Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), 11859-11860 [E8-4234]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11859-11860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4234]


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 44 / Wednesday, March 5, 2008 / 
Notices

[[Page 11859]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-08-0006; FV-08-377]


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the 
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP)

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the 
availability of approximately $8,440,500 in block grant funds, less 
USDA administrative costs, to enhance the competitiveness of specialty 
crops. State departments of agriculture interested in obtaining grant 
program funds are invited to submit applications to USDA. State 
departments of agriculture, meaning agencies, commissions, or 
departments of a State government responsible for agriculture within 
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, are eligible to apply. State departments of agriculture are 
encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, and community-based 
organizations in the development of applications and the administration 
of projects.

DATES: Applications must be postmarked not later than March 5, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Applications may be sent to: SCBGP, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Stop 0235, Room 2077 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-0235.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trista Etzig, Phone: (202) 690-4942, 
e-mail: trista.etzig@usda.gov or your State department of agriculture 
listed on the SCBGP Web site at https://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SCBGP is authorized under section 101 of the 
Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) and is 
implemented under 7 CFR part 1290 (published September 11, 2007; 71 FR 
53303). The SCBGP assists State departments of agriculture in enhancing 
the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops.
    Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, 
tree nuts, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Examples of 
enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops include, but are not 
limited to: Research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade 
enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, 
education, ``buy local'' programs, increased consumption, increased 
innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution 
systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product development, 
and developing cooperatives.
    Each interested State department of agriculture is to submit an 
application anytime before March 5, 2009 to the USDA contact noted in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. AMS will work with each 
State department of agriculture and provide assistance as necessary. 
State departments of agriculture who did not previously apply for 
fiscal year 2007 grant funds should submit an application postmarked 
not later than April 11, 2008 to qualify for receiving fiscal year 2007 
grant funds. State departments of agriculture who wish to apply for 
both fiscal year 2007 and 2008 grant funds at the same time should 
submit one application postmarked not later than April 11, 2008. To 
apply for only fiscal year 2008 funds, State departments of agriculture 
should submit an application postmarked not later than March 5, 2009.
    Other organizations interested in participating in this program 
should contact their State Department of Agriculture. State departments 
of agriculture specifically named under the authorizing legislation 
should assume the lead role in SCBGP projects, and use cooperative or 
contractual linkages with other agencies, universities, institutions, 
and producer, industry or community-based organizations as appropriate.
    Additional details about the SCBGP application process for all 
applicants are available at the SCBGP Web site: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/.
    To be eligible for a grant, each State department of agriculture's 
application shall be clear and succinct and include the following 
documentation satisfactory to AMS:
    (a) Completed applications must include an SF-424 ``Application for 
Federal Assistance''.
    (b) Completed applications must include one State plan to show how 
grant funds will be utilized to enhance the competitiveness of 
specialty crops. State departments of agriculture which did not 
previously apply for grant funds under the program should submit one 
State plan postmarked not later than April 11, 2008 for both fiscal 
year 2007 and 2008 grant funds. SCBGP grant funds will be awarded for 
projects of up to 3 years duration. An application that builds on a 
previously funded SCBGP project may also be submitted. In such cases, 
the State plan should indicate clearly how the project complements 
previous work. The State plan shall include the following:
    (1) Cover Page. Include the lead agency for administering the plan 
and an abstract of 200 words or less for each proposed project.
    (2) Project Purpose. Clearly state the specific issue, problem, 
interest, or need to be addressed. Explain why each project is 
important and timely.
    (3) Potential Impact. Discuss the number of people or operations 
affected, the intended beneficiaries of each project, and/or potential 
economic impact if such data are available and relevant to the 
project(s).
    (4) Financial Feasibility. For each project, provide budget 
estimates for the total project cost. When submitting one State plan 
for both fiscal year 2007 and 2008 grant funds, identify which fiscal 
year funding is utilized for each project. If a project uses funds from 
both fiscal years, identify the amount of each fiscal year's funding. 
Also, indicate what percentage of the budget covers administrative 
costs. Administrative costs should not exceed 10 percent of any 
proposed budget. Provide a justification if administrative costs are 
higher than 10 percent.
    (5) Expected Measurable Outcomes. Describe at least two distinct, 
quantifiable, and measurable outcomes that directly and meaningfully 
support each project's purpose. The outcome

