Jake Lynch is the Director of Network Communications for the Vandaleer partner: West Virginia Hub.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is accepting project proposals for the 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The deadline to apply is by the close of business Feb. 17, 2017.
The grant program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the WVDA, gives specialty crop growers the opportunity to learn new techniques, test them out and share that knowledge with other producers.
A full information and application package can be downloaded here.
The goal, according to West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick, is to expand specialty crops here in the Mountain State.
“Our farmers are doing fabulous work rebuilding the state’s agriculture industry. However, sometimes they need assistance to grow ideas and help them blossom. Specialty Crop Block Grants make it financially possible for those projects to take shape,” he said.
Grant applications must deal with a specialty crop such as fruits, vegetables, horticulture products, tree nuts, herbs and spices, maple syrup, honey and Christmas trees, among others. Products explicitly excluded are livestock, eggs, corn, soybeans and other commodity-type crops.
All projects must focus on industry-related research, education, improved production or marketing of specialty crops. The program is available to groups and organizations that qualify to receive grant funding. However, they cannot be used to fund individual farms or enterprises.
For more information, email grants@wvda.us.