Overview
The Commonwealth Specialty Crop program won't take the place of the Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program but will add to it.
The grant will help crops that are not currently eligible for the federal grant or are considered very important by the Secretary. The important crops include:
- Hemp
- Honey
- Hardwood
- Hops
- Flax for fiber
The funding will help these crops grow, get certified seeds, and be marketed.
Additional resources:
Learn more about PA Farm Bill Grants & Other Investments
How to apply
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Submission Process:
- Complete the Full Proposal application using the Department of Community and Economic Development's Electronic Single Application ("ESA") website at ESA website.
- Full Proposals must be submitted on or before 5:00 p.m. on April 19, 2024.
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Phase I: Full Proposal:
- A request for Full Proposals will be released in March 2024.
- Full Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on April 19, 2024.
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Phase II: Final Grant Proposal:
- The invitation to submit Final Proposals for consideration for funding will be sent out in May 2024.
- Final Proposals are due to PDA in May 2024.
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Award:
- The announcement of Award Funding will take place in June 2024.
The competitive solicitation and review process includes two phases: Phase I, Full Proposal, and Phase II, Final Grant Proposal for review. Projects with the highest combined scores will be invited to complete a Final Grant Proposal for consideration for funding.
Program guidelines
The projects should help certain crops compete better and be good for the whole crop industry. They can include things like:
- Teaching kids and grown-ups about eating healthy crops
- Having industry people go to meetings where they talk about setting rules for crops
- Making it easier and cheaper to get crops to the stores
- Helping everyone involved in growing and selling crops do it in a good way, like using special plants to help grow the crops, handling the crops well, and making the crops safely
- Putting money into studying and making new kinds of crops
- Keeping bugs and diseases away from the crops
- Taking care of the environment and making sure the crops can keep growing well
A total of $460,000 will be given out for projects that help Pennsylvania specialty crops, like:
- hemp
- Hardwoods
- Honey
- Hops
- Certain grains
- Flax.
This is a reimbursement grant. There's no smallest or biggest amount you can get. The money you get back is based on the costs you had for an approved project during the year when the grant is given.
Grants will be given when there's money available. The grant money can't be spent on things bought or done before the grant starts. If you give something instead of money, it won't count as part of your share. The PDA can give less money than you asked for.
Reporting requirements
If you are awarded a grant, there are reporting requirements you are required to meet.
- You need to send an Annual Performance Report report 30 days after the end of the first year of the grant.
- You need to send a Federal Financial Report with each performance report. The report will detail the money you spent during that time period.
- The Final Performance Report is due 90 days after the end of the grant period.
- People may visit your project.
- If you want to make changes to the project, you need to get prior written approval. These include changes such as:
- Changes in key personnel
- Changes in key personnel's time committed to the project
- Changes in scope or objectives
- Budget changes
- Changes to recipient name or address
- Changes to amount of cost share or match
- Contracting or subawarding for activities that are important to the purpose of the grant
Eligible & ineligible costs
There are specific costs that are eligible and ineligible to be refunded through the grant.
Contact us
For any questions regarding this grant and/or the competitive solicitation process, applicants should contact PDA at 717-614-5730 or email at lastackhou@pa.gov.