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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Lisa James <<a href="mailto:ljames@azda.gov">ljames@azda.gov</a>>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 24, 2020 3:58 PM<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Ashley Estes <<a href="mailto:aestes@azda.gov">aestes@azda.gov</a>>; Susan Chase <<a href="mailto:schase@azda.gov">schase@azda.gov</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> 2020 AZ Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) Grant Manual<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">AZ Specialty Crop Block Grant Program</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">The 2020 AZ Specialty Crop Block Grant Program grant manual is now available and applications are now being accepted. To view the manual, please go to: </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://agriculture.az.gov/grants" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">https://agriculture.az.gov/grants</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">.</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">This year’s grant application deadline is</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"> <b>11:59:59 P.M. (MST)</b> <b>Wednesday,
April 1, 2020</b>. </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Application Packets are required to be submitted on-line. See instructions at the website above and Appendix G of the manual. It is highly recommended that you
review the instructions as soon as possible to become familiar with the on-line application process.</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">There will be two webinar workshops held on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. See page 14 of the manual or the website above for more details.</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">The purpose of this program is <b><u>to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Arizona</u></b>.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">The Arizona Department of Agriculture anticipates that these grant monies will be available to successful applicants by late 2020. Although USDA-AMS has not officially
released SCBGP funds to the states, AZDA projects that approximately $1,250,000 will eventually be available to be distributed in the fiscal year 2020 funding cycle.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Please forward this information to all interested parties. For more information, or to be added to the grant program mailing list, please contact:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Lisa A. James</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Grant Program Manager</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Arizona Department of Agriculture</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">1688 W. Adams Street</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Phoenix, AZ 85007</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Phone: 602-542-3262</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Fax: 602-364-0830</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:ljames@azda.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">ljames@azda.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">or</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Ashley Estes (Worthington)</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Grant Program Coordinator</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Arizona Department of Agriculture</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">1688 W. Adams Street</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Phoenix, AZ 85007</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Phone: 602-542-0972</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Fax: 602-364-0830</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:aestes@azda.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">aestes@azda.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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