LISTENING SESSION ANNOUNCED FOR FEEDBACK ON PROPOSED BLOCK GRANT PILOT FOR THE HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAM AND STATE WATER EFFICIENCY AND ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM 

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SACRAMENTO, September 28, 2022 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing a public listening session to accept stakeholder feedback on block grant framework for the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) and the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP).
 
Participants may attend this listening session, at no cost, by registering for webinar access: 
•         Monday, October 10, 2022, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PT 
•         Registration link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ze7qhvv0Tgq5ABquDWrFnA 
 
With significant funds appropriated to the programs in the Budget Act of 2022, CDFA is exploring a block grant program to allow flexibility, technical assistance, and capacity building at the regional level. The goals of this public listening session will be to discuss block grants as a potential framework for disbursing funds and receive stakeholder feedback.  
 
Under a block grant framework, qualified organizations across the state may apply for state funding and then administer awarded funds to individuals for on-farm projects. Additionally, awarded organizations would provide technical assistance to individuals as well as provide ongoing grant administration support for those selected on-farm projects. The following entities could be eligible for a block grant program: 
•         California-based non-profits organizations 
•         Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) 
•         Irrigation Districts 
•         Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) 
•         Air Pollution Control Districts 
•         Universities and Agricultural Colleges 
•         Land Trusts 
•         Federally- and California-Recognized Native American Indian Tribal Governments 

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