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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.

Application Period Now Open – 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.

APPLY HERE: 2022 BFFTP Grant Program Application

2022 BFFTP Final Request for Applications (RFA)

Program Timeline

New! 2022 BFFTP Technical Review Panel

CDFA Press Release - Cdfa Seeking External Technical Reviewers For Beginning Farmer And Farmworker Training And Workforce Development (BFFTP) Grant Program

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.

Complete and submit form via email to: carmen.carrasco@cdfa.ca.gov

Deadline to Submit: July 15, 2022.

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).

• BFFTP Technical Review Panel Application Form

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)

• View the Summary of 2022 Public Comments and CDFA Responses