If you have an interest to receive state funding for upgrading your irrigation system to improve water use efficiency, then you may want to consider applying for SWEEP funding. Upcoming workshops on SWEEP will be in Salinas on July 14, and in Watsonville on July 15th. Please see the announcement below:
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVING FARM
WATER AND ENERGY USE EFFICIENCY!
UP TO $200K PER FARM
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting applications for its 2016 State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) Round II. SWEEP is a competitive grants program supporting growers and agricultural operations in California to reduce their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and save water by investing in water irrigation system efficiency. Projects must reduce GHG emissions and save water. Applicants must provide supporting documentation directly related to actual, on-farm water consumption and GHG emissions during the prior growing season to be eligible for funding. Grant submission deadline is August 5, 2016, and grant-funded work must be completed by November 2017.
THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS OF
MONTEREY, SANTA CRUZ and LOMA PRIETA
INVITE YOU
TO ATTEND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS TO PREPARE YOUR 2016 SWEEP PROPOSAL
Date |
Time |
Location |
6 - July |
8am to 12pm |
San Lorenzo Park 1160 Broadway, King City, CA |
14 - July |
8am to 12pm |
UC Cooperative Extension 1432 Abbott St, Salinas, CA |
15 - July |
9am to 12pm |
UC Cooperative Extension Santa Cruz County 1430 Freedom Boulevard, Suite E, Watsonville, CA |
20 - July |
9am to 12pm |
Morgan Hill Community Center 17000 Monterey Rd., Morgan Hill, CA |
These workshops will give you an overview of the program, and provide hands-on assistance with project requirements, application process and materials. You will have an opportunity to meet representatives from various companies that sell the types of irrigation supplies and equipment you can acquire with your SWEEP grant. For more details visit the program's website at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/sweep/, or contact Ben Burgoa at ben.burgoa@rcdmonterey.org (805-717-3261) for assistance in Monterey County, or Sacha Lozano at slozano@rcdsantacruz.org (831-224-0293) in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties. Be ready! Please bring information about your irrigation system and pump characteristics to assess your farm water consumption and GHG emissions.