MEMORANDUM

TO: Trista Etzig; Project Manager, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

FROM: Tom Jones; Manager, Marketing and Development Branch

DATE: September 23, 2016

RE: Request to Amend the Scope for AMS Agreement 12-25-B-XXXX

The approved State plan for Specialty Crop Block Grant #12-25-B-XXXX included a project 

entitled Farm-to-School: Building New Markets for Specialty Crops in Schools. The 

project has been completed and all objectives have been accomplished. However, due to 

efficient use of grant funds, the final cost of the project was $244,000 rather than the granted 

amount of $250,000. Therefore, XXX State Department of Agriculture hereby requests a 

scope change to redirect these funds to a new project. 

Please find attached the profile for a new proposed project. The total budget requested for 

this new project is $6,000.

Sincerely,

X

Tom Jones

Manager

XXX State Department of Agriculture

Division of Agriculture

Phone: (555) 222-2222

Email: DivisionofAg@XXX.gov
Tribal Creek Partnership’s Fresh Food Initiative

Abstract

Partner with Tribal Creek Inc. to increase specialty crop availability and consumption on the 

reservation by cultivating 10-15 new small farmers on the reservation and educating the 

population about the production and health benefits of specialty crops. 

Partner Organization

Tribal Creek, Inc.

Project Purpose

The purpose of this project is to increase specialty crop availability and consumption on the 

reservation by cultivating 10-15 new small farmers on the reservation and educating the 

population about the production and health benefits of specialty crops. 

Indian-owned acres represent roughly 2% of all land within the United States, while Native 

American farmers make up 2.4% of all farmers and they are generating only 30% of the 

average value of sales seen by their non-Indian counterparts. Identifying and training 10-15 

new small farmers will provide them with a knowledge base to effectively utilize the 

valuable land resources available to them. Furthermore, such development will grow the 

local economy as farmers will be able to sell their products, grow their farms, buy supplies, 

and ultimately perhaps even hire workers for their farms.

In addition to the economic benefits of this project, it will also provide much-needed health 

benefits. Many of the local residents suffer from obesity, malnutrition, and related health 

problems as a direct result of a poor diet. The educational component of this project will 

help residents understand the benefits of consuming specialty crops. They will be exposed 

to new fresh fruits and vegetables and will learn tasty new ways to prepare them.

To achieve these goals, the project staff will conduct activities centered around four main

objectives: education, school gardens, entrepreneurial growth and market growth. First, the 

education component will target both youth and adults. The youth portion will work within 

the school system and with after-school programs to address agronomy, entrepreneurship, 

nutrition and wellness. Weekly classes will be provided by the State University (SU) 

Extension staff during and after school throughout the year. SU expects to teach at least 50 

lessons to children of various ages.

In addition, SU will provide at least 10 community classes a year geared towards the general 

adult population, as well as towards potential growers. These classes will serve as a catalyst 

for the identification of potential growers and more direct technical assistance for each area.

The second objective of the project will center on the development of a market-focused 

school garden. A sustainable school garden is being developed at the Tribal Creek Schools 

with a focus on providing entrepreneurial education through developing direct marketing 

access for the school garden’s produce. This activity will overlap with the youth education 

pieces spoken about in objective one. The SU Extension staff will work directly with the 

classroom students on the school-based garden, while the executive director will coordinate 

volunteers to oversee work in school off-season.

The third objective is to provide technical assistance to individuals for the development of 

their own small specialty crop businesses. Tribal Creek, Inc. will work directly with tribal 
members and nonprofits to develop a network of growers throughout the reservation that 

support all the small communities on the reservation. 

The final objective will be more heavily focused on the development of local markets for the 

specialty crops grown throughout this process. Tribal Creek’s executive director has 

already begun identifying potential specialty crop markets in the area and is devising

strategies to target them through advertising, accessibility, promotions, and other important 

strategies. In addition, the executive director will help growers assess local retailers’ 

interest in purchasing local products and creating a startup farmer’s market in the area. 

All educational and other project activities will only focus on and benefit specialty crops. 

Staff will ensure that all examples in the training are examples of specialty crops. In 

addition, registration for community education courses will require a self-assessment from 

each participant. Any participants that have other farming or agricultural interests who wish 

to participate in the training activities will be required to pay a registration fee to cover the 

cost.

This project does not build on any previously SCBGP funded projects and has not been 

submitted to or funded by another Federal or State grant program.

Potential Impact

Beneficiaries of the project will include a minimum of 10-15 small farmers who will receive 

one-on-one and group training; approximately 300 students who attend the Tribal Creek 

schools and will participate in the in-school and after-school educational and gardening 

activities; approximately 300 adults who will be trained through the community education 

courses; and the general population of 6,223 who will benefit both from the economic 

stimulus of the activities and from the multiplier effect of information sharing in the general 

population.

