The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Urban Agriculture Grant Program (UAGP) is a competitive grant that funds programs and projects that enhance the viability of urban agriculture in urban areas across the state of California.
Donor Name: California Department of Food and Agriculture
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/23/2023
Size of the Grant: $800,000
Grant Duration: 28 months
Details:
Urban Agriculture refers to the cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products in urban settings, including things like inground small plot cultivation, raised beds, vertical production, warehouse farms, mushroom growing, urban forestry and tree care, community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic facilities, and other innovations. Urban farmers and gardeners work among diverse populations to expand access to nutritious foods, foster community engagement, offer workforce development opportunities, educate communities about food and farming, and expand green spaces. Priority will be given to urban agriculture projects led by or serving priority populations.
There are two funding tracks:
Track 1: Systems Builder Community-Based Block Grant
- The Systems Builder Community-Based Block Grant is to increase staff capacity and provide pass through funding for Community-Based Organizations (CBO’s) with grassroots involvement in urban and regional food systems planning. Eligible CBO’s may apply for awards from $200,000 – $800,000 in CDFA funding to engage and administer subawards to urban agriculture stakeholders in their region. Track 1 funded Organizations may utilize between $5,000-$60,000 of the award towards eligible urban agriculture work being done internally. Subawards to external stakeholders will range from $5,000 to $60,000. At least one CBO within each urban region of California will receive an award, and at least one CBO with statewide reach will receive funding. CDFA aims to distribute awards geographically throughout California’s urban areas to the extent possible.
Track 2: Urban Agriculture Practitioner Grant
- The Urban Agriculture Practitioner Grant is to directly fund urban agriculture projects, providing awards from $75,000 – $300,000 for eligible for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, Resource Conservation Districts, Tribal Based nonprofits, and Tribal Governments that are led by or serve priority populations identified using the California Air Resources Board’s California Climate Investments Priority Populations.
Priority Populations
Per the California Air Resources Board’s California Climate Investments Priority Populations map, priority populations refer to those that are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and include disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households.
Funding Information
CDFA will award up to $11,670,000 for proposals through this solicitation.
- Grant amounts for Track 1 cannot exceed $800,000 per applicant.
- Grant amounts for Track 2 cannot exceed $300,000 per applicant.
Grant Duration
The maximum grant duration is 28 months with all funding expended by September 2026. Grant funds cannot be expended before May 1, 2024. for-profit organizations, Native American, tribal organisation bhi mark karna
Grant Duration
CDFA will consider one year and multi-year grants, with a target start in early spring 2024 and that ends by September 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
All applicants for Track 1 and Track 2 must serve communities located in urban areas. Priority will be given to urban agriculture projects led by or serving priority populations as defined by the California Air Resources Board’s California Climate Investments Priority Populations map.
Due to the limited funding available, applicants may submit no more than one proposal, selecting only one track. Please note:
- The CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount less than the amount requested.
- This grant program does NOT require Matching Funds. The CDFA will fund up to 100% of the total project cost.
- Advanced Payments are allowable in this grant.
- Grant recipients are eligible to receive Advance Payments for project expenditures. Advance payments shall not exceed the amount necessary for project expenses for a three-month period and cannot reduce the project balance below 10% of the award amount. If approved for advance payment, recipients must follow the Advanced Payment Grant Regulations.
- Applicants may apply to Track 1 or Track 2 but not to both tracks.
- Recipients of Track 2 Funding are prohibited from applying for subawards through Track 1 Community-Based Organizations.
Track 1: Systems Builder Community-Based Block Grant Eligibility
Non-profit organizations, Resource Conservation Districts, public or private colleges and universities, California Native American Tribes, and Tribal Based non-profit organizations with knowledge and experience in regional food systems are eligible to apply.
Individuals, for-profit organizations, local, state, and federal government entities, are not eligible to apply. Additional notes to help determine eligibility:
- Grant funds will not be awarded to Community Based Organizations that directly benefit or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual.
- Community Based Organizations must distribute and administer no less than two subawards. There is no maximum number of subawards.
- Community-Based Organization may allocate between $5,000 and $60,000 of the award towards urban agriculture programs operated by the applicant.
Track 2: Urban Agriculture Practitioner Grant Eligibility
Non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, Resource Conservation Districts, Native American Tribes, and Tribal Based non-profit organizations are eligible to apply. Applicants must also be a Qualified Small Business and thus meet the following criteria: Is one of the following:
- A sole proprietor, independent contractor, 1099 employee, C-corporation, Scorporation, cooperative, limited liability company, partnership, or limited partnership, with an annual gross revenue of less than five million dollars ($5,000,000), but greater than one thousand dollars ($1,000), in the 2022 taxable year.
- A registered nonprofit entity that had an annual gross revenue of less than five million dollars ($5,000,000), but greater than one thousand dollars ($1,000), in the 2022 taxable year.
- An organization that is fiscally sponsored by a nonprofit corporation.
Local, state, and federal government entities, and public or private colleges and universities are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit CDFA.
