Many of you might know that the 2023 State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) has been placed on pause due to a deficit in the state budget. This pause will remain in effect until Governor Newsom releases his proposed budget later this summer. There was talk of a possible retraction of funds that could reach back as far as 2023.
On January 10, 2024, Governor Newsom released his budget. At this point, there was a swap of funds with the SWEEP that weren't dispersed yet; therefore, $20.6 million is proposed to be shifted from the General Fund to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which would provide funding for future SWEEP projects.
What does that mean for those who want to apply?
- First off stay on track for getting all your paperwork done if you are still working on it. Then make sure to upload all your paperwork to your computer. This way when it does open you will be ready!
- For some of you, this will give you more time to get your quotes.
- For those of you who are eager to apply. The CDFA Block Grant Pilot program has already distributed the money to several Entities throughout the state and that money will not be retracted. Below is a link to Awarded Entities where you can see if there is one in your area. Each Entity should have free technical assistance to help you with your application. The Block Grant Pilot programs are for SWEEP & Healthy Soils Program (HSP).
2023 Awarded Entities SWEEP Block Grant
2023 Awarded Entities HSP Block Grant
The Climate Smart Agriculture CES Team has put together some details on some of the Entities that are OPEN or soon to open in trying to help some of you come up with some options. With that being said, the CDFA has asked that you don't apply for the Incentive and the Block grant. Some of these are spaced out enough that you should be able to see if you are awarded before applying for another one.
Below are some notes of some options available now or coming up.
These notes do not include all that could be available to you so please see the links above for a more complete list. We will update the Blog when more openings become available.
If you need assistance, please reach out to our team! We are happy to help.
https://ciwr.ucanr.edu/Programs/ClimateSmartAg/TechnicalAssistanceProviders/