Grants and Funding Opportunities. California

 

Grants and Funding

 

 

Climate Action Funding Resource Guide   EPA’s Climate Action Funding Resource Guide was released as a follow-up to its “Investing in America: Climate Action Funding Fair” held last month. Visit the companion webpage here to view funding opportunities from several federal agencies. More information here.   Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants   NOAA announced the availability of up to $45 million in funding from IIJA and IRA for projects that will advance coastal habitat restoration and climate resilience priorities of tribes and underserved communities. Learn more about NOAA's restoration and resilience grants here.   BayCAN Funding Tracker The BayCAN Funding Tracker is a growing database of curated grants especially for the Bay Area's adaptation community from a range of public and private organizations and agencies. The tracker is updated regularly. To share relevant funding opportunities please contact Michael at michael@baycanadapt.org or Neena at neena@baycanadapt.org.   California Resilience Challenge Due: Sept. 29, 2023   The California Resilience Challenge is a statewide effort, led by businesses, utilities, and a diverse range of partners, to build local and regional climate resilience and to support a shared vision for a resilient California in the face of increasing climate threats. The Challenge is providing grants for diverse, replicable and innovative climate change adaptation planning projects across California. These projects will reflect California’s diverse geography and showcase leadership in climate change adaptation. The California Resilience Challenge has assembled a Grant Fund of approximately $1 million. The sources of the Grant Fund include businesses and utilities. Read the California Resilience Challenge RFP.   National Adaptation Forum Call for Proposals Deadline Extended! Due: Sept. 29, 2023   The 6th National Adaptation Forum is taking place in Saint Paul, Minnesota from May 14-16, 2024. The National Adaptation Forum Call for Proposal deadline has been extended to Friday, September 29, 2023. This deadline will not be extended again. Proposals can be submitted on any topic related to climate adaptation. In addition, the Forum Committees and ASAP peer learning groups have identified several Special Session topic areas of particular interest to the Forum. Now is the time to start brainstorming proposal ideas and contacting potential speakers so you'll be ready to submit. Learn more and submit your proposal here.   CAL FIRE Business and Workforce Development Grants  Due: Sept. 30, 2023   The Wood Products and Bioenergy Team (Wood Products) is part of CAL FIRE’s Climate and Energy Program. Wood Products awards funding for California business and workforce development projects that support healthy resilient forests and the people and ecosystems that depend on them. Two project types are eligible for grant funding: business development and workforce development in California. Research proposals that have the potential to facilitate an immediate benefit to California’s forest-sector businesses and/or workforce will also be considered. Projects may include planning, organizational and business capacity building, and workforce and infrastructure development as components of proposed projects. Learn more and apply for the grant here.   Application period for CalEPA's new Environmental Justice Action Grants Program Due: Oct. 13, 2023   The California Environmental Protection Agency’s (CalEPA) grant proposal solicitation for the new Environmental Justice Action Grants Program is now open! CalEPA will accept applications from: federally recognized tribes; 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations; and organizations receiving fiscal sponsorship from 501(c)(3) organizations. The CalEPA EJ Action Grants will aim to lift the burden of pollution, natural disasters, and toxic waste for those most vulnerable to their effects. CalEPA will not award more than $300,000 per project, or $500,000 per applicant per fiscal year. Grants may be for up to 24 months. Learn more and apply for the grant here.    Landowner Support for Forest Resilience Program Due: Oct. 21, 2023   USDA announced $150 million in IRA funding to help underserved and small acreage forest landowners connect to emerging voluntary climate markets, aimed at providing economic opportunities for landowners and incentivizing improved forest health and management. The full Notice of Funding Opportunity is available here.   WHALE TAIL® Grants Are Now Open! Due: Nov. 6, 2023   The California Coastal Commission's WHALE TAIL® Grants support experiential education and stewardship of the California coast and its watersheds. Grant projects can engage youth or adults and can take place anywhere in California. Education and stewardship projects relating to climate change as it impacts the coast and ocean are eligible and encouraged. Shoreline cleanup and coastal habitat restoration projects that have an educational component are also eligible for these grants. Learn more and apply for the grant here.

