Urban Agriculture Grant Program

Urban Agriculture Grant Program is sponsored by California Department of Food and Agriculture. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

CDFA - Farm to Fork - Urban Agriculture Grant Program Urban Agriculture Grant Program CDFA Office of Farm to Fork Welcome to CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork Urban Agriculture Grant Program! The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 was approved by California voters as Proposition 4 in the November 2024 general election.

Through the bill, $20 million dollars is now available for urban agriculture projects that create or expand city or suburban community farms or gardens, including community food producers, as defined in Section 113752 of the Health and Safety Code, through in-ground small plot cultivation, raised beds, mushroom growing, rooftop farms, and cultivation of vacant lots and in parks.

The reestablished Urban Agriculture Grant Program is currently in development. The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Urban Agriculture Grant Program (UAGP) was a one-time only, competitive grant that funded programs and projects that enhance the viability of urban agriculture in urban areas across the state of CA.

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. CDFA defines "urban" as a geographic area no more than 25 miles adjacent to or outside of one Urbanized Area containing a population of 50,000 or more people.

Priority was given to urban agriculture projects led by or serving priority populations. Priority Populations was identified using the California Air Resources Board’s California Climate Investments Priority Populations map . CDFA awarded $11,670,000 in proposals through this solicitation.

Grant Award Recipients & Announcement CDFA's Office of Farm to Fork is excited to announce the Urban Agriculture Grant Program awarded $11. 67 million to 33 projects across California that enhance the viability of urban agriculture. View the list of CDFA Urban Agriculture Grant Program Award Recipients Press Release: CDFA Awards $11.

67 Million For Urban Agriculture Projects Across California Grant Program Recipients Resources Visit the Urban Ag grantee page for resources and information about the grant processes.

Track 1 Grantees' Subaward Programs – Now Open Community Alliance of Family Farmers (CAFF) Growing Urban Agriculture Microgrants Growing Urban Agriculture Microgrants Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) IERCD Urban Agriculture Subaward Program December 6 2024 – Track 1 December 13 2024 – Track 2 Urban AG Subaward Program Asian Business Institute and Resource Center (ABIRC) ABIRC Urban Agricultural Project: Creating Pathways for Fresno and Bakersfield Urban Agricultural Programs November 1, 2024 Urban Agriculture Grant ProgramUrban Agriculture Grant Program UC San Diego Center for Community Health UCSD Center for Community Health Farmer Mobilization Seed Grants Los Angeles Cultivating Farmers Grant Program Los Angeles Food Policy Council Urban Agriculture Grant Program Application Information View the Request for Applications (RFA) for the full grant program details, including eligibility and funding information for each Track.

Note: Applicants may only apply to one Track Request for Application Opens Request for Application Closes October 23, 2023 @ 5pm PT Application Information Session August 29, 2023 @ 1pm - 2:30pm PT Request for Proposal Review Period Award Notification Period Contract and Grant Agreement Period AmpliFund Grants Portal Information Click the link below to watch the video series for users accessing the AmpliFund applicant portal.

This series reviews how to register on the portal, how to review an opportunity, how to complete an application including the budget template and performance plan template and other administrative functionalities of the applicant portal. AmpliFund Applicant Series — AmpliFund Support (zendesk.

com) Technical Assistance Webinars guiding applicants through every step of completing a grant application in AmpliFund will be held on Zoom at the following times: Track 1: Tuesday, September 5th @ 11am PT (60 minute session) View the Track 1 Webinar recording Track 2: Thursday, September 7th @ 4pm PT (90 minute session) View the Track 2 Webinar recording Both webinars will be recorded and available to applicants here on the website.

Read through a AmpliFund Application user guide on how to navigate the AmpliFund Application. Public Comment Period — View Comments and Responses CDFA-F2F hosted a Public Comment Period June 1-15, 2023.

View the Draft RFA for Public Comment Download the Info Session Slides Watch the Info Sessions Recording View the Summary of Public Comments and Responses Track 1: Systems Builder Community-Based Block Grant The purpose of 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 1 project applicants must serve one of the urban areas of California listed below: Sacramento: Sacramento, Stockton Bay Area: North Bay, East Bay, and South Bay Fresno: Fresno, Bakersfield LA: Los Angeles, Long Beach Inland Empire: San Bernardino, Riverside Track 2: Urban Agriculture Practitioner Grant The purpose of 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 non-profits, and Tribal Governments that are led by or serve priority populations identified using the California Air Resources Board's California Climate Investments Priority Populations map and located in urban areas as defined by CDFA.

What Can This Funding Be Used For? Examples of fundable expenses for Track 1 applicants and Track 2 subawardees are included below.

Site development, plans and drawings, permits, legal fees, consultant fees Season extension such as hoop houses, high tunnels, shade houses, green houses Irrigation systems including water connection, installation, improvements, meters, hardware Tool storage sheds or containers Wash and pack areas including shade structures, drainage pits or other needs Community gathering spaces including picnic tables, DG pathways, seating for workshops or other engagement activities, shade structures, outdoor kitchens, demonstration sites Aggregation and distribution preparation areas Land improvements including soil testing, amendments, remediations, weed management Innovations in production equipment such as hydroponic or aquaponic systems Tools - including hand tools, mechanized tools, harvesting tools, weed management tools, etc. Post-harvest wash stations, bins, boxes, labels, packaging etc. Farm Stand, Community Supported Agriculture, or other marketing supplies Refrigeration units under $5,000 total.

For refrigeration needs above $5,000 apply to CDFA’s Refrigeration Grant Program Technology and software for sales, marketing, and communications Technology, and software for field management Technical Assistance and Operations Peer to Peer TA providers to mentor, train, and support urban farmers and community-based organizations Recognized experienced TA providers to mentor, train, and support urban farmers and community-based organizations Marketing and Communications Food safety certifications Climate smart agriculture certifications, like transition to organic or organic certification Evaluation, data collection, quantitative and qualitative reports on impact of project Design, Planning and Implementation consultants and contractors for: Navigation of Permits and Legal processes Staff capacity to operate programming Internship stipends or hourly pay Professional development opportunities Ensuring youth from all backgrounds have access to paid positions developing urban food systems Community Engagement and Education Community workshop development and materials Staff capacity to operate Community Engagement activities Translation services for community engagement at an urban farm Open house tours and fieldtrips for residents, students, elderly or other underserved community members.

Who is Eligible to Apply? 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: A sole proprietor, independent contractor, 1099 employee, C-corporation, S-corporation, 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.

View the Urban Ag Grant Program FAQ Find the answers to all questions asked to CDFA. This will be updated every two weeks with new questions and answers added to the document. For the questions asked and answered live during the info session please watch the Q&A section of the webinar recording below.

View the Q&A (last updated 10/20/23) Information Session Webinars August 29, 2023 @ 1:00pm - 2:30 pm PT via Zoom View the recording of the Information Session slides overview View the recording of the Information Session Q&A Please email CDFA’s Urban Ag Program Lead at caurbanag@cdfa. ca. gov Related Grant Opportunities