State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) Block Grant

About the SWEEP Block Grant

Through the Block Grant model, CDFA's Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) partners with regional organizations to implement the program to administer local grant programs that support farmers and ranchers implementing strategies to improve irrigation systems for the purposes of water conservation, energy use reduction, and the reduction of greenhouse (GHG) emission.

Block Grant Recipients work directly with producers in their region by providing outreach, technical assistance, and support throughout project implementation. These organizations manage the local application process, recommend projects for funding to CDFA, and establish agreements with producers who carry out water and energy efficient strategies on their operations.

By working through trusted regional partners, the Block Grant model helps ensure funding reaches producers with locally informed support and technical expertise, while expanding access to water efficient strategies across California.

Important Terminology:

• Block Grant Recipients (BGR) is a regional or specialized organization that receives funding from CDFA to administer a SWEEP Block Grant and support producers within their service area.
• On-Farm Grant Beneficiary is the producer. Farmers and ranchers receive funding through their regional Block Grant Recipient to implement approved water and energy efficiency strategies on their operations.

On this page:

• Block Grants vs. Incentive Grants
• Block Grant Recipients
  • Overview of the Block Grant Recipient Role
  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs)
  • How to Apply
  • When Block Grant Recipients Can Apply (Timeline)
• On-Farm Grant Beneficiary (Producers)
  • Who Is Eligible
  • How to Seek Funding
  • Technical Assistance for Producers
  • When Producers Can Apply (Timeline)

Block Grants vs. Incentive Grants

Block Grant Recipients

Overview of the Block Grant Recipient Role

Block Grant Recipients are responsible for:

• Managing a SWEEP Block Grant
• Conducting outreach to farmers and ranchers in their service area
• Selecting and recommending on-farm projects for funding
• Establishing agreements with funded producers (Grant Beneficiaries)
• Supporting project implementation
• Conduct verification and process reimbursement to grant beneficiaries

Block Grant Recipients also coordinate technical assistance to help producers develop, design, and implement eligible management practices.

Eligibility Requirements

Lead Applicant

The following organizations are eligible to apply as a Lead Applicant:

• Public agencies
• Local agencies
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Special districts
• Joint Powers Authorities
• Public utilities and locally owned utilities
• Mutual water companies
• California Native American Tribes

Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs)

Block Grant Recipients may serve as the Technical Assistance Provider Lead Organization if they are eligible under the Canella Environmental Farming Act.

Eligible entities include:

• Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs)
• University of California Cooperative Extension
• California public colleges and universities
• Nonprofit organizations
• Groundwater Sustainability Agencies
• Irrigation districts

Lead Applicants that are not eligible to serve as the TAP Lead Organization must partner with an eligible entity to provide technical assistance.

Tribal Set-Aside Opportunity

SWEEP is committed to expanding access and participation for California Native American Tribes and Tribal-serving organizations.

For this funding cycle, SWEEP will offer a tribal set-aside of up to $4M for qualified Tribals governments and nonprofit organizations affiliated with a Tribal government. Tribal applicants will apply through the same process and manage the same format of block grant project as all other applicants.

This effort aligns with the priorities of Proposition 4 and acknowledges that Tribes have been historically underserved by SWEEP. Through this work, CDFA aims to support water efficiency and energy-saving projects on Tribal agricultural lands and strengthen long-term engagement with Tribal partners.

Note: The Healthy Soils Program (HSP) offers a separate Tribal-specific solicitation due to differences in eligible practices.

How to Apply

Organizations interested in administering a regional State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program grant may apply to become a Block Grant Recipient (BGR).

The Lead Applicant is the organization that applies for and, if awarded, receives funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). As Block Grant Recipients, they enter into an agreement with CDFA to administer a local grant program and distribute funding to producers who implement eligible water and energy efficient strategies on their agricultural operations.

