Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.
Sierra Nevada Conservancy Launches New Grant Programs to Conserve Lands and Boost Local Economies
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy has launched its 2022 Strategic Land Conservation and Vibrant Recreation and Tourism Directed Grant programs. The Vibrant Recreation and Tourism Directed Grant Program supports efforts to enhance and develop sustainable recreation and tourism opportunities, as well as increase access to public lands in the Sierra Nevada region. The Strategic Land Conservation Directed Grant Program conserves lands through the planning and implementation of fee-title and conservation-easement acquisitions that provide access for public use or to public lands, safeguard lands threatened by conversion, and protect lands that provide critical resilience to climate change.
This current grant-program cycle includes a minimum of $3.1 million available for Vibrant Recreation and Tourism and a minimum of $6.7 million available for Strategic Land Conservation. The funding for both programs is part of the state’s historic $15 billion investment focused on protecting Californians from the effects of climate change, including wildfires, drought, and extreme heat.
Applicants interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to discuss project ideas with an SNC Area Representative. Concept Proposals must be submitted by May 6, 2022. If invited, full proposals will be due July 22, 2022. Awards will be made starting in December 2022.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Releases Small-Scale Water Efficiency Grant Opportunity
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) has announced the Small-Scale Water Efficiency grant opportunity. The program provides 50/50 cost share funding entities with water or power delivery authority for small water efficiency improvements that have been identified through previous planning efforts.
Projects eligible for funding include:
- installation of flow measurement or automation in a specific part of a water delivery system,
- lining of a section of a canal to address seepage, or
- other similar projects that are limited in scope.
The funding amount for this Small-Scale Water Efficiency grant award is capped at $100,000, and total project cost should not exceed $225,000.
Applications are due on April 28th and can be found here. If you have questions regarding applicant and project eligibility, program requirements, or the evaluation criteria, click here and select Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects Inquiries to schedule a time to talk with the program coordinators.
Workshop - Water Shortage Contingency Plan Template Development for Small Water Suppliers
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR), in collaboration with the State Water Board, is hosting a series of stakeholder meetings to inform the development of an abridged Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) template as part of a comprehensive effort to assist small water systems in meeting new requirements outlined in Senate Bill 552. At the first meeting, on April 20, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., DWR and State Water Board staff will provide an overview of the legislation requirements, review a proposed abridged WSCP template outline, and solicit participants input on the template content and function. Register here.
USDOT Opens Application Window for Competitive Grants to Support Infrastructure Projects
On Wednesday, March 23rd, United States Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $2.9 billion in competitive grants is available for major infrastructure projects as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. While there are three major grant programs with funding up for grabs, including the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (RURAL), USDOT has combined the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) into a single application to reduce the burdens on state, regional and local government applicants, as well as make it easier to apply for more than one program at a time. Up to $300 million is available this year for rural highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that help improve access to an agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the rural economy.
The application deadline is May 23, 2022 at 11:59pm EST. The NOFO can be found here. For more information, including frequently asked questions or how to apply, see here.
CDFA Announces New Funding to Help Nutrition Program Participants with Purchases of California-Grown Produce
The California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, has announced seven projects selected to receive $750,000 in total grant awards to facilitate the purchase of California-grown fruit and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets by shoppers using the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition programs. CNIP addresses food insecurity and access to fresh fruits and vegetables among low-income Californians while simultaneously supporting and expanding markets for California farmers. CNIP currently offers nutrition incentives to CalFresh shoppers at more than 280 locations throughout the state, including Certified Farmers’ Markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, and retail outlets.
Among the new grantees are the rural counties of Tulare, Butte, Shasta, and Tehama. A detailed list of grantees and project descriptions is available on the CNIP webpage here.
USDOT Announces $1.5 Billion in Discretionary Grants Available for Local and Regional Infrastructure
The United States Department of Transportation released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $1.5 billion in grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program—originally created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as TIGER grants. RAISE grants can be used for a wide variety of projects and under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, RAISE expands the number of communities eligible for 100 percent federal share of funding, specifically those in rural communities, Areas of Persistent Poverty and Historically Disadvantaged Communities. To determine if a project location is considered as a Historically Disadvantaged Community, please use the tool available here. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. EST on April 14, 2022, and selections, which are vigorously reviewed and selected based on merit, will be announced no later than August 12, 2022.
USDA Offers Rural Communities Financial Assistance for Renewable Energy Projects
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the application window is now open for (competitive) Rural Energy Pilot Program grants. State, Local, Tribal and non-profit entities are eligible for up to $2 million over three years to support community-scale renewable energy projects in rural communities, with priority given to distressed and high-energy burden communities that spend a greater proportion on energy costs than the average U.S. household. Funds may be for planning, installing, equipping, and maintaining community scale distributed renewable energy technologies, systems and resources. For more information, see here. Letters of Intent are due on or before April 19, 2022, and completed applications are due no later than July 18, 2022.
Registration Open for 2nd Annual Virtual Statewide Conference on Illegal Dumping
The 2nd Annual Virtual Statewide Conference on Illegal Dumping is happening April 19-21, 2022 The Conference will begin at 9:00 AM daily. This virtual conference is free to attend and designed for elected officials, city and county staff, public works agency employees, community based organizations, faith groups, community members and anyone interested in illegal dumping, community beautification or blight removal. Registration is now open! See here to register or for more information.
PG&E Safety Net Program – How to File a Claim
If you are a residential customer who has gone without power for at least 48 hours because of severe storm conditions, you may qualify for an automatic payment under our Safety Net program. This program provides a payment of $25 - $100, which we pay automatically about 60 days following the storm outage. However, you may submit a claim if you believe that PG&E caused a loss for which you should be compensated. You can make this type of claim using various methods, but online is the fastest way for it to be processed.
View this message from PG&E for details.
Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities
Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to your inbox.