Working to support communities impacted by extreme weather, a new grant program is now available to small agricultural businesses affected by recent drought and floods.
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GoBiz) is now accepting applications for the California Small Agricultural Business Drought and Flood Relief Grant Program.
The first round of applications opened September 1, and the program will ultimately award up to $95 million in drought and flood relief grants to eligible small agricultural businesses to cover part of the costs incurred from California’s extreme drought from 2019 to 2022, and the 2023 storm flooding impacts.
This significant allocation of funds underscores California’s steadfast commitment to bolstering the backbone of its agricultural sector, particularly in the face of mounting climate-related challenges. By extending a helping hand to small agricultural businesses, the state not only safeguards essential livelihoods but also fortifies the foundation of its agricultural economy.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) supported the state as it weathered a three-year drought, starting in 2020, depleting vital reservoirs and groundwater reserves. Subsequently, Cal OES authored response and recovery efforts following intense storms that caused widespread floods on this dry terrain. Given that a significant portion of California’s agricultural terrain lies in flood-prone areas, the vulnerability to floods is notably heightened.
This grant program is a part of the comprehensive recovery process through Interagency Recovery Coordination (IRC). Cal OES works with directly with CalOSBA and dozens of other state agencies to formulate plans and best use all resources available.
Throughout these recovery processes, Cal OES’s Agriculture and Economic Task Force worked in an advisory role with CalOSBA to provide outreach and technical assistance to agriculture producers, growers, and small farmers.
Cal OES supports all immediate and long-term recovery efforts following these storms and continues to advocate for assistance to California’s most vulnerable populations.
For more information on recovery processes following these disasters:
2023 Winter Storms Recovery | Cal OES News
2023 Flood Recovery | Cal OES News