The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has paused their open application period for direct-to-producer assistance through the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, also known as SWEEP. CDFA issued a statement on the SWEEP webpage and social media attributing the interruption to budget issues.
Due to budget uncertainties, CDFA is pausing the current SWEEP Direct-to-Producer solicitation. A status update for this solicitation is expected in early 2024. We deeply apologize to applicants, and we will contact you directly with all program status updates as they develop.
— CDFA Climate Smart Agriculture (@CDFAClimateNews) December 19, 2023
The SWEEP program had just opened on December 5, 2023, and was talked about in detail at the Grower Breakfast and Incentive and Grower Support Zone at The Almond Conference 2023 earlier this month.
SWEEP funding is broken into two groups, grant funding and direct-to-producer. Grant funding is awarded to service providers who distribute assistance to growers – for example, Regional Conservation District local offices. Those grants have been awarded and will be fully funded.
The application pause affects the direct-to-producer applications – when growers directly apply for SWEEP assistance through CDFA. Growers who have already started the application process should have been contacted directly by CDFA. Find the latest information on the program and the status of the application period on the SWEEP webpage.
For growers interested in learning about other funding opportunities, visit Almonds.com/Incentives.