Underserved & Small Producers Program Seeking Comments for 2021
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is seeking public comments on a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2021 California Underserved and Small Producer Grant Program (CUSP). The 15-day public comment period will end April 22, 2021.
The CUSP is designed to facilitate direct assistance to individual small-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who need support applying for economic relief grant programs and assistance with business planning and marketing strategies.
-
Part 1: Technical Assistance for Underserved Farmers and Ranchers – Funding for technical assistance providers to support farmers and ranchers in applying for economic relief grant programs and assistance with business planning and marketing strategies and other business economic recovery activities.
- Part 2: Direct Grant Assistance for Underserved Farmers and Ranchers – Eligible entities are also able to apply as a “regional administrator” for grant funds to distribute directly to farmers and ranchers to aid in economic recovery and relief measures and/or leverage existing economic relief funding programs.
The following entities are eligible to apply for the Technical Assistance Grants and/or administer the block grant funds for farmers/ranchers: Non-profit organizations, Tribal Governments and Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs). Entities applying for Technical Assistance grants, hereafter referred to as Technical Assistance Providers or TAPs, must have demonstrated expertise in assisting historically underserved, small-scale farmers and ranchers to apply for economic relief fund programs, marketing or business planning technical assistance expertise, and/or administering a grant program or coordinated effort to assist farmers/ranchers during 2020 and COVID-19 pandemic.
CDFA anticipates $2 million for the California Underserved and Small Producers Grant Program, of which approximately $1.35 million would be available for awards for Part 1, the Technical Assistance for Underserved Farmers and Ranchers (Technical Assistance) Grant Program, and $550,000 for Part 2, the Direct Grant Assistance for Underserved Farmers and Ranchers (Direct Grant for Producers). Funding is contingent upon CDFA receiving a budget appropriation.
Comments must be submitted via email to thea.rittenhouse@cdfa.ca.gov by 5 p.m. PT on April 22nd, 2021.
To further assist those interested in submitting public comments and applying for the program, CDFA staff will provide information and answer stakeholder questions at a webinar workshop on April 19, 2021 from 1pm-3pm (PST).
Registration information for the workshop is available on the CDFA Grants Page: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3456781409008512015
Interested stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The draft Budget Template can be found here.
For more information on this program or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.