REYNOLDSBURG — The Ohio Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for the 2012 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which will provide funding for projects to enhance the competitiveness of crops such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and nursery crops.<\/p>\n
The USDA Agriculture Marketing Service will make approximately $642,019 of grant funding available to Ohio.\u00a0The deadline for online grant proposal submissions is April 30 by 4 p.m.\u00a0 Grants will range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $150,000. In addition, all applicants must provide a minimum match of 25 percent of the requested grant amount.<\/p>\n
Project proposals are sought that will advance the long-term economic viability of the state\u2019s specialty crop industry while increasing the marketability of specialty crops. Higher rankings will be given to projects that demonstrate profit potential for growers and that could boost employment opportunities in the specialty crop industry.<\/p>\n
Food and agricultural non-profit organizations, cooperatives, associations or commodity groups, universities and research institutions are eligible to submit specialty crop proposals.<\/p>\n