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The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) will sponsor webinars for individuals and groups interested in applying for Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBG) to be awarded in 2011. Preregistration is required. Participants can visit www1.gotomeeting.com/register/694879408 to register, or call WVDA Marketing Specialist Melissa Hudson at 304-558-2210.
The first webinar will be held February 1 at 1 p.m. This session will explain the SCBG program, identify the qualifying products and projects, show how to access application materials, and detail deadline and program changes from past years. Grant applications will be due March 15, 2010.
The second webinar will be held February 22 at 1 p.m. This session will focus more on the grant application process, how to state measurable outcomes, the review process and how to develop good grant applications.
A third session on reimbursement procedures will be conducted at a later date.
The webinars will include videoconferencing with specific sites throughout the state, and telephone conferencing for others. During the discussion, participants can access a Powerpoint presentation and other materials via the internet. Hard copies can be mailed to those without internet access, and assistance from WVDA’s Marketing and Development staff is available anytime.
Over the past three years, WVDA has distributed approximately $586,000 in funding to 117 projects throughout the state through a competitive grant award program. The SCBG is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the WVDA.
The grant program encourages cooperative efforts to integrate technology at the farm level, improve marketing and promotion of locally grown specialty crops, and increase production efficiency through research projects. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, herbs, horticulture goods, nursery stock and value-added products.
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. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
“The Basis of All Wealth is Agriculture.”
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