The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), through its Cannabis Restoration Grant Program (CRGP), awarded over $1.7 million from its Qualified Cultivator Grant Program. These grants are designated to assist cannabis cultivators in obtaining their annual license and promote sustainable cultivation practices, which can include addressing legacy issues on their property and water conservation measures.
While funding is not directly paid to cultivators, it can be secured through eligible entities, including non-profits, government agencies, or tribes. CRGP released the Qualified Cultivator Funding Opportunity in August of 2021, with $6 million of total funding available. The non-competitive solicitation will remain open until April 2023.
Sun + Earth was awarded $395,643 for planning and capacity building to support sustainable cultivation practices for their cannabis cultivator network. The grant will also provide the framework necessary to help cultivators secure an annual license and support sustainability projects focusing on land restoration and conservation.
The Mendocino County Resource Conservation District (MCRCD) was awarded $1,388,181 for water conservation projects in the South Fork Eel River Watershed. The funds will focus on three cannabis cultivation sites and will be used to design and install three rainwater collection systems, perform irrigation infrastructure upgrades, develop and implement an invasive species management plan, install native, pollinator-friendly plants and prepare site-specific California Environmental Quality Act documentation required for cannabis cultivators.
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