 

 

 

Investing in Adaptation   Explore adaptation grants and financial analysis resources on the Investing in Adaptation topic page, on the Adaptation Clearinghouse at ResilientCA.org.   Investment Resources The California Grants Portal   The California Grants Portal is an access portal to all grants and loans offered on a competitive or first-come basis by California state agencies.   State Grants Portal OPR Federal Grant Resources   The OPR Federal Grant Administrator provides technical assistance and resources for finding, applying, and managing federal grants.   Federal Resources

Washington, D>C. Financial Literacy Classes for Children. Saturday, September 30, 2023 9:00 AM ET

Commissioner Salim Adofo and Industrial Bank Partner to Address Youth Violence in DC

Click Here to Register

In conjunction with Industrial Bank, Commissioner Salim Adofo has developed the Building Generational Wealth Series. “Crime is driven by poverty and inadequate access to education.  Community safety is best achieved by equipping communities with the resources and education they need to succeed. Our initiative will address some of the needs of Ward 8 such as fiscal responsibility and positive youth engagement," says Adofo.     Moreover, Adofo says, "This initiative allows children to use their time and talents constructively and avoid getting caught up in crimes like carjacking and gun violence. The program isn't a complete solution, but it is an important first step. As part of the session, children will learn about investing, home ownership, and will receive a grant to open a bank account."   The Building Generational Wealth: Financial Literacy Classes for Children Series begins Saturday, September 30th at 9 a.m., at the Industrial Bank Anacostia Gateway Banking Center located at1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE. Classes are free, however, registration is required.   Millennials owe over $1 trillion in debt, and 70% live paycheck to paycheck. A financial education program for young people is urgently needed in light of these alarming statistics. A person's financial decisions in their early adulthood can have a profound impact on their lives. Providing young people with the tools to manage their money effectively helps them avoid the cycle of debt and economic insecurity that many Americans face well into adulthood, giving them the foundation for a stable financial future.   Why is financial literacy so important? Low financial literacy threatens the well-being of individuals and families, particularly in underserved and low-income communities. A weak financial foundation places our youth at a greater risk for being susceptible to predatory lending practices and making costly errors in managing their debts and expenses, which can increase the likelihood of life long inequalities.   A lack of financial literacy may also lead to missed opportunities for wealth creation and reduce opportunities to access to higher education and professional development. A lack of financial knowledge puts young people at risk of becoming trapped in cycles of poverty and debt. A low credit score is often the result of poor spending and borrowing habits, contributing to higher financial insecurity. Investing in financial literacy early bridges the opportunity gap in underserved communities and empowers youth with the skills they need to break down economic barriers before they reach adulthood.

Click Here to Register

 

Food Insecurity: 127 faith-based organizations from Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalists, and other traditions released a letter calling on Congressional leaders to support a “Faithful Farm Bill"

 

127 Faith Groups Advocate for Farm Bill that Protects the Well-Being of People and the Planet

 

 

WASHINGTON, DC (September, 2023) – 127 faith-based organizations from Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalists, and other traditions released a letter calling on Congressional leaders to support a “Faithful Farm Bill” that expands food access and food security, supports agricultural workers, and protects the environment in the U.S. and globally. The letter was addressed to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the House Committee on Agriculture. Read the complete text of the letter here. According to the letter, “Many of our organizations, congregations, and leaders work to feed and serve our struggling friends and neighbors, but we know we cannot do this alone. The Farm Bill’s resources must be effectively targeted for the greatest need. Programs and policies that curb hunger and malnutrition, support vibrant agricultural economies in rural communities, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources must be prioritized as part of a comprehensive Farm Bill, with adequate funding to meet these diverse needs fully.” The letter goes on to detail specific policy proposals in five areas:   1.   Protect, expand, and strengthen programs that reduce hunger, address food insecurity, and improve nutrition in the United States; 2.  Strengthen policies and programs that address climate change; 3.  Ensure equitable program implementation to remedy historically underserved communities; 4.  Provide a fair and effective farm safety net that allows farmers, farmworkers, and producers in the U.S. and around the world to earn economically sustainable livelihoods; 5.  Safeguard and improve international food aid in ways that encourage local food security and improve the nutritional quality of food aid. Congress is currently working on the 2023 Farm Bill, which is authorized every five years and includes over $400 billion in spending. It determines what food is grown, how it’s grown, and how affordable it is. It funds vital anti-hunger programs that help tens of millions of people every day. And it influences agricultural and food policies with significance in the U.S. and globally. Faith leaders are using this opportunity to advocate for a Farm Bill that is aligned with their faith traditions and nurtures and supports people and the planet. Click here to read the full letter.

