Michigan Dept of Agriculture announces specialty crop grants

LANSING — The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture (MDA) on Monday announced new opportunities for Michigan businesses thanks to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ag Marketing Services.

The program is designed to enhance the competitiveness of Michigan’s specialty crops. Grant proposals must be received by MDA no later than April 22.

The grants, ranging from $10,000 to $75,000, enhance the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crops, including, but not limited to: research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education, increased knowledge and consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product development, good agricultural practices, good handling practices, and good manufacturing practices.

Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local, state, and federal government entities, for-profit organizations, and universities. The organizations must be legal entities recognized by the IRS, and applicants must reside and/or conduct their business or organization in Michigan. Applications should demonstrate how the project will potentially produce measurable impacts for the specialty crop industry as a whole and not-for-profit to a specific product, single organization, institution, or individual.

For the program information, application form, or submission criteria, visit www.michigan. gov/mdaor contact Mike DiBernardo at dibernardom@michigan. govor 517-373-9144.

Proposal must be RECEIVED (Not postmarked) by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2010.