CDFA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS TO PROVIDE WORKSHOPS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS PARTICIPATING IN THE STATE WATER EFFICIENCY AND ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SWEEP)

SACRAMENTO, January 13, 2017 – CDFA will begin accepting applications today from non-profit organizations, California academic institutions and California Resource Conservation Districts for grant funds to provide technical assistance to applicants for grants from the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP).

Applicants may apply for funding in amounts between $2,500 and $5,000. Applications must meet several minimum requirements including holding at least one technical assistance workshop within a disadvantaged community, reporting on workshop attendance to CDFA, and providing computers and internet access to allow growers to complete SWEEP applications.

“Requests for technical assistance to complete water and greenhouse gas reduction calculations, and also help with the applications, are one of the most common comments we receive about SWEEP” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.

Technical assistance will be made available through a $25,000 partnership grant between CDFA and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to achieve the mutual objective of providing technical assistance to SWEEP applicants. Technical assistance workshops that provide hands-on application assistance are critical to the success of SWEEP and the implementation of efficient irrigation systems to save water and reduce greenhouse gases.

Organizations that wish to receive funding to provide technical assistance must access the “Request for Applications” at www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/SWEEP.  The Request for Applications contains detailed information on eligibility and program requirements. Applications must be submitted by email no later than January 25, 2017, 5:00 p.m. PST. Grants will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis beginning today.

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