2022 Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development

To support organizations in the development, enhancement and/or expansion of beginning farmer apprenticeship programs and farm worker training and workforce development programs. To ensure that resources are dedicated to strengthening support for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in the first ten years of business (beginning farmers), and upscaling or advancement of agricultural skills for farmworkers to provide job sustainability.

Please refer to the 2022 BFFTP Program RFA for more information on eligibility requirements and funding priorities for each track. Please consider the BFFTP program and population priorities: Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as small-scale and mid-scale producers in the first ten years of business (beginning farmers), and farmworkers in need of agricultural skills upscaling or enhancement. Building and growing regional, collaborative partnerships and networks to ensure organizations can provide adequate support and apprenticeship opportunities for those most underserved in the agriculture industry, ensuring the target populations have the resources they need to be successful and adapt to changing climate and economic factors in California agriculture. For Track 1 and 2 projects, addressing structural barriers such as land access, access to capital and equipment, and access to beginning farmer loan programs, and how this project can support those priorities. For Track 3 projects, describe how this project will complement, and not duplicate services or programs being offered through other sources of funding such as federal. Track 1: Program Planning and Curriculum Development Grants ($50,000 to $100,000) This program provides direct support for existing or new programs to fully develop their programs serving beginning farmers OR farmworker training and workforce development program, establish partnerships, seek accreditation, land tenure (either land lease or purchase) and design curriculum. This track is for organizations who would like to formalize or expand the reach of existing programs and need assistance during the phase of program planning or curriculum development. Track 2: Program Implementation: Beginning Farmer Training Program ($100,000- $1,000,000) The priority for this track will be funding for infrastructure, tool lending libraries, land tenure, regional networking opportunities and apprenticeships (including stipends). Priority will be given to organizations serving socially disadvantaged and small-scale farmers and ranchers and applications with demonstrated partnerships and demonstrated ability to continue the program beyond the funding period. Track 3: Program Implementation: Farmworker Training and Workforce Development Program ($100,000- $1,000,000) Priorities: 1)    Regional collaborations that focus on job skills training, paid apprenticeships, education, and agricultural technology training for farmworkers. Organizations currently managing these type of programs through other sources of funding are eligible to apply for the BFFTP program and will need to demonstrate how BFFTP funding will expand current programming to focus on agricultural careers and reaching farmworkers not currently served through Federal programs. 2)    Farmworker workforce development programs with curriculum and instruction tailored towards serving the unique cultural and language needs in the farmworker agricultural sector and providing advanced skills training needed to advance to a higher skilled job in the ag sector.