Dear Colleagues,
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is seeking individuals to serve as technical reviewers. Reviewers will evaluate and make recommendations to CDFA on proposals submitted for funding to California's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The Technical Review Committee consists of representatives from government and non-government organizations. Technical Review Committee members will attend one training webinar in November 2018 and one in-person review in March 2019 to make recommendations on concept and grant proposals.
The SCBGP is a competitive solicitation process designed to enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Grant awards will range from $50,000 to $450,000 per project and projects may last for up to two years and six months.
The 2019 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) solicits projects within the below funding categories:
• California Grown Promotion
• Specialty Crop Access and Nutrition Education
• Equipping Current and Next Generation Specialty Crop Farmers
• Environmental Stewardship and Conservation
• Plant Health and Pest Management
All individuals interested in serving on the Technical Review Committee must submit a completed application form and a copy of their résumé to grants@cdfa.ca.gov. Applications to serve as reviewers are due this Friday, October 26, 2018, by 5 p.m.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the grant-making process, develop your own grant-writing skills, and contribute your knowledge and experience in specialty crops to CDFA's efforts to select high-quality programs and organizations for funding.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)