Background and Purpose

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is pleased to announce, in coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the Department of Water Resources (DWR), a competitive grant application process for the 2016 State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) Round II. The 2016 SWEEP funding arises from the Budget Act of 2015, SB 101, (Chapter 321, Statues of 2015), which authorizes CDFA to “support greenhouse gas emission reductions through water and energy efficiency grants promoting water and energy savings.” SWEEP is funded through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund referred to as the “California Climate Investment” program. The program’s objective is to provide financial incentives for California agricultural operations to invest in water irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and save water.

Funding and Duration

The 2016 SWEEP Round II will disperse up to $18 million to California agricultural operations investing in irrigation systems that reduce GHG emissions and save water. The maximum grant award is $200,000 with a recommended 50 percent match of the total project cost. The maximum grant duration is 12 months and grant funds cannot be expended before December 1, 2016 or after November 30, 2017. Therefore, project installation must be completed no later than November 30, 2017. CDFA reserves the right to offer an award different than the amount requested.

The deadline to submit an application is August 5, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. Late applications cannot be accepted. See website for more information and application forms.