[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39278-39280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15646]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-08-0059; FV-08-380]


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 approximately $10 million in grant funds, less USDA 
administrative costs, to enhance the competitiveness of specialty 
crops. The funds announced under this program (SCBGP-FB) are separate 
from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds announced by 
AMS on March 5, 2008. SCBGP-FB funds are authorized by the recently 
enacted Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2007 Farm 
Bill). The application process to apply for the SCBGP-FB funds will 
parallel those currently found in 7 CFR part 1290. Regulations to 
implement the amendments made in the 2007 Farm Bill will be published 
in the near future. State departments of agriculture are encouraged to 
develop their grant applications promptly. The 2007 Farm Bill requires 
USDA to obligate the grant funds under this program by the end of the 
fiscal year, September 30, 2008, which necessitates a short application 
period. 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, 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. 
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 received not later than September 8, 2008.

[[Page 39279]]


ADDRESSES: Applications may be sent to: SCBGP, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, 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, Phone: (202) 690-4942, 
e-mail: [email protected] 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 is authorized under Section 101 of the 
Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) and is 
currently implemented under 7 CFR Part 1290 (published September 11, 
2007; 71 FR 53303). Section 10109 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008, Public Law 110-246 (the 2007 Farm Bill), amends the 
Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004. AMS anticipates issuing 
regulations in the near future to implement the amendments made in the 
2007 Farm Bill. The SCBGP and SCBGP-FB assist State departments of 
agriculture in enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops.

Farm Bill 2007 Changes

    Section 10109 the 2007 Farm Bill amended the Specialty Crops 
Competitiveness Act of 2004 by adding Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as 
eligible States and horticulture to the definition of specialty crop. 
Also, the minimum base grant each State is eligible to receive was 
amended to an amount that is equal to the higher of $100,000 or include 
\1/3\ of 1 percent of the total amount of funding made available for 
that fiscal year. AMS anticipates issuing regulations in the near 
future to implement the amendments made in the 2007 Farm Bill.

SCBGP-FB

    Under the SCBGP-FB, specialty crops are defined as fruits and 
vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops 
(including floriculture). Examples of enhancing the competitiveness of 
specialty crops include, but are not limited to: Food safety, food 
security, nutrition, trade enhancement, education, research, promotion, 
marketing, plant health programs, ``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 one 
application on or before September 8, 2008 to the USDA contact noted in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Applications will only be 
accepted for funding under this Notice. State departments of 
agriculture who have not yet applied for the fiscal year 2008 SCBGP 
grant funds (published March 5, 2008; 73 FR 11859) will not be able to 
apply for both fiscal year 2008 funds in one application. The deadline 
for funding under the previously announced SCBGP remains March 5, 2009. 
The deadline for funding under this Notice is September 8, 2008. As a 
result of the 2007 Farm Bill, in fiscal year 2008 AMS will be 
administering two separate programs to assist State departments of 
agriculture in enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops. 
While similar, the SCBGP and SCBGP-FB are distinct with different 
definitions and separate deadlines. Other organizations interested in 
participating in this program should contact their 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 AMS 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 include one State plan to show how 
grant funds will be utilized to enhance the competitiveness of 
specialty crops. SCBGP-FB grant funds will be awarded for projects of 
up to 3 years duration. An application that builds on a previously 
funded SCBGP project may also be submitted. In such cases, the State 
plan should indicate clearly how the project compliments previous work. 
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 distinct, 
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 (2006 
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) cash receipt data for 
the 50 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 2002 Census of 
Agriculture

[[Page 39280]]

for Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and 2003 Census of Agriculture 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:

 
 
 
(1) Alabama............................................      $125,779.00
(2) Alaska.............................................       101,521.00
(3) American Samoa.....................................       103,471.00
(4) Arizona............................................       182,056.00
(5) Arkansas...........................................       107,059.00
(6) California.........................................     1,661,482.00
(7) Colorado...........................................       149,569.00
(8) Connecticut........................................       123,322.00
(9) Delaware...........................................       106,240.00
(10) District of Columbia..............................       100,000.00
(11) Florida...........................................       477,169.00
(12) Georgia...........................................       186,541.00
(13) Guam..............................................       100,273.00
(14) Hawaii............................................       124,765.00
(15) Idaho.............................................       166,690.00
(16) Illinois..........................................       132,565.00
(17) Indiana...........................................       125,311.00
(18) Iowa..............................................       108,541.00
(19) Kansas............................................       106,240.00
(20) Kentucky..........................................       107,995.00
(21) Louisiana.........................................       115,054.00
(22) Maine.............................................       120,202.00
(23) Maryland..........................................       131,941.00
(24) Massachusetts.....................................       122,932.00
(25) Michigan..........................................       203,740.00
(26) Minnesota.........................................       136,231.00
(27) Mississippi.......................................       109,771.00
(28) Missouri..........................................       112,168.00
(29) Montana...........................................       107,566.00
(30) Nebraska..........................................       111,817.00
(31) Nevada............................................       104,017.00
(32) New Hampshire.....................................       106,279.00
(33) New Jersey........................................       152,260.00
(34) New Mexico........................................       120,670.00
(35) New York..........................................       189,895.00
(36) North Carolina....................................       208,537.00
(37) North Dakota......................................       125,740.00
(38) Northern Mariana Islands..........................       100,117.00
(39) Ohio..............................................       168,562.00
(40) Oklahoma..........................................       118,798.00
(41) Oregon............................................       240,868.00
(42) Pennsylvania......................................       181,081.00
(43) Puerto Rico.......................................       120,631.00
(44) Rhode Island......................................       103,978.00
(45) South Carolina....................................       130,264.00
(46) South Dakota......................................       102,418.00
(47) Tennessee.........................................       132,370.00
(48) Texas.............................................       257,521.00
(49) Utah..............................................       107,878.00
(50) Vermont...........................................       103,861.00
(51) Virgin Islands....................................       100,078.00
(52) Virginia..........................................       132,643.00
(53) Washington........................................       360,013.00
(54) West Virginia.....................................       100,780.00
(55) Wisconsin.........................................       161,035.00
(56) Wyoming...........................................       101,755.00
 

    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. 
In such event, a revised application shall be submitted, by a date 
before the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2008, determined by 
AMS, showing how the additional funds will be utilized to enhance the 
competitiveness of specialty crops.
    Applicants submitting hard copy applications should submit one 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 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 [email protected] 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-FB 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-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: July 3, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-15646 Filed 7-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P