Press Releases

 

KDA seeks preliminary proposals for specialty crop grants

 

Proposals are due by March 1, 2017

 

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
For more information contact:
Angela Blank
(502) 573-0450

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) is accepting preliminary proposals for grants to promote and enhance specialty crops through marketing, production, education, and research, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles has announced.

“Specialty crops are vital to our horticulture industry and continue to be a growing part of Kentucky’s agricultural landscape,” Commissioner Quarles said. “These funds will provide a boost to Kentucky’s specialty crop industry.”

Specialty crops are defined under federal law as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” Funding for the specialty crop grants comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners. Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. In addition, subrecipients cannot use grant funds to compete unfairly with private companies that provide equivalent products or services.

Preliminary proposals must be submitted by email to plant marketing specialist Josh Lindau at joshua.lindau@ky.gov no later than 4:30 p.m. EST March 1, 2017. All preliminary proposals will be reviewed, but only the top qualifying proposals will be invited to complete a full grant application.

To download a proposal form, go to kyagr.com/marketing/crop-block-grant.html. For more information, contact Josh Lindau at joshua.lindau@ky.gov or (502) 782-4115.