Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance for operations interested in climate smart.

Read the SALC Guidelines to determine what kind of project you wish to apply for, then submit the required materials by email to salcp@conservation.ca.gov.

Shanna Atherton-Bauer

The SALC Program supports agricultural land conservation, economic growth, and sustainable development by providing grants for three types of projects:

- **Land Use Planning grants** that support&#x2004;the development of local and regional land use policies and economic development strategies to protect critical agricultural land

- **Agricultural Conservation Acquisition grants** to permanently protect croplands, rangelands, and lands utilized for the cultivation of traditional resources from conversion to non-agricultural uses.​

- **Capacity and Project Development grants** to expand organizational capacity to develop agricultural conservation acquisition projects.

The program invests in agricultural land conservation with revenue from the [California Climat​e ​Inv​estments (CCI) Fund​](http://www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov/), made available for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing additional benefits to California communities. CCI is derived from quarterly cap-and-trade auction proceeds, which are administered by the California Air Resources Board. 

Three types of grants are offered as a part of this program:

- Agricultural Conservation Acquisition Capacity Funding – Grants to develop agricultural conservation easement and fee acquisition projects and/or cover associated costs to help close acquisition projects where the cost of the acquisition is covered by an alternate source of funding.

- Agricultural Conservation Acquisitions – Grants to protect important agricultural lands under threat of conversion to nonagricultural uses through the acquisition of voluntary, permanent agricultural conservation easements (easements) or fee title purchases. Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program Final Program Guidelines - April 2023 2

- Agricultural Conservation Planning – Grants to develop and implement plans for the protection of agricultural lands under pressure of being converted to non-agricultural uses.

The Department of Conservation works in cooperation with the Natural Resources Agency and the SGC to implement the program. ​



The SALC Program supports agricultural land conservation, economic growth, and sustainable development by providing grants for three types of projects:
- Land Use Planning grants that support the development of local and regional land use policies and economic development strategies to protect critical agricultural land
- Agricultural Conservation Acquisition grants to permanently protect croplands, rangelands, and lands utilized for the cultivation of traditional resources from conversion to non-agricultural uses.​
- Capacity and Project Development grants to expand organizational capacity to develop agricultural conservation acquisition projects.
The program invests in agricultural land conservation with revenue from the California Climat​e ​Inv​estments (CCI) Fund​, made available for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing additional benefits to California communities. CCI is derived from quarterly cap-and-trade auction proceeds, which are administered by the California Air Resources Board. 
Three types of grants are offered as a part of this program:
- Agricultural Conservation Acquisition Capacity Funding – Grants to develop agricultural conservation easement and fee acquisition projects and/or cover associated costs to help close acquisition projects where the cost of the acquisition is covered by an alternate source of funding.
- Agricultural Conservation Acquisitions – Grants to protect important agricultural lands under threat of conversion to nonagricultural uses through the acquisition of voluntary, permanent agricultural conservation easements (easements) or fee title purchases. Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program Final Program Guidelines - April 2023 2
- Agricultural Conservation Planning – Grants to develop and implement plans for the protection of agricultural lands under pressure of being converted to non-agricultural uses.
The Department of Conservation works in cooperation with the Natural Resources Agency and the SGC to implement the program. ​

Cities, counties, non-profit organizations, resource conservation districts, regional park or open-space districts, regional park or open-space authorities, and federally recognized California Native American tribe or a nonfederally recognized California Native American tribe that is on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission, are eligible to apply.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

- Capacity Grant Combined document (PDF)
- ​​​​​​Acquisition Grants C​ombined document (PDF)
- Planning Grant Combined document (PDF)
- SALC Round 9 FY 22-23 Combined Guidelines (PDF)​
- Land Use Planning Grants Evaluation Criteria
- Capacity and Project Development Grants Evaluation Criteria​​
- Land Acquisition Grants Evaluation Criteria

To apply, read the RFR carefully and then return your application by email, in person, or by physical mail.

Email
laura.maul@mass.gov

Mailing Address
Laura J. Maul
Program Coordinator
Department of Agricultural Resources
30 Riverside Drive, Suite 202
Lakeville, MA 02347

Hand-Delivery Address
Laura J. Maul
Program Coordinator
Department of Agricultural Resources
30 Riverside Drive, Suite 202
Lakeville, MA 02347

Laura J. Maul

Gerry Palano

The Climate Smart Agriculture Program (“CSAP”) combines MDAR’s water, energy, and climate grants into one application. The three grant programs combined in this application are the Agricultural Climate Resiliency & Efficiencies (“ACRE”) Grant, the Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program Grant (“AEEP”) and the Ag-Energy Program Grant (“ENER”) . By bringing the three grants under one program, MDAR seeks to simplify the application process.

The first round of funding combines the applications for ACRE and AEEP into Part I: Environmental Projects. This section will provide financial incentives to&#x2004;allow agricultural operations to proactively address risks and strengthen their economic and environmental resiliency. 

Applications for ENER, previously under the Agricultural Energy Grant Program, are in Part II: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Projects. Projects include energy efficiency projects and renewable energy projects that help farms become more sustainable and resilient while also working towards the interim goals of the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan (“CECP”) for 2030 and long term goals of the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050 (2050 CECP) .



The Climate Smart Agriculture Program (“CSAP”) combines MDAR’s water, energy, and climate grants into one application. The three grant programs combined in this application are the Agricultural Climate Resiliency & Efficiencies (“ACRE”) Grant, the Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program Grant (“AEEP”) and the Ag-Energy Program Grant (“ENER”) . By bringing the three grants under one program, MDAR seeks to simplify the application process.
The first round of funding combines the applications for ACRE and AEEP into Part I: Environmental Projects. This section will provide financial incentives to allow agricultural operations to proactively address risks and strengthen their economic and environmental resiliency. 
Applications for ENER, previously under the Agricultural Energy Grant Program, are in Part II: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Projects. Projects include energy efficiency projects and renewable energy projects that help farms become more sustainable and resilient while also working towards the interim goals of the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan (“CECP”) for 2030 and long term goals of the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050 (2050 CECP) .

- Applicant must be an agricultural operation as defined by M.G.L. c. 128, § 1A that is principally and substantially engaged in the business of production agriculture;
- Property must be in active agricultural use and managed as a commercial enterprise by the Applicant for at least the three (3) previous years to the date of the application.

List of Agricultural Funding for Climate Smart