FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
If you need assistance applying for any of the funding below, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who can help guide you through the application process.
Currently Accepting Applications:
Community Alliance of Family Farmers - Family Farmer Emergency Fund
From wildfires to drought to global pandemics, farming is risky business. This is even more true for smaller family farms and those from BIPOC, immigrant, and disadvantaged communities. Despite being the heart of our local food systems, these community-scale entrepreneurs too often fall between the cracks of traditional safety nets and government aid. That’s where we come in. The California Family Farmer Emergency Fund offers direct financial support to small-scale farmers impacted by disaster with the aim of helping them weather the storm.
Opening Soon:
August:
California Certified Organic - Hardship Assistance Grants for Organic Farmers
The Bricmont Fund has a long history of giving grants to organic producers recovering from natural disasters like wildfires or floods, unforeseeable life events, and other difficulties that can be challenging to any business. As climate change, the pandemic, and economic instability continues to impact farming communities, the Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund is part of an important support network helping organic businesses survive uncertain times.
TBD:
Fresno Asian Business Institute and Resource Center
In 2021, ABIRC was fortunate enough to have received grant dollars from and partner with Mandela Partners, who obtained these dollars from California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). These funds are a part of what is known as the California Underserved and Small Producer (CUSP) program, which aims to uplift and support small scale farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing technical assistance and financial assistance. Applications for Round 2 end on April 30. For more information, click here.
Other Opportunities:
CDFA - 2022 Beginning Farm and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development
To support organizations in the development, enhancement and/or expansion of beginning farmer apprenticeship programs and farm worker training and workforce development programs. To ensure that resources are dedicated to strengthening support for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in the first ten years of business (beginning farmers), and upscaling or advancement of agricultural skills for farmworkers to provide job sustainability.
The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years in 2022 or 2023. This program helps offset costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements
https://www.farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance/food-safety
Access to Capital through Mandela Partners
The California BIPOC Farmer and Land Steward Relief Fund was created to provide financial support for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color farmers and land stewards impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and CA wildfires. To learn more, click here.
The fund is managed by an eight-person collaborative of people of color representing the following organizations: Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association, The Butterfly Movement, CA Tribal Fund/First Nations Development Institute, Kitchen Table Advisors, Mandela Partners, Orikaika Ventures, and Minnow.
Sonoma County Impact Loan Fund
The Sonoma County Economic Development Board (EDB) offers micro-lending for start-up and expanding entrepreneurs in Sonoma County. EDB will connect qualified businesses with their lending partner, Working Solutions, specializing in smaller loans for people who may not qualify for a traditional business loan through a bank, credit union, or other lending agency. To learn more, click here.
CalCAP loans for Small Businesses
The California Capital Access Program for Small Business (CalCAP SB or Program) encourages banks and other financial institutions to make loans to small businesses that have difficulty obtaining financing. A State financing authority provides loan insurance to encourage the financial institutions to make the loans to qualified small businesses. More information can be found at https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/cpcfa/calcap/sb/brochure.pdf
Covid19 Response Loans authorized through section 1001 of the American Rescue Plan Act
The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program provides financial support to qualified lenders whose loan applicants want to start or expand middle of the food supply chain activities such as aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesale, or distribution of food. The program’s goal is to increase capacity and help create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. Further information on the availability of these loans locally will be posted here soon. Read a Fact Sheet here.
Closed:
The California BIPOC Farmer and Land Steward Relief Fund was created to provide financial support for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color farmers and land stewards impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This round of funding is made available through the California Underserved and Small Producers Program to provide direct assistance to small and mid-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Signups for 2022
Monetary incentives exist for agricultural producers and landowners who may sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a cornerstone conservation program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the Biden-Harris Administration effort to address climate change and achieve other natural resource benefits. The open period for the General CRP signup will run from Jan. 31 to March 11, and the Grassland CRP signup will run from April 4 to May 13. For more information, click here.
The American Farmland Trust (AFT) 2021 Brighter Future Fund
This fund aims to provide grants of up to $5,000 directly to farmers and ranchers who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or women. As of November 2021, applications are now being accepted and awards will be distributed until available funds are expended. The grant guidelines can be found here Brighter Future Fund Guidelines and the Application Link is here.
Farm of the Future, Sept 9th webinar
National Institute of Food & Agriculture program experts will host an informative Farm of the Future webinar September 9, at 3 p.m. CT. Farm of the Future is a competitive grant program to establish an agricultural test bed and demonstration site. It seeks to launch this rural test bed for precision agriculture, smart automation, data connectivity and transfer to demonstrate best practices in agriculture, forestry, and animal production systems that enhance sustainability and farm profitability. Watch a recording of the webinar here.
