Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program 2026
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- USDA-AMS-TM-SCMP-G-26-0020
- Agency
-
Agricultural Marketing Service
Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- $250,000 to $1,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Agriculture
- Eligible applicants
-
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- State Governments
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Points of contact
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service seeks applications for the Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program 2026, a competitive grant program funding collaborative multi-state partnerships to enhance specialty crop competitiveness, with applications due December 4, 2026 for participating states and entities in nonparticipating states (multi-state partners must submit to participating states by October 16, 2026).
Eligible applicants are state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public higher education institutions, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. All projects must involve at least two partners located in different states and benefit more than a single organization. A mandatory 25 percent cost share from non-federal sources in cash and/or in-kind contributions is required.
Approximately $14.3 million in federal funding is available. Awards range from $250,000 to $1,000,000 per project over a three-year performance period ending September 29, 2029. Administrative costs are capped at 8 percent of total federal funds.
Projects must address regional or national specialty crop issues including food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. All projects must enhance the competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. territory-grown specialty crops in domestic or foreign markets.
Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: alignment and intent (25 points), technical merit (25 points), achievability (20 points), expertise and partners (20 points), and fiscal plan and resources (10 points). Applications undergo initial screening for completeness and eligibility, technical peer review, and administrative review.
Required submissions include SF-424 and SF-424A forms, a project narrative limited to 15 pages of applicant content using a mandatory AMS template, signed letters of verification for each cost share contribution, signed letters of commitment from all partners and collaborators, and a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement if applicable.
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA-AMS-TM-SCMP-G-26-0020. This opportunity operates under Assistance Listing 10.170 (Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill).
Synopsis
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program (SCMP). The SCMP supports collaborative multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through competitively funded projects. A multi-state partnership is a project that implements activities with measurable outcomes that benefit two or more U.S. States and/or Territories along with non-profit entities. The focus is to address regional or national level specialty crop issues, including, but not limited to, food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. territory-grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| SCMP NOFO Approved Final_accessible_081426.pdf | ||
| SCMP NOFO Approved Final.pdf | ||
| PKG00292393.pdf |
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