{"id":14668,"date":"2021-05-03T13:00:17","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T20:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calcanstaging.kinsta.cloud\/?p=14668"},"modified":"2021-05-03T12:36:13","modified_gmt":"2021-05-03T19:36:13","slug":"farmland-protection-support-for-underserved-producers-funding-available","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calclimateag.org\/es\/farmland-protection-support-for-underserved-producers-funding-available\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmland Protection & Support for Underserved Producers: Funding Available"},"content":{"rendered":"

California grant programs for supporting underserved producers and protecting farmland are now accepting applications.<\/p>\n

Pandemic Support for Underserved Producers<\/h2>\n

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for a new program, the California Underserved and Small Farm Producer Grant Program. Applications will be accepted until Monday May 10, 2021at 5pm PST<\/strong>. Awards are expected to be announced May 19, 2021.<\/p>\n

Nearly $2 million is for technical assistance to small and mid-scale and\/or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who need support applying for COVID-19 economic relief grant programs, as well as assistance with business planning and marketing strategies. Registered non-profit organizations, Tribal Governments, and Resource Conservation Districts can apply and there a two types of grant projects:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Technical Assistance for Underserved Farmers and Ranchers<\/strong> \u2013 Funding for technical assistance providers to support farmers and ranchers in applying for COVID-19 economic relief grant programs and assistance with business planning and marketing strategies and other business economic recovery activities. Approximately $1.35 million is available for this type of grant.<\/li>\n
  2. Direct Grant Assistance for Underserved Farmers and Ranchers<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2013 Eligible entities are also able to apply as a \u201cregional administrator\u201d for grant funds to distribute directly to farmers and ranchers to aid in COVID-19 economic recovery and\/or leverage existing economic relief funding programs. Approximately $550,000 is available for this type of grant.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Grant applications are available online here,<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0and can be downloaded, completed and returned via email to:\u00a0grants@cdfa.ca.gov<\/a>. CDFA is hosting a webinar Tuesday May 4, 2021 at 1pm, to discuss the grant program and application process, and to answer questions. Register for the webinar aqu\u00ed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    For assistance and questions related to the California Underserved and Small Producer Program process, please contact\u00a0grants@cdfa.ca.gov<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0thea.rittenhouse@cdfa.ca.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

    Background<\/h3>\n

    This new program is due in large part to advocacy efforts by CalCAN Coalition member Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), responding to the reality that many pandemic relief programs throughout the year were not reaching small and underserved farmers<\/a>. You can read more from CAFF aqu\u00ed<\/a>. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) is also hiring several new small farms community educator positions, another result of these advocacy efforts. Find and apply for the jobs aqu\u00ed<\/a>. For more information on COVID resources for farmers, please see aqu\u00ed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Sustainable Agricultural Lands Program<\/h2>\n

    \"\"En Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC)<\/a> is accepting pre-proposals for purchasing conservation easements or creating plans to protect agricultural lands. The deadlines are:<\/p>\n