 

Latino Farmers and Ranchers International is very proud to announce its new alliance and partnership with SGP BioEnergy

https://www.newswire.com/news/sgp-bioenergy-launches-its-ready-grow-feedstock-development-program-22131656?fbclid=IwAR0a0DIbLdb2_auKQ8ItfSF2P_SeQq5fmu_o9mcj8PJgMtvj7cyANiyAF30

Press Release

• by tadconsulting        
• September 23, 2023

SGP BioEnergy Launches Its READY.GROW. Feedstock Development Program with Agreement to Develop a Minimum of 10 Million Acres of Industrial Hemp

SGP BioEnergy launches READY.GROW. Feedstock Development Program

NEW YORK, September 21, 2023 (Newswire.com) –

At a landmark roundtable event sponsored by SGP BioEnergy (“SGP”) during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and the NGO on Private Sector Development at the United Nations to promote the Culture of Peace, SGP BioEnergy, in collaboration with Latino Farmers and Ranchers International (LFRI) organization, which represents a farming demographic which controls over 32 million acres and generates over $21.8 billion in annual sales, per official statistics from the National Agriculture Statistical Service Census (NASS/USDA), signed a definitive landmark agreement to develop and supply industrial hemp to fuel SGP’s Golden City Biorefinery being developed in Panama and planned localized manufacturing operations targeting OEMs in the auto, chemical and industrial markets and their desire to transition to more sustainable products.

Industrial Hemp is a non-food, carbon-neutral crop, which naturally enhances soil for food production and requires little water to grow, among many advantages. LFRI was instrumental in the legalization of Industrial Hemp in the United States and possesses an intellectual property suite of decades-long know-how and hands-on expertise in growing and optimizing this crop. SGP intends to apply proprietary genetics to enhance the production of the non-narcotic Industrial Hemp. In addition to their commitment to adhering to SGP’s stringent ESG plan, both groups committed to never displacing food production as part of their bioenergy growth strategy.

Aligned with all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prescribed by the United Nations and the 2030 Agenda, SGP BioEnergy’s Zero-Waste Ecosystem platform presents a comprehensive guide to implementing industrial-scale bioenergy projects with a low to net zero carbon footprint. The integrated ecosystem is built upon five key Impact Pillars: Industrial, Economic, Humanitarian, Accountability, and Ownership. These pillars ensure the projects surpass SGP’s stringent ESG criteria, delivering maximum positive impact to all stakeholders.

At its completion, the $7.7 billion Golden City Biorefinery project, designed to produce 180,000 barrels per day of advanced renewable fuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Renewable Diesel for Marine and road, and low-cost green hydrogen, among other fuels, is slated to be the largest advanced biorefinery in the world with access to over 1,900 global ports. For SGP, the Golden City Biorefinery stands as a beacon for industrial-scale renewable energy infrastructure, promising over 3 million living-wage jobs, the rejuvenation of global agriculture, and the communities it supports.

SGP’s dedicated READY.GROW. Program is a global bioenergy feedstock development system delivering low-carbon-intensity feedstocks with end-to-end traceability, sustainable certification using ISCC, and other best practices. SGP intends to utilize these feedstocks to produce advanced biofuels, green hydrogen, and products manufactured for the global OEM markets.