The economic impact of the project is difficult to forecast in dollar figures. However, it is 

anticipated that the project will bring significant economic opportunities to the 10-15 

farmers who participate. In turn, their growth will spark greater need for supplies, labor 

and equipment, most of which is readily available on the reservation.

Expected Measurable Outcomes

• Increase the number of specialty crop farmers on the reservation (GOAL) by 10-15 

(TARGET) from current number of 3 (BENCHMARK) as measured by the number of 

participants who make sales of specialty crops (PERFORMANCE MEASURE).

• Increase population’s understanding of specialty crops and their uses by training 

students and adults at schools, in afterschool activities and through community 

education (GOAL). Eighty percent of the 600 participants will improve their 

knowledge about specialty crops by 50 percent or more (TARGET) as measured 

through pre- and post- tests (PERFORMANCE MEASURE). BENCHMARK will be 

set through the pretest. 

• Increase specialty crop sales on the reservation (GOAL) by ten percent (TARGET) 

from current sales of $100,000 (BENCHMARK) as measured by sales receipts of new 

farmers (PERFORMANCE MEASURE).

Work Plan

Objective 1: School garden
Activity Personnel Oct 2016 Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug

Recruit 

Volunteers

Executive 

Director

Volunteer 

Orientation

SU

Gardening SU, students, 

volunteers

Establish Direct 

Market Access

Executive 

Director

Objective 2: Adult & Child Education

Activity Personnel Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug

In‐ and after‐

school 

education

School admins, 

Boys/Girls 

Club, SU

Summer 

Education

SU

Adult 

Community 

Classes

SU

Objective 3: Entrepreneurship

Activity Personnel Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug

Recruit 

entrepreneurs, 

plan

Executive 

Director

Gardening 

Assistance

SU

Marketing & 

Sales Assistance

Executive 

Director

Project Evaluation

Activity Personnel Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug

Survey/Project 

Evaluation

Executive 

Director

Project Commitment

The Tribal Creek Partnership currently includes the following groups:

• Tribal Creek, Inc.

• The Tribe

• Tribal Schools

• State University Extension

• Boys & Girls Clubs of three districts

• Bureau of Indian Affairs
All partners will lead some of the training sessions, participate in volunteer recruitment, and 

provide technical assistance as needed.

Budget Narrative

Cost 

Category

SCBGP 

Request

Applicant 

Cash 

Match

Applicant 

In-Kind

Partner 

Org Cash 

Match

Partner 

Org InKind

Total

Personnel $0 $2,500 $0 $0 $2,700 $5,200

Contractual $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Travel $0 $0 $945 $0 $0 $945

Supplies $6,000 $0 $2,000 $0 $0 $8,000

Equipment $0 $0 $10,000 $0 $0 $10,000

Lease/Rental $0 $0 $2,000 $0 $0 $2,000

Other $0 $0 $2,000 $0 $10,000 $12,000

Total $6,000 $2,500 $16,945 $0 $24,500 $49,945

Supplies

- Supplies for school gardens and educational program for adults/children such as 

paper, booklets, writing utensils, etc. = $2,000

- 20 gardening starter kits @ $100 / kit that includes seeds and tools = $2,000

- $1,500 for gardening tools such as shovels, rakes, shears, etc. that can be used for all 

gardens including individuals and school

- $500 for vegetable seeds for use by school garden and individuals as necessary

Matching Funds & In-Kind Contributions

Matching funds and in-kind contributions will be provided by Tribal Creek, Inc. and its 

various partners in the amount of $2,500 cash and $41,445. These contributions will cover 

the following expenses:

Personnel

- Tribal Creek Executive Director, 80 hours @ $25/hour

- SU Extension Office

 Community Educator - $15 X 100

 Youth Coordinator - $12 X 100

Contractual

- There are no contractual funds requested

Supplies

- $2,000 for packaging assistance as a starter for individuals and school garden in their 

attempt to access consumers 

Travel
- 2,700 miles * .35/mile

Lease / Rental

- In-kind office space provision for Tribal Creek Initiative and SU Extension staff at 

$500 per month for 4 months

Other

- $1,000 for 200 reusable grocer bags for marketing @ $5 per bag

- $1,000 in marketing assistance to reach out to broader audience. This funding will be 

utilized for print or radio marketing in the region

- $10,000 for volunteer time by community members, students, and tribal leaders @ 

1,000 total hours X $10 per hours (community meetings, strategic planning and the 

bulk in gardening effort)