Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development Grant Program
The CDFA is pleased to announce that it is awarding up to $10 million for the Beginning Farmer & Farmworker Training and Workforce Development (BFFTP), of which approximately $5 million will be available in Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and $5 million in Fiscal Year 2022-2023. The funding for this grant program was made possible through the 2021 California general fund budget.
New! CDFA ANNOUNCES Awards for $5 million for the Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development Grant Program (BFFTP)
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Farm Equity announces that it is awarding $5 million in grants for projects throughout the state through the 2022 Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development Grant Program (BFFTP).
This program provides support to organizations to enhance or expand beginning farmer and farmworker training/apprenticeship programs. The overall goal of the program is to ensure that resources are dedicated to strengthening support for socially disadvantaged and/or beginning farmers and ranchers in the first ten years of business, and for farmworkers who can improve job security with additional skills training. A secondary goal of the program is to build and grow regional networks to ensure organizations can provide adequate support and training opportunities for those most underserved in the agriculture industry.
The complete list of grant awardees and summaries of their projects can be found here .
Application Period Now Closed – 2022 Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development Grant Program
CDFA Press Release - CDFA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE BEGINNING FARMER AND FARMWORKER TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM
The 2022 Beginning Farmer & Farmworker Training & Workforce Development (BFFTP) Grant Program will support organizations in the development, enhancement and/or expansion of beginning farmer apprenticeship programs and farmworker training and workforce development programs. The overall goal of the BFFTP program is to ensure that resources are dedicated to strengthening support for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in the first ten years of business, and farmworkers who need job skills training to provide job sustainability. A secondary goal of the program is to build and grow regional networks to ensure organizations can provide adequate support and training opportunities for those most underserved in the agriculture industry. The CDFA encourages applications from organizations who serve small to medium sized and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and farmworkers, including but not limited to BIMPOC (Black, Indigenous, Multiracial, and People of Color), LGBTQ+, women and veterans.
2022 BFFTP Grant Program Application - Closed
2022 BFFTP Final Request for Applications (RFA)
Program Timeline
| Item | Date |
| Grant Application Opens | June 1, 2022 |
| Amplifund Applicant Portal Training Access Video Recording here: Amplifund Portal Training Video |
June 13, 2022, 1pm-2:30pm |
| BFFTP Application Question Session 1 Access Video Recording here: Session 1 Video |
June 15, 2022, 1pm-2:30pm |
| BFFTP Application Question Session 2 Access Video Recording here: Session 2 Video |
June 29, 2022, 1pm-2:30pm |
| Grant Application Closes | August 15, 2022 @ 5 PM PST |
| Review Process | September 2022 |
| Award Announcement | On or before October 7, 2022 |
| Grant Term Begins | November 1, 2022 |
| Grant Term Ends | 1-Year Projects: October 30, 2023 2-Year Projects: October 30, 2024 |
2022 BFFTP Technical Review Panel (Closed)
The Farm Equity Office is seeking external support to form a technical review panel to assist with the application review process of the 2022 Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development (BFFTP) Grant Program. The external technical review panel will consist of members of the public who have expertise working with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and/or farmworker training/workforce development programs as outlined in the funding track(s) they review. Individuals who are interested in becoming external technical reviewers of the BFFTP grant program process can apply by completing this form.
Please note: Applicants to the 2022 Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development Grant Program may not participate in the external technical review process (this includes supporting project partners that are part of Tracks 1, 2, and 3 applications).
AmpliFund Applicant Portal Resources
- Please view these training materials on how to set up an account on AmpliFund before applying to the BFFTP Grant Program.
- New User Training Videos
The CDFA Farm Equity Office hosted a public comment period for the BFFTP Grant Program from March 30 – April 30, 2022 (NOW CLOSED)
Program Status
Closed
The 2022 BFFTP Grant Program is now closed.
Contact Us
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Office of Grants Administration
1220 N Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 657-3231
Fax: (916) 653-0206
Grants@cdfa.ca.gov