“Through the intricate synergy of the Golden City Biorefinery and our Zero Waste Ecosystem, the formal launch of our READY.GROW. Program represents our final, actionable point of implementation: ensuring that the ingredients needed to produce our advanced biofuels and consumer and industrial products are readily available, meet our stringent ESG criteria, and drive impact to the communities in which we operate; we’re not just envisioning a sustainable future – we’re actively constructing it”, expressed Randy Delbert Letang, CEO of SGP BioEnergy. “Each drop of biofuel from the Golden City Biorefinery symbolizes hope, progress, and our unwavering commitment to creating a world where sustainability and equity aren’t options – they are the standard,” Letang continued.

Echoing these sentiments, Rudy Arredondo, President-CEO-Executive Director of LFRI (Latino Farmers and Ranchers International), stated, “SGP’s READY.GROW. Program is not just another agricultural project; it’s a movement. It lays the foundation for fair, just and equitable agriculture, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for the world.”

In addition to celebrating the historic signing, participants at the Roundtable, a high-level dialogue to drive real-world impact and unite for a greener, sustainable, and equitable future, will delve deep into the nuances of bioenergy, discussing its diverse potentials with the principal theme being Profit, Access & Impact for All – The development of Global Biofuels Ecosystems as a transformative initiative for Peace – The Cornerstone to a Transformational Sovereign Model: Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability.

About Latino Farmers and Ranchers International

Latino Farmers and Ranchers International, LFRI represents Latino farmers, ranchers, and producers throughout the US, a demographic responsible for over 32 million acres of production annually; we have served by providing both advocacy and technical support. In some areas, we have been the only source of support to small and developing farmers and the impoverished communities where many reside. Because of these needs, the LFRI has transitioned to a national and international organization with the administrative capacity to serve our members with boots on the ground. Moreover, we are now developing the necessary technical resources to assist our members in the various facets of agriculture, from cultivation to distribution to the development of innovative food systems in their communities. For more information about Latino Farmers and Ranchers International: https://lfrinc.org

About the NGO on Private Sector Development at the United Nations

The NGO Committee on Private Sector Development (UN, New York) is formed as a growing consensus-based coalition of NGOs having consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and of business organizations-affiliates having a vested interest in international development and security. The Committee represents a unique collaborative force led by civil society and private sector agents needed to work alongside governments to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We are bound by this shared conviction that peace and security challenges worldwide can only be met whenever and wherever economic opportunities thrive.

We exist to make the economy our top priority and urge governments at the United Nations to work collectively to leverage the convening power of the organization to champion their nation’s economic agenda. We urge governments to see their nation’s state of economy as a pathway to achieve a conducive political stability, democratization, peace, and security environment for the SDGs. For more information about the NGO on Private Sector Development at the United Nations, https://ngocommitteepsd.org

About SGP BioEnergy

SGP BioEnergy is a bioenergy business leader; we’re pioneers on a mission to revolutionize how the world consumes energy sustainably. Unfettered by ties to the traditional oil sector, we’ve assembled a powerhouse network of partners across agriculture, finance, manufacturing, and tech. We’re not just imagining a cleaner future — we’re making it happen for a growing roster of forward-thinking clients committed to sustainability.

Our vision goes beyond biofuels. We’re committed to achieving all 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. That’s why we’ve designed our flagship Golden City Biorefinery project around five pivotal Impact Pillars: Industrial Innovation, Economic Empowerment, Humanitarian Impact, Accountability, and Shared Ownership. Each pillar rigorously adheres to the highest ESG standards, creating a cohesive platform that comprehensively addresses global sustainability targets. For more information about SGP BioEnergy: www.SGPBioEnergy.com

October SHAKE OUT. Earthquake Awareness and Preparedness Wednesday, October 18, 2023 | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm ET

Please join the Region 2 National Preparedness Division for an Earthquake Preparedness webinar on the day before International ShakeOut Day. The discussion will include tips on how to prepare and what to do during an earthquake. This webinar will feature guest speakers from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Seismic Network. These subject matter experts will discuss the background and impact of earthquakes and tsunamis in Region 2, specifically in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Additionally, the webinar will provide preparedness information including how to update emergency plans and supplies, and to secure your space in order to prevent damage and injuries.  Who should attend? The whole community – general public, NGOs, local, state, federal government and private sector. Register now using this link: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/earthquakeprep/event/registration.html