Program
Resources
Applications Due
Funding Source
Maximum Award
Award Details
Grant amounts range from $100,000 to $600,000.
Eligibility
Non-profit and for-profit organizations; local, state, and federal government entities, including Tribal governments (federally and non-federally recognized); and public or private colleges and universities.
Eligible Activities
There are three funding areas with one to two categories in each area:
- Funding Area I: Market Enhancement
- Market Enhancement Category A: Grown in California
- Funding Area II: Access, Education, and Training
- Access, Education, and Training Category A: Healthy Specialty Crops for All Californians
- Access, Education, and Training Category B: Opportunity and Education for All California Specialty Crop Farmers
- Funding Area III: Research
- Research Category A: Environmental Stewardship and Conservation
- Research Category B: Plant Health and Pest Management
Duration
Notable Requirements
Cost share is not required as of the release date of this Request for Concept Proposals. However, applicants are encouraged to identify anticipated cost share, as USDA guidance may require cost share information at a later date.
Preferences
Concept Proposals should:
- Demonstrate a likelihood of success.
- Benefit the California specialty crop industry.
- Identify the specific and existing issue, problem, or need the project will address.
- Demonstrate industry need and support.
- Include an outreach component addressing how project results, research findings, and conclusions will be extended to specialty crop growers. In developing the outreach component, applicants are strongly encouraged to include outreach to limited resource and beginning farmers.
Scoring criteria: Program Priorities (5 points), Project Purpose (5 points), Project Sustainability (5 points),Project Beneficiaries (5 points), Outcome Measures (10 points), Budget (10 points), and Work Plan and Outreach (10 points) for 50 total points achievable in the Concept Proposal.
How to Apply
Applicants must complete and submit both their Concept Proposals and Grant Proposals online using GOATS.
CDFA will conduct three rounds of Q&A to address general questions about the Concept Proposal phase. Email all questions about the solicitation process to: grants@cdfa.ca.gov.