Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Department of Environmental Management announced that $80,000 in grant money is available to help promote and sell specialty crops grown in Rhode Island.

Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts and nursery crops, including floriculture and turf grass production.

The funds are from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The grants generally range from about $3,000 to $15,000 with no matching funds required. Funding is provided in two stages, with 50 percent given up front, and the remainder provided at the satisfactory completion of the project. The grants may be used for projects of up to two years long.

The grants may be used for research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health, product development, education, "buy local" initiatives and for programs that provide for increased consumption and innovation, among others.

Any Rhode Island agricultural or educational association or organization, individual farmer or resident is eligible to apply. Grant applications and project must further the competitiveness of special crops as broadly as possible in Rhode Island, and not just serve to enhance the viability of the individual farm according to the USDA program guidelines.

For an application or questions contact Peter Susi, supervisor of the marketing and promotion section in the Division of Agriculture at 222-2781, extension 4517. Downloadable applications are also available on the Division of Agriculture's website, www.rigrown.ri.gov, by clicking on "For Farmers", then "Farm Viability" under the Grants and Loans section.

The deadline to get the grants is July 24. Applications must be sent to DEM's Division of Agriculture, room 370, 235 Promenade St., Providence, R.I. 02908.

 Tags  DEM grant Providence specialty crops

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