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[Federal Register: February 3, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 22)]
[Notices]               
[Page 5561-5563]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03fe10-25]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-09-0072]

 
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the 
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program--Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB)

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the 
availability, of $55,000,000 in grant funds, less USDA administrative 
costs, to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. SCBGP-
FB funds are authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008 (the Farm Bill). State departments of agriculture are encouraged 
to develop their grant applications promptly. State departments of 
agriculture interested in obtaining grant program funds are invited to 
submit applications to USDA. State departments of agriculture, meaning 
agencies, commissions, or

[[Page 5562]]

departments of a State government responsible for agriculture within 
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply.

DATES: Applications must be received between January 29, 2010, and not 
later than July 29, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trista Etzig, Phone: (202) 690-4942, 
e-mail: trista.etzig@usda.gov or your State department of agriculture 
listed on the SCBGP and SCBGP-FB Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SCBGP-FB is authorized under Section 101 of 
the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) 
and amended under Section 10109 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008, Public Law 110-246 (the Farm Bill). SCBGP-FB is currently 
implemented under 7 CFR Part 1291 (published March 27, 2009; 74 FR 
13313).
    The SCBGP-FB assists State departments of agriculture in solely 
enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops. Specialty crops 
are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, 
horticulture, nursery crops (including floriculture).
    AMS encourages states to develop projects solely to enhance the 
competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to the following issues 
affecting the specialty crop industry: Increasing child and adult 
nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; improving 
efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems; assisting all 
entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing ``Good 
Agricultural Practices'', ``Good Handling Practices'', ``Good 
Manufacturing Practices'', and in cost-share arrangements for funding 
audits of such systems for small farmers, packers and processors; 
investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on 
conservation and environmental outcomes; enhancing food safety; 
developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops; pest 
and disease control; and development of organic and sustainable 
production practices.
    States may wish to consider submitting grants that increase the 
competitiveness of specialty crop farmers, including Native American 
and disadvantaged farmers. Increasing competitiveness may include 
developing local and regional food systems, and improving food access 
in underserved communities.
    Projects that support biobased products and bioenergy and energy 
programs, including biofuels and other alternative uses for 
agricultural and forestry commodities (development of biobased 
products) should see the USDA energy Web site at: http://www.energymatrix.usda.gov/ for information on how to submit those 
projects for consideration to the energy programs supported by USDA. 
Also, agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, producer 
associations, local governments, nonprofit corporations, public health 
corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers' 
market authorities and Tribal governments that are interested in 
submitting projects that support farmers' markets that do not solely 
enhance the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops should visit 
the Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP) Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fmpp for information on how to submit those projects 
for consideration to FMPP.
    Each interested State department of agriculture must submit an 
application for SCBGP-FB grant funds anytime between February 3, 2010 
and on or before July 29, 2010, through http://www.grants.gov. AMS will 
work with each State department of agriculture and provide assistance 
as necessary.
    Other organizations interested in participating in this program 
should contact their local State department of agriculture. State 
departments of agriculture specifically named under the authorizing 
legislation should assume the lead role in SCBGP-FB projects, and use 
cooperative or contractual linkages with other agencies, universities, 
institutions, and producer, industry or community-based organizations 
as appropriate.
    Additional details about the SCBGP-FB application process for all 
applicants are available at the SCBGP-FB Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/.
    To be eligible for a grant, each State department of agriculture's 
application shall be clear and succinct and include the following 
documentation satisfactory to AMS: (a) One SF-424 ``Application for 
Federal Assistance''.
    (b) SF-424A ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs'' 
showing the budget for each project.
    (c) One SF-424B ``Assurances--Non-Construction Program.''
    (d) Completed applications must also include one State plan to show 
how grant funds will be utilized to solely enhance the competitiveness 
of specialty crops. The State plan shall include the following:
    (1) Cover page and granting processes. Include the point of contact 
and lead agency for administering the plan. Provide a description of 
the affirmative steps taken to conduct outreach to socially 
disadvantaged farmers and beginning farmers. Describe how these groups 
were identified and the methods used to reach out to them. Identify if 
an award was made to either a socially disadvantaged farmer or a 
beginning farmer. If steps were not taken to conduct outreach to these 
groups, provide a justification for why not. Provide a description of 
the affirmative steps taken to conduct a competitive grant process. 
Include the steps taken to conduct outreach to specialty crop 
stakeholders to receive and consider public comment to identify their 
priority needs in enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops. 
Identify the methods used to solicit proposals that meet specialty crop 
stakeholders' needs, including any focus on multi-state projects. 
Include a description of the process used to review proposals in a fair 
and equitable manner. State departments of agriculture may also provide 
a copy of the issued request for proposals. If a competitive grant 
process was not used, provide a justification why not.
    (2) Project title, partner organization name, abstract. Include the 
title of the project, the partner organization's name that plans to 
oversee the project, and an abstract of 200 or fewer words for each 
project.
    (3) Project purpose. For each project, clearly state the purpose of 
the project. Describe the specific issue, problem, interest, or need to 
be addressed. Explain why the project is important and timely. If 
funding is being directed at a state marketing program, describe how 
the state will ensure that funding is being used solely to enhance the 
competitiveness of specialty crops as defined in 7 CFR 1291.2(n). If a 
project builds on a previous Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) 
or SCBGP-FB project, indicate clearly how the new project compliments 
previous work. For each project, indicate if the project will be or has 
been submitted to or funded by another Federal or State grant program.
    (4) Potential impact. Discuss the number of people or operations 
affected, the intended beneficiaries of each project, and/or potential 
economic impact if such data are available and relevant to the project.
    (5) Expected Measurable Outcomes. For each project, describe at 
least one distinct, quantifiable, and measurable outcome-oriented 
objective that directly and meaningfully supports the project's

