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WVDA SEEKING APPLICATIONS FOR SPECIALTY CROP GRANT PROGRAM
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is seeking groups or individuals with ideas for making the state’s specialty crops industry more competitive to submit plans to the WVDA for funding consideration. Applicants must submit project requests that include a research and sharing component for the benefit of the specialty crops industry in West Virginia. Deadline for proposals is March 3, 2008.
“The success of last year’s grant program to the state’s specialty crops was significant. We facilitated funding of 20 projects throughout the state with grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000,” said West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “Through this grant program, substantial contributions to sustainable agriculture have and will continue to be realized…from beekeeping to nutrition programs to farmers’ market growth and development. It is our intent at the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to deliver direct benefit to West Virginia farmers through this program and have a lasting economic impact on the communities and the people that live in them.”
Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, nursery crops, floriculture, herbs, honey, maple syrup, mushrooms and Christmas trees. Both fresh and processed specialty crops are included. Livestock, poultry, marine or freshwater aquaculture are not considered specialty crops. Grain and feed crops such as, barley, corn, hay, oats, alfalfa, rye and wheat are also not eligible for funding according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant guidelines.
The types of eligible projects have been intentionally left open-ended, but should focus on one or more of the following categories: Promotion/marketing, research, education/training, innovation/efficiency of facilities and equipment.
Only one proposal per organization will be accepted. The limit for each grant is $10,000 and proposals that provide for matching funds – either in cash and/or third party in-kind contributions – are encouraged, but not required.
Proposals will be accepted from individuals, groups of individuals, businesses and organizations related to West Virginia agriculture. Proposals that involve collaboration or partnerships between producers, industry groups, academics, or other organizations are also encouraged. A bona fide business organization must be designated as the fiscal agent and no individual, for-profit proposals will be considered.
Examples of eligible expenses include, but are not limited to: Promotional materials, such as signs and brochures for farmers’ markets, developing associations to promote specialty crops, creating a cooperative to increase “purchasing power,” consumer education and increased consumption marketing campaigns (i.e. buy local initiative), product development of specialty crops, improved planting techniques to increase yield, and innovative fencing used to protect crops.
Grant money cannot be used for construction projects, establishing secondary grant pools, land acquisitions, taxes, vehicle registration, overhead expenses or indirect costs, legal costs, contingency funds, proposal preparation, insurance, contractual project administration, costs that have or will be paid by another entity, salaries, any expenses incurred prior to the award date of this grant, or political or lobbying activities.
Notification on grant awards will be made after federal approval of the state plan and submission of a proposal does not guarantee funding.
Proposal forms and detailed instructions can be downloaded at www.wvagriculture.org. For more information, contact Debra Gard at 304-932-7588 or Dan Woodrum at 304-558-2210.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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