When Block Grant Recipients Can Apply

Estimated Block Grant Solicitation Timeline*:

• Concept Proposal Opens: April 2026
• Full Proposal Notification: June 2026
• Full Proposal Close: August 2026
• Award Notification: September 2026
• Award Execution: January 2027

*All estimates are subject to change.

Block Grant Application Assistance

Webinar Information

HSP and SWEEP will offer joint informational webinars to guide prospective Block Grant Recipients through the Concept Proposal application process and address applicant questions. Registration is required.

Question and Answer Process

In addition to informational webinars, OARS will offer a question-and-answer process. General questions may be submitted to cdfa.sweeptech@cdfa.ca.gov, and responses will be standardized and posted to the website according to the timeline below:

• April 17th, 2026
• May 1st, 2026

The last day to submit questions is April 27th, 2026.

Technical Assistance for Block Grant Applicants

OARS is working with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources to support Block Grant applicants through technical assistance. Community Education Specialists (CESs) across California can help develop projects that benefit disadvantaged communities (DACs) and vulnerable populations.

Need help? Reach out to the CES team at climatesmartag@ucdavis.edu.

Producers (On-Farm Grant Beneficiaries)

Who Is Eligible

• Individual Farmers and Ranchers
  • Individuals who are 18 years or older and actively engaged in agricultural production, including those operating as:
    • Sole proprietors
    • Single-member LLCs
    • Lessees managing agricultural land
• Agricultural Businesses and Entities
  • Businesses or shared property entities engaged in agricultural production that are registered with the California Secretary of State, including:
    • Trusts
    • Estates
    • Partnerships
    • Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
    • Corporations, including nonprofit (public benefit) corporations
• California Native American Tribes
  • Federally recognized Tribes
  • Tribes listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission

Ineligible Applicants

The following individuals or entities are not eligible to receive funding for an SWEEP on-farm project:

• University farms
• Employees of the individual or entity that owns or leases the land where the project would occur
• Individuals with conflict of interest

Individuals with a conflict of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Employees of the Block Grant Recipient (BGR) or its contractors or subrecipients
• Members of the BGR Board or other governing body
• Immediate family members (parents, spouses, or children) of individuals involved in funding or award decisions

How to Seek Funding

For Producers: Applying for an On-Farm Grant

1. Identify a Block Grant Recipient (BGR)

   Projected to start January 2027, a list of Block Grant Recipients and their contact information will be available on this webpage.

   When selecting a Block Grant Recipient, consider:

   • The counties or regions they serve
   • Whether they have stated goals that align with a proposed project
2. Request Technical Assistance

   Block Grant Recipients provide technical assistance to help producers participate in the SWEEP Program.

   Support may include:

   1. One-on-one project development and application assistance
   2. Support with strategy coordination and implementation
3. Submit Your Funding Request

   When applications open, Block Grant Recipients will provide producers with instructions and a list of required materials to submit. Applications should be submitted to Block Grant Recipients, not CDFA.

   CDFA's Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) will assist Block Grant Recipients in reviewing on-farm projects to ensure projects meet eligibility requirements.

When Producers Can Apply

• Producers will not be able to apply for the SWEEP Block Grant funding until Block Grant Recipients have been selected for award and agreements are executed with CDFA. At this time, execution of Block Grant Recipient agreements is expected in January 2027.
• Once Block Grant Recipients are finalized, they will begin administering grant programs and accepting applications from producers in the regions they serve.
• Please note that exact timelines for when individual Block Grant Recipients will open their producer application periods are still to be determined and may vary by organization. Additional information, including a list of awarded Block Grant Recipients and their contact information, will be posted on the this webpage as it becomes available.

What Types of Projects Can SWEEP Fund?

SWEEP funds on-farm irrigation improvement projects that help farmers and ranchers conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Projects are designed to take a holistic approach, combining multiple strategies to improve efficiency, reduce energy use, and optimize irrigation practices.

Learn more about participating in SWEEP.