Grant Purpose:

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to enhance the competitiveness of Maine-grown specialty crops through projects that support research, education, marketing, and industry development.

The USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is a competitive federal program administered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Projects must benefit the specialty crop industry as a whole and may not be designed to directly benefit a single business or organization.

Eligible applicants include:
Agricultural organizations, producer groups, cooperatives, educational institutions, municipalities, and other eligible entities as defined in the Request for Applications.

Funding range:
Total funding available is $290,000. Awards are expected to range approximately from $5,800 to $9,600 per project, with an estimated 30–50 awards anticipated. Final award amounts and number of grants will depend on application volume, project selection, and review outcomes.

Application deadline:
April 3, 2026 at 12:00 noon EST

More information and application:

https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/grants/usda_specialty_crop.shtml

Funding opportunities are listed by application deadline. These are not scheduled events.