FUND PURPOSE

As farmers continue to recover and adapt to the pandemic, the Sacramento Farmer Resilience Micro-Grant Program seeks to help farmers prepare for changes in the local food system, from markets to drought, fires to climate change. These new grants, provided in partnership with Sierra Nevada Brewing, will fund repairs, tools, equipment and other infrastructure for small-scale farmers. 

The purchase of farm tools and equipment is the second largest capital investment for all farmers and particularly for small-scale, biologically-diverse farmers who often have limited cash flow for major purchases and require a greater variety of costly equipment. The purchase and use of appropriate farm tools–like those funded by this grant program–ensure efficient use of labor, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve farmer safety, and increase overall sustainability of a small farm business.

For the past few years, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) has operated emergency relief funding for small and mid-sized farmers impacted by disasters, particularly fire and pandemic. Last year alone, the California Family Farmer Emergency Fund provided over $600,000 in small grants to over 130 farmers reeling from disaster. The Sacramento Farmer Resilience Micro-Grant Program is part of the California Family Farmer Emergency Fund. 

Apply Here by June 7
GRANT SCOPE:
  • Grant Size: $500 – $5,000
  • Grants are primarily intended to fund infrastructure costs, including new (e.g. new fencing, water hook-ups, cool bot) and maintenance (e.g. greenhouse repairs), as well as new tools or equipment (e.g. compost spreader, paper pot transplanter, harvesting tools) expenditures. 
  • Some grants will also include support for on-farm support days with grant sponsor staff and community members.
  • At least 50% of grant funds reserved for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) growers
ELIGIBILITY: 
  • Applicants must be currently farming in Sacramento County or West Sacramento (We consider farming as someone who derives a significant proportion of their livelihood from working the land); and
  • Farmers who grow specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, or honey; and
  • Farm fewer than 100 acres; and
  • Gross less than $400,000 in farm income annually
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:
  • Awardees must submit a photo to farmerfund@caff.org with grant acknowledgment and give consent to use. Their name and photo may be included in a public announcement of grant recipients.
  • Grantees are encouraged to submit a quote as well and encouraged to participate in press outreach activities.
TIMELINE:
  • Applications due: Deadline Extended: Monday, June 7th
  • Grants announced by: June 30th 
  • Awards sent by check: July 16th
GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE*: 
  • Paul Towers, Executive Director, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) 
  • Dawnie Andrak, Owner/Managing Partner, Local Roots Food Tours & President, CAFF Board of Directors
  • Margaret Lloyd, UCCE Small Farms Advisor for Yolo, Solano and Sacramento Counties
  • Sri Sethuratnam, Director of California Farm Academy at Center for Land-Based Learning 
  • Victor Hernandez, VMH AGriBusiness Consulting, LLC
  • Ben Brown, Area Marketing Manager (Sacramento), Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

*affiliations are for identification purposes only

With any questions, please contact us here

If you would like to support the broader emergency fund efforts, please consider making a contribution today.

DONATE HERE