[Federal Register: September 26, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 186)]
[Notices]
[Page 56101-56102]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26se06-29]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[No. FV-06-18]
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP)
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the
availability of approximately $7 million in block grant funds to
enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. 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 departments of a State government responsible
for agriculture within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, are eligible to apply. State departments
of agriculture are encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, and
community-based organizations in the development of applications and
the administration of projects.
DATES: Applications must be postmarked not later than October 11, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Applications may be sent to: SCBGP, Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Stop 0235, Room 2077 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-
0235.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trista Etzig, (202) 690-4942, or
Margaret Irby, (202) 720-3209, e-mail: Scblockgrants@usda.gov or your
State department of agriculture listed on the SCBGP Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SCBGP is authorized under section 101 of the
Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) and is
implemented under 7 CFR part 1290 [Docket No. FV06-1290-1 FR]. The
SCBGP assists State departments of agriculture in enhancing the
competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as
fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, and nursery crops
(including floriculture). Examples of enhancing the competitiveness of
specialty crops include, but are not limited to: Research, promotion,
marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security,
plant health programs, education, ``buy local'' programs, increased
consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced
costs of distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation,
product development, and developing cooperatives.
Each interested State department of agriculture is to submit an
application anytime before October 11, 2007 to the USDA contact noted
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. AMS will process the
application after the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, 7 CFR part
1290, becomes effective on October 11, 2006. States that do not apply
for or do not request all available funding during the specified grant
application period will forfeit all or that portion of available
funding not requested for that application year. AMS will work with
State departments of agriculture and provide assistance as necessary.
Additional details about the SCBGP application process for all
applicants are available at the SCBGP 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) Completed applications must include an SF-424 ``Application for
Federal Assistance''.
(b) Completed applications must also include one State plan to show
how grant funds will be utilized to enhance the competitiveness of
specialty crops. SCBGP grant funds will be awarded for projects of up
to 3 years duration. The state plan shall include the following:
(1) Cover page. Include the lead agency for administering the plan
and an abstract of 200 words or less for each proposed project.
(2) Project purpose. Clearly state the specific issue, problem,
interest, or need to be addressed. Explain why each project is
important and timely.
(3) 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(s).
(4) Financial Feasibility. For each project, provide budget
estimates for the total project cost. Indicate what percentage of the
budget covers administrative costs. Administrative costs should not
exceed 10 percent of any proposed budget. Provide a justification if
administrative costs are higher than 10 percent.
(5) Expected Measurable Outcomes. Describe at least two discrete,
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quantifiable, and measurable outcomes that directly and meaningfully
support each project's purpose. The outcome measures 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.
(6) Goal(s). Describe the overall goal(s) in one or two sentences
for each project.
(7) Work Plan. Explain briefly how each goal and measurable outcome
will be accomplished for each project. Be clear about who will do the
work. Include appropriate time lines. Expected measurable outcomes may
be long term that exceed the grant period. If so, provide a timeframe
when long term outcome measure will be achieved.
(8) Project Oversight. Describe the oversight practices that
provide sufficient knowledge of grant activities to ensure proper and
efficient administration.
(9) Project Commitment. Describe how all grant partners commit to
and work toward the goals and outcome measures of the proposed
project(s).
(10) Multi-state Projects. If a project is a multi-state project,
describe how the States are going to collaborate effectively with
related projects. Each state participating in the project should submit
the project in their State plan indicating which State is taking the
coordinating role and 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 $100,000 to 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 (2005
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) cash receipt data for
the 50 States and the District of Columbia and 2002 Census of
Agriculture data for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) 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:
(1) Alabama $108,926.78
(2) Alaska $100,520.67
(3) Arizona $133,290.44
(4) Arkansas $102,675.16
(5) California $652,477.92
(6) Colorado $116,139.35
(7) Connecticut $107,934.62
(8) Delaware $102,403.75
(9) District of Columbia $100,000.00
(10) Florida $253,750.10
(11) Georgia $129,864.25
(12) Hawaii $109,201.37
(13) Idaho $121,388.06
(14) Illinois $111,450.21
(15) Indiana $109,567.29
(16) Iowa $103,249.43
(17) Kansas $102,197.15
(18) Kentucky $102,827.56
(19) Louisiana $104,950.42
(20) Maine $105,806.75
(21) Maryland $111,602.37
(22) Massachusetts $107,596.35
(23) Michigan $136,342.33
(24) Minnesota $113,274.97
(25) Mississippi $103,626.70
(26) Missouri $104,289.46
(27) Montana $102,726.15
(28) Nebraska $104,133.83
(29) Nevada $101,478.01
(30) New Hampshire $102,244.91
(31) New Jersey $117,036.97
(32) New Mexico $108,507.39
(33) New York $129,212.32
(34) North Carolina $136,155.66
(35) North Dakota $109,135.59
(36) Ohio $122,689.29
(37) Oklahoma $107,188.11
(38) Oregon $148,320.35
(39) Pennsylvania $128,893.21
(40) Puerto Rico $106,053.13
(41) Rhode Island $101,417.97
(42) South Carolina $110,424.99
(43) South Dakota $100,850.02
(44) Tennessee $111,629.63
(45) Texas $156,488.66
(46) Utah $103,135.47
(47) Vermont $101,397.90
(48) Virginia $111,797.84
(49) Washington $182,441.82
(50) West Virginia $100,286.87
(51) Wisconsin $120,305.36
(52) Wyoming $100,695.09
Applicants submitting hard copy applications should submit one
unstapled original and one unstapled copy of the application package.
The SF-424 must be signed (with an original signature) by an official
who has authority to apply for Federal assistance. Hard copy
applications should be sent only via express mail to AMS at the address
noted at the beginning of this notice because USPS mail sent to
Washington, DC headquarters is still being sanitized, resulting in
possible delays, loss, and physical damage to enclosures. AMS will send
an e-mail confirmation when applications arrive at the AMS office.
Applicants who submit hard copy applications are also encouraged to
submit electronic versions of their application directly to AMS via e-
mail addressed to scblockgrants@usda.gov in one of the following
formats: Word (*.doc); or Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf). Alternatively, a
standard 3.5'' HD diskette or a CD may be enclosed with the hard copy
application.
Applicants also have the option of submitting SCBGP applications
electronically through the central Federal grants Web site, http://www.grants.gov
instead of mailing hard copy documents. Applicants
considering the electronic application option are strongly urged to
familiarize themselves with the Federal grants Web site and begin the
application process well before the application deadline.
SCBGP is listed in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance''
under number 10.169 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: September 19, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 06-8213 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P