance evidence in the form of measurable outcomes is required.