Center For Land-Based Learning

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM AND HANDS-ON AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION TO MILITARY VETERANS AND TO CONNECT THEM WITH SUPPORT SERVICES THAT WILL INCREASE THEIR RETENTION IN AGRICULTURAL CAREERS. OUR TARGET AUDIENCE WILL INCLUDE SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS, WOMEN VETERANS, AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED VETERANS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE PLAN TO TRAIN 54 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS POPULATION FOR WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE, WHICH WILL BE EITHER ENTREPRENEURIAL (BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM) OR LONG-TERM FARM OR RANCH MANAGEMENT POSITIONS (APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM). THE CENTER FOR LAND-BASED LEARNING (CLBL) WILL BE THE LEAD APPLICANT AND ADMINISTER THE PROJECT. CLBL WAS A SUB-AWARDEE ON A PREVIOUS AGVETS GRANT (AWARD # 2018-77028-28386) WITH THE FARMER VETERAN COALITION. THE CURRENT PROPOSED PROJECT WAS DESIGNED AROUND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PREVIOUS GRANT, WITH THE FOLLOWING GOALS: 1) EXPANDED RECRUITMENT OF VETERANS INTO AGRICULTURALTRAINING; 2) PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE AND IMMERSIVE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES; AND 3) PROVIDING CULTURALLY COMPETENT WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO COMPLETION. THIS PROJECT WILL TRAIN 15 VETERANS TO OPERATE THEIR OWN FARMING BUSINESSES AND PLACE 15 ADDITIONAL VETERANS INTO FARM MANAGEMENT APPRENTICESHIP POSITIONS WITH PAID TRAINING AND EDUCATION. TWENTY-FOUR VETERANS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A SHORT COURSE HELPING THEM EXPLORE A CAREER IN AGRICULTURE. A TEAM OF COLLABORATORS WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH STATEWIDE RECRUITMENT, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND WILL ALSO ASSIST VETERANS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT AND CONNECTION TO RESOURCES. VETERANS WILL BE PAIRED WITH MENTORS, AND BE PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION OR COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM.

CULTIVATE CALIFORNIA: BUILDING REGIONAL TRAINING & SUPPORT NETWORKS FOR VETERANS AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED BEGINNING FARMERS

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CULTIVATING SUCCESS IN BEGINNING FARMS THROUGH EMPOWERMENT WITH TRAINING, INCUBATION, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO BUILD RESILIENCE IN CRITICAL YEARS

URBAN AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATION PRODUCTION (UAIP) COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM

THE CENTER FOR LANDBASED LEARNING WILL EXPAND ITS MOBILE FARMERS MARKET OPERATIONS WITHIN WEST SACRAMENTO AND WOODLAND CALIFORNIA. THIS PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH A NEW FOOD HUB FACILITY TO SUPPORT LOCAL GROWERS AND PROCESSORS PROVIDING ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE AGGREGATION STORAGE AND LIGHT PROCESSING OF FRESH PRODUCE. THE FACILITY WILL OFFER COLD STORAGE AND EQUIPMENT FOR TASKS SUCH AS PEELING CHOPPING AND PACKING ALLOWING FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF PRODUCE THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE UNSUITABLE FOR SALE AT THE MOBILE MARKETS. THIS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE VALUE AND CONVENIENCE OF THE OFFERINGS FOR CONSUMERS. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOME IS TO CREATE EXPANDED MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL FARMERS AND RANCHERS. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS WHO WILL SUPPLY THE MOBILE MARKETS ALONGSIDE THE CONSUMERS WHO WILL GAIN ACCESS TO A WIDER VARIETY OF FRESH FOOD OPTIONS. THE PROJECTS GOALS ARE TO BOLSTER THE SUPPLY CHAIN IMPROVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CENTER FOR LANDBASED LEARNING'S (CLBL) WEST SACRAMENTO URBAN FARM PROGRAM (WSUFP) WILL PARTNER WITH COUNTY, CITY, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE NEW EDUCATIONAL AND MARKET OPPORTUNITIES CENTERED AROUND OUR MOBILE FARMERS MARKET. BY ACCEPTING SNAP, OFFERING MARKET MATCH (50% OFF FOR ALL SNAP CUSTOMERS), AND PROVIDING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE, LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE AND NUTRITION EDUCATION TO RESIDENTS OF THE FOOD DESERT NEIGHBORHOOD OF BRODERICK BRYTE IN WEST SACRAMENTO, WE ARE CREATING INNOVATIVE MARKETING ACTIVITIES THAT MUTUALLY BENEFIT OUR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS.USING OUR MOBILE FARMERS MARKET TRUCK, A WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF FOUR STOPS AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEXES AND CITY PARKS WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS BY INCREASING THEIR ACCESS TO FRESH NUTRITIOUS FOODS. A NEWLY-DEVELOPED COMMUNITY FOOD AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WILL RECRUIT EIGHT RESIDENTS EACH YEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE PAID TO RECEIVE TRAINING ABOUT THEIR LOCALFOOD SYSTEM, NUTRITION EDUCATION AND LATER BE HIRED TO WORK ON THE MOBILE FARMERS MARKET. STUDENTS FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT'S CULINARY PROGRAM WILL BE PARTNERED WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM UC DAVIS'S NUTRITION PROGRAM IN AN INTERNSHIP WHERE STUDENTS WILL LEAD COOKING DEMOS FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS TO ENHANCE FOOD-PREPARATION SKILLS AND TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DIET AND HEALTH IN TANDEM WITH MOBILE MARKET STOPS. TRAINING MATERIALS AND PROTOCOLS WILL BE DEVELOPED TO ENABLE BEGINNING FARMERS TO USE THE MOBILE MARKET TRUCK THEMSELVES, THUS SERVING ADDITIONAL LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS WHILE GENERATING NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS.

SLEWS ACADEMY - EXPANSION OF SLEWS PROGRAM

THESE PROJECTS HELP CREATE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND INCREASE BIODIVERSITY WHILE STABILIZING STREAM BANKS AND ESTABLISHING NATIVE VEGETATION ALONG WATERWAYS TO FILTER NUTRIENTS AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. STUDENT AND LANDOWNER EDUCATION AND WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM (SLEWS) CONNECTS CLASSROOM LEARNING TO THE REAL WORLD TO ENHANCE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES IN NATURE TO INCREASE THEIR APPRECIATION, COMMITMENT AND RESPECT FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND THE NATURAL WORLD.

THE STUDENT <(>&<)> LANDOWNER, EDUCATION <(>&<)> WATERSHED STEWARDSHIPPROJECT: IMPLEMENTING HABITAT RESTORATION THROUGH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

WORK WITH THE FOLLOWING TWO TARGETED GROUPS; WOMEN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN BEGINNING FARMERS TO IMPROVE PARTICIPATION AMONG TARGETED GROUPS IN NRCS AND USDA PROGRAMS.