Urban Agriculture Grant Program

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.

CDFA-F2F hosted a Public Comment Period June 1-15, 2023.

• View the press release
• 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
• San Diego: San Diego
• Inland Empire: San Bernardino, Riverside
• Statewide

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.

Examples of fundable expenses for Track 1 applicants and Track 2 subawardees are included below.

Infrastructure

• 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

Equipment

• Tools - including hand tools, mechanized tools, harvesting tools, weed management tools, etc.
• Post-harvest wash stations, bins, boxes, labels, packaging etc.
• Delivery vehicles
• 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
• Business Planning
• Forming Cooperatives
• 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:
  • Weed Management
  • Irrigation
  • Soils
  • Site Development
  • Navigation of Permits and Legal processes
  • Website development

Workforce Development

• 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.
• Agritourism

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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)

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
• Download webinar slides
  (full overview)
• Download webinar slides
  (short overview)