[[Page 11860]]

measures must define an event or condition that is external to the 
project and that is of direct importance to the intended beneficiaries 
and/or the public.
    (6) Goal(s). Describe the overall goal(s) in one or two sentences 
for each project.
    (7) Work Plan. Explain briefly how each goal and measurable outcome 
will be accomplished for each project. Be clear about who will do the 
work. Include appropriate time lines. Expected measurable outcomes may 
be long term that exceed the grant period. If so, provide a timeframe 
when long term outcome measure will be achieved.
    (8) Project Oversight. Describe the oversight practices that 
provide sufficient knowledge of grant activities to ensure proper and 
efficient administration.
    (9) Project Commitment. Describe how all grant partners commit to 
and work toward the goals and outcome measures of the proposed 
project(s).
    (10) Multi-State Projects. If a project is a multi-state project, 
describe how the States are going to collaborate effectively with 
related projects. Each State participating in the project should submit 
the project in their State plan indicating which State is taking the 
coordinating role and the percent of the budget covered by each State.
    Each State department of agriculture that submits an application 
that is reviewed and approved by AMS is to receive $100,000 to enhance 
the competitiveness of specialty crops. In addition, AMS will allocate 
the remainder of the grant funds based on the proportion of the value 
of specialty crop production in the State in relation to the national 
value of specialty crop production using the latest available (2006 
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) cash receipt data for 
the 50 States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico) specialty crop production data in all States whose applications 
are accepted.
    The amount of the base grant plus value of production available to 
each State department of agriculture shall be:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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(1) Alabama.............................................     $118,638.61
(2) Alaska..............................................      101,098.05
(3) Arizona.............................................      159,294.43
(4) Arkansas............................................      105,096.06
(5) California..........................................    1,228,396.09
(6) Colorado............................................      135,841.32
(7) Connecticut.........................................      116,864.85
(8) Delaware............................................      104,504.80
(9) District of Columbia................................      100,000.00
(10) Florida............................................      372,568.56
(11) Georgia............................................      162,532.26
(12) Hawaii.............................................      117,906.58
(13) Idaho..............................................      148,201.36
(14) Illinois...........................................      123,537.58
(15) Indiana............................................      118,300.75
(16) Iowa...............................................      106,194.10
(17) Kansas.............................................      104,504.80
(18) Kentucky...........................................      105,771.78
(19) Louisiana..........................................      110,867.83
(20) Maine..............................................      114,612.45
(21) Maryland...........................................      123,087.10
(22) Massachusetts......................................      116,583.30
(23) Michigan...........................................      174,976.77
(24) Minnesota..........................................      126,184.15
(25) Mississippi........................................      107,038.75
(26) Missouri...........................................      108,784.36
(27) Montana............................................      105,462.07
(28) Nebraska...........................................      108,530.97
(29) Nevada.............................................      102,899.97
(30) New Hampshire......................................      104,561.11
(31) New Jersey.........................................      137,755.86
(32) New Mexico.........................................      114,950.31
(33) New York...........................................      164,953.59
(34) North Carolina.....................................      178,439.83
(35) North Dakota.......................................      118,582.30
(36) Ohio...............................................      149,552.80
(37) Oklahoma...........................................      113,598.87
(38) Oregon.............................................      201,780.33
(39) Pennsylvania.......................................      158,590.56
(40) Puerto Rico........................................      114,894.00
(41) Rhode Island.......................................      102,871.81
(42) South Carolina.....................................      121,848.28
(43) South Dakota.......................................      101,745.61
(44) Tennessee..........................................      123,396.81
(45) Texas..............................................      213,830.67
(46) Utah...............................................      105,687.31
(47) Vermont............................................      102,787.35
(48) Virginia...........................................      123,565.74
(49) Washington.........................................      287,906.47
(50) West Virginia......................................      100,563.10
(51) Wisconsin..........................................      144,090.73
(52) Wyoming............................................      101,266.98
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    Applicants submitting hard copy applications should submit one copy 
of the application package. The SF-424 must be signed (with an original 
signature) by an official who has authority to apply for Federal 
assistance. Hard copy applications should be sent only via express mail 
to AMS at the address noted at the beginning of this notice because 
USPS mail sent to Washington DC headquarters is sanitized, resulting in 
possible delays, loss, and physical damage to enclosures. AMS will send 
an e-mail confirmation when applications arrive at the AMS office.
    Applicants who submit hard copy applications are also encouraged to 
submit electronic versions of their applications directly to AMS via e-
mail addressed to scblockgrants@usda.gov in one of the following 
formats: Word (*.doc); or Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf). Alternatively, a 
standard 3.5'' HD diskette or a CD may be enclosed with the hard copy 
application.
    Applicants also have the option of submitting SCBGP applications 
electronically through the central Federal grants Web site, https://
www.grants.gov instead of mailing hard copy documents. Applicants 
considering the electronic application option are strongly urged to 
familiarize themselves with the Federal grants Web site and begin the 
application process well before the application deadline.
    SCBGP is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 
number 10.169 and subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in all federally assisted 
programs.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621 note.

    Dated: February 28, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-4234 Filed 3-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P