[[Page 5563]]

purpose. The measurable outcome-oriented objective must define an event 
or condition that is external to the project and that is of direct 
importance to the intended beneficiaries and/or the public. Outcome 
measures may be long term that exceed the grant period. Describe how 
performance toward meeting outcomes will be monitored. For each 
project, include a performance-monitoring plan to describe the process 
of collecting and analyzing data to meet the outcome-oriented 
objectives.
    (6) Work Plan. For each project, explain briefly the activities 
that will be performed to accomplish the objectives of the project. Be 
clear about who will do the work. Include appropriate time lines.
    (7) Budget Narrative. Provide in sufficient detail information 
about the budget categories listed on SF-424A for each project to 
demonstrate that grant funds are being expended on eligible grant 
activities that meet the purpose of the program. Indirect costs for 
this grant period should not exceed 10 percent of any proposed budget. 
Provide a justification if administrative costs are higher than 10 
percent.
    (8) Project Oversight. Describe the oversight practices that 
provide sufficient knowledge of grant activities to ensure proper and 
efficient administration for each project.
    (9) Project Commitment. Describe how all grant partners commit to 
and work toward the goals and outcome measures of each proposed 
project(s).
    (10) Multi-state Projects. If the project is a multi-state project, 
describe how the states are going to collaborate effectively with 
related projects with one state assuming the coordinating role. 
Indicate the percent of the budget covered by each state.
    Each State department of agriculture that submits an application 
that is reviewed and approved by AMS is to receive a base grant of 
$181,210.00 to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. 
In addition, AMS will allocate the remainder of the grant funds based 
on the proportion of the value of specialty crop production in the 
State in relation to the national value of specialty crop production 
using the latest available (2008 National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) cash receipt data for the 50 States and the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, 2007 Census of Agriculture cash receipts for Guam, the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, and 2002 Census of Agriculture cash receipts for American 
Samoa) specialty crop production data in all States whose applications 
are accepted.
    The amount of the base grant plus value of production available to 
each State department of agriculture shall be:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (1) Alabama...........................................      $433,614.25
 (2) Alaska............................................      $197,114.26
 (3) American Samoa....................................      $218,019.57
 (4) Arizona...........................................    $1,166,388.43
 (5) Arkansas..........................................      $270,128.00
 (6) California........................................   $17,127,418.72
 (7) Colorado..........................................      $768,209.85
 (8) Connecticut.......................................      $442,964.50
 (9) Delaware..........................................      $251,106.99
(10) District of Columbia..............................      $181,210.00
(11) Florida...........................................    $4,755,910.19
(12) Georgia...........................................    $1,007,860.65
(13) Guam..............................................      $183,095.84
(14) Hawaii............................................      $414,690.78
(15) Idaho.............................................    $1,030,188.08
(16) Illinois..........................................      $643,888.15
(17) Indiana...........................................      $397,831.21
(18) Iowa..............................................      $275,455.74
(19) Kansas............................................      $281,914.52
(20) Kentucky..........................................      $272,434.98
(21) Louisiana.........................................      $351,899.77
(22) Maine.............................................      $418,723.36
(23) Maryland..........................................      $430,505.24
(24) Massachusetts.....................................      $500,051.53
(25) Michigan..........................................    $1,404,392.60
(26) Minnesota.........................................      $797,130.77
(27) Mississippi.......................................      $292,545.23
(28) Missouri..........................................      $341,505.95
(29) Montana...........................................      $291,949.91
(30) Nebraska..........................................      $352,417.68
(31) Nevada............................................      $230,612.76
(32) New Hampshire.....................................      $259,755.08
(33) New Jersey........................................      $834,447.41
(34) New Mexico........................................      $394,228.29
(35) New York..........................................    $1,244,624.63
(36) North Carolina....................................    $1,139,042.15
(37) North Dakota......................................      $661,274.92
(38) Northern Mariana Islands..........................      $182,642.19
(39) Ohio..............................................      $670,646.08
(40) Oklahoma..........................................      $368,159.36
(41) Oregon............................................    $1,750,251.40
(42) Pennsylvania......................................    $1,061,441.53
(43) Puerto Rico.......................................      $398,251.58
(44) Rhode Island......................................      $224,083.53
(45) South Carolina....................................      $521,099.28
(46) South Dakota......................................      $208,568.67
(47) Tennessee.........................................      $517,731.71
(48) Texas.............................................    $1,785,844.77
(49) Utah..............................................      $308,658.51
(50) Vermont...........................................      $228,276.36
(51) Virgin Islands....................................      $182,394.46
(52) Virginia..........................................      $510,241.75
(53) Washington........................................    $3,712,628.26
(54) West Virginia.....................................      $213,306.50
(55) Wisconsin.........................................    $1,048,311.07
(56) Wyoming...........................................      $205,910.99
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Funds not obligated will be allocated pro rata to the remaining 
States which applied during the specified grant application period to 
be solely expended on projects previously approved in their State plan. 
AMS will notify the States as to the procedures for applying for the 
reallocated funds.
    AMS requires applicants to submit SCBGP-FB applications 
electronically through the central Federal grants Web site, http://www.grants.gov instead of mailing hard copy documents. Original 
signatures are not needed on the SF-424 and SF-424B when applying 
through http://www.grants.gov and applicants are not required to submit 
any paper documents to AMS. Applicants are strongly urged to 
familiarize themselves with the Federal grants Web site and begin the 
application process well before the application deadline. For 
information on how to apply electronically, please consult http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. AMS will send an email 
confirmation when applications are received by the AMS office.
    SCBGP-FB is listed in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance'' under number 10.170 and subject agencies must adhere to 
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in 
all federally assisted programs.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 1621 note.

    Dated: January 28, 2010.
Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-2218 Filed 1-29-10; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE P
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