About the Program
The
Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program seeks to increase regional capacity to repurpose agricultural land to reduce reliance on groundwater while providing community health, economic wellbeing, water supply, habitat, renewable energy, and climate benefits.
This new program includes three different grant types:
Regional Block Grants (number of grants: 3 – 5)
Eligible applicants include GSAs, tribes, public agencies, non-profits, and watermasters. Where an applicant is not a GSA or tribe, it must partner with at least one GSA to apply.
Regional block grantees will identify, prioritize, and implement regionally appropriate land repurposing strategies and projects in critically overdrafted groundwater basins, and in high and medium priority groundwater basins subject to an emergency drought declaration.
Statewide Support Entity Grants (number of grants:1)
Eligible applicants include nonprofit groups with 501(c) status and academic institutions.
The statewide support entity will provide technical assistance and facilitate communication and collaboration necessary to meet the purposes of the program. This entity may partner and contract with other entities to fulfil the deliverables of the grant.
Grants for Tribes (no limit to number of grants, up to $5M)
This program includes a $5M set aside to give direct grants to tribes and tribal-affiliated nonprofits to repurpose agricultural lands to less water-intensive uses. Examples of project types include the reestablishment of tribal land uses, implementation of tribal cultural practices, land acquisitions, and easement acquisitions.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Applications due— April 1, 2022
Awards Announced—May 16, 2022
