USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program supports projects benefiting multiple Maine growers, funding research, training, and market development to strengthen the competitiveness of specialty crops.
Funder: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Due Dates: October 14, 2026 (Information session) | October 20, 2026 (Written questions) | October 30, 2026 (Phase I application)
Funding Amounts: $15,000–$100,000 per award; up to $600,000 across 1–6 anticipated grants
Summary: Funds projects that strengthen the competitiveness of Maine-grown specialty crops and benefit multiple producers.
Key Information: Projects primarily benefiting one business or its product are ineligible; equipment purchases are unallowable.
Description
The USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown and harvested in Maine. Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) runs the statewide competition, selects projects for its state plan, and submits them to USDA for final approval. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticultural and nursery crops, and floriculture.
The 2027 opportunity seeks projects that benefit Maine’s specialty crop sector and multiple growers, rather than one applicant. Priority areas cover local food consumption, production innovations, resilience, workforce training, and supply-chain challenges. Past awards have supported crop research, pest management, food safety, grower education, and market development.
