The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is a USDA-funded program administered by WVDA that provides money for research projects that will benefit an industry or a group. It is not intended as a source of start-up or scale-up funding for individual farms.
The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”
Grant are on a two-year cycle in West Virginia and the maximum amount for any grant is $100,000.
FY2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) announces the opening of the Request for Applications (RFA) for the FY2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Program. This program helps fund projects across West Virginia that strengthen the state’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research. The WVDA awarded more than $302,000 in SCBG funding in FY2025.
All application are reviewed in a competitive review process before selection to be submitted to the USDA. Grants will be awarded in September 2026.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2026 AT 4PM.
Questions about the grant? Contact 304-558-2210 or grants@wvda.us