2012 Specialty Crop Competitive Grant Webinar

1. Amy.Pettit@alaska.gov 907-761-3864 2012 Specialty Crop Competitive Grant Webinar

2. HOUSEKEEPING • SIGN IN • QUESTION BREAKS • Amy.Pettit@alaska.gov • 907-761-3864 • LAUNCH FIRST POLL

3. What is the Specialty Crop Competitive Grant (SCCG)?

4. www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp

5. What is a SPECIALTY CROP? • Vegetables • Fruits and Tree Nuts • Culinary Herbs & Spices • Medicinal Herbs • Floriculture • Nursery Crops • Trees • Livestock • Dairy • Feed/Fuel Grains • Hay • Aquaculture

6. QUESTIONS?

7. WHO SHOULD APPLY? • For/Non Profit Organizations • Government Entities • Industry Trade Associations • Universities • Producers • Producer Groups

8. The grant program is designed to: SOLEY ENHANCE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF ALASKA GROWN SPECIALTY CROPS

9. POTENTIAL PROJECTS • A targeted marketing campaign • Market or product research designed to enhance variety knowledge • Document publication • Efforts to enhance consumer awareness through information documents, websites, or videos. • Efforts that encourage/support the use of Alaska Grown specialty crops in school lunches, restaurants or other underutilized outlets.

10. What is a SPECIALTY CROP? • Vegetables • Fruits and Tree Nuts • Culinary Herbs & Spices • Medicinal Herbs • Floriculture • Nursery Crops • Trees • Livestock • Dairy • Feed/Fuel Grains • Hay • Aquaculture

11. QUESTIONS?

12. www.dnr.alaska.gov/ag

13. GRANTS

14. Specialty Crop Competitive Grant • Competitive Grant Letter • Competitive Grant Application Requirements • Competitive Grant Outline • Competitive Grant Policies • Competitive Grant Review Criteria • Competitive Grant Sample Proposal

15. Application Requirements • DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number • Legal Name • Headquarters name and address for your organization • Doing business as (DBA) or other name by which your organization is commonly known or recognized • Physical Address, City, State and Zip Code • Mailing Address(is separate from Headquarters and/or physical address) • Telephone Number • Contact Name and Title • Number of Employees at your physical location

16. Application Requirements • Funds cannot be spent prior to award, receipts must be dated post-award. • Application must be typed. • PROBLEM STATEMENT – why is this project needed? • MEASURABLE OUTCOMES – how are you going to show us that the project worked? • CLEAR BUDGET • COLLABORATOR - Who supports this project?

17. QUESTIONS?

18. Concept Paper Outline • Problem Statement • Goals & Objectives • Project Description • Measurable Outcomes • Budget

19. CONCEPT PAPER OUTLINE • Problem Statement • What is the specific issue, problem or need to be addressed? • Why is the project timely and important? • Goals & Objectives • What do you hope to accomplish with the project? • Who are the beneficiaries and what is the overall impact of the project work? • How many producers are involved with or support the project?

20. CONCEPT PAPER OUTLINE • Project Description • Provide a work plan of how you plan to accomplish the goals of the project. • Include a timeline for completing the activities and the names of who will accomplish the activities. • Measurable Outcomes • How will you measure the success of the project? • What do you expect the measurable outcomes (results) to be?

21. BUDGET

22. QUESTIONS?

23. Program Policies • Any information obtained, data derived and reports resulting from a project funded by this grant must be made available to the public. • No administration costs may be allotted in project budget. • Travel and other expenses must follow federal and state guidelines for use of federal funds, as defined by OMB Circular A-87, or other relevant policies. • Grant funds may not be used to fund political activities in accordance with provisions of the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. 1501-1508 and 7324-7326). • Projects are for up to two years in duration. The Alaska Division of Agriculture (Division) must be notified at least 60 days prior to the ending date of the project if for any reason the project cannot be completed within the timeframe established in the grant. • The applicant must provide progress reports, with expenditures to date, as outlined during the contract process.

24. Program Policies • The Division reserves the right to: • Reject any or all proposals received; • Withhold any payments that do not meet grant conditions; and • Require return or refund of grant monies used for expenditures that are not allowed or unauthorized.

25. Program Policies • Grantees must obtain prior approval from the Division if there is: • 1) any revision of the project scope or objectives after a project is funded; • 2) need to extend the project period; or, • 3) changes in key persons associated with the project.

26. Review Criteria • Quality of Proposal • Active Participation from Industry • Budget • New & Innovative • Professional Collaborator • Active Management • Previous Projects

27. QUESTIONS?

28. What is a SPECIALTY CROP? • Vegetables • Fruits and Tree Nuts • Culinary Herbs & Spices • Medicinal Herbs • Floriculture • Nursery Crops • Trees • Livestock • Dairy • Feed/Fuel Grains • Hay • Aquaculture

29. NEXT STEP • Application available = Mid February • Funding amount for 2012 = Up to $20,000 • Application deadline: Mid April • Funding awarded : FALL 2012

30. Amy.Pettit@alaska.gov907-761-3864QUESTIONS?