Technical Assistance ToolkitCase Study: California Underserved and Small Producer Grant Program Technical Assistance
Summary
The California Underserved and Small Producer Grant Program (CUSP) began as way to address the need to better serve socially disadvantaged and small-scale producers who did not have access or had difficulty accessing State and Federal relief dollars. Through public engagement and evaluation of past technical assistance (TA) efforts, the CUSP program identified the need to create a network of TA providers who could assist with:
- One-on-one application support
- Developing business plans and marketing assistance
- Supporting producers in languages other than English
- Building regional support and relationships between small-scale and socially disadvantaged producers
In addition to this scope of work, TA providers received funds to administer small drought relief grants directly to the producers. By using these techniques, the CUSP program has been able to reach more Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) producers and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFR) since the program started in 2021. With continued funding allocated to this program in 2023, CDFA expects the support and assistance to these producers to continue to grow.
TA Providers
University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) Small Farm Advisor Program, non-profit organizations, Resource Conservation Districts (RCD’s), Tribal Governments, County Departments of Agriculture
TA Recipients
Small-Scale, Medium-Scale, Socially Disadvantaged (As defined by AB 1348) farmers, ranchers, producers statewide
Total Budget
5 million allocated for Technical Assistance (out of a total 35 million budget)
Program Description
The California Underserved and Small Producer (CUSP) Drought Relief Grant Program has two components:
- Drought relief direct producer grants for socially disadvantaged, small-scale and medium scale producers to address immediate drought relief concerns and eligible expenses.
- A separate technical assistance program assisting farmers and ranchers with application assistance to the CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant program, federal and state economic and disaster relief programs, and technical assistance related to farm business management, financial planning and marketing assistance TA to individual agricultural producers as tools to mitigate immediate concerns and needs related to the drought.
Outcomes
This program is still in process but to date approximately 80% of direct producer grants have gone to BIPOC/ socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFR) producers, and at least 50% of recipients of TA are SDFR, small-scale business owners. Outcomes such as this demonstrate that if Technical Assistance programs are tailored to the needs of specific underserved groups, those groups will have increased access to grant funding – leading to more equitable outcomes.
Program Development
This section provides a step-by-step description of how these outcomes were achieved through program design and implementation.
Step 1. Getting Started
From the start, the CUSP grant program was informed and guided through continuous public engagement via webinars, public comment sessions, focus groups, and conversations with farmers and TA providers across California. Additionally, the ad-hoc BIPOC Farmer Advisory Committee provided the framework and guidance for the program. Multiple public comment sessions were held so that grant structure aligned with the needs of the most historically underserved, small-scale and medium scale producers.
In addition to public engagement, CDFA also conducted an evaluation of its past TA efforts to inform the development of this new TA program. Evaluation was conducted through collecting data on the number of producers reached statewide and testimonials from TA providers and producers. The contract with UCANR Small Farm Advisors includes ongoing data collection through surveys of TA providers as well as ongoing training to address any TA provider needs to continue supporting farmers and ranchers.
Step 2. Setting Goals and Intended Outcomes
The overall goal was to create a program that supports a network of TA providers statewide to respond to drought and other short- and long-term climate change impacts facing California’s small-scale and socially disadvantaged producers and small business owners. The combination of on-the-ground, local TA providers, and flexible direct producer grant funds, will protect the State’s minority and small-scale farm business owners and ensure their long-term success in California’s agricultural industry.
The program prioritizes serving small-scale, medium-scale, and socially disadvantaged producers, as these groups are most disproportionately impacted by climate change and disasters. Yet despite this disproportionate need, these producers are often the least likely to access programs and services. The CUSP program is modeled to ensure immigration status does not affect producers’ ability to receive TA or direct assistance, and to allow regional entities, such as the UCANR Small Farm Program, to offer the best possible TA for their area’s producers.
Step 3. Determining the TA Structure
The Technical Assistance approach taken was to provide funding directly to local trusted organizations, including non-profit organizations, resource conservation districts, Tribal Governments and county ag commissioners to serve their specific regions with support from UCANR Small Farm Program.
Some of the TA providers also received funds to administer small drought relief grants directly to the producers. In this way, the TA providers act as “block grant administrators” and ensure underserved producers can apply directly for funding to a local and trusted organization rather than to the State government. This model increases funding access for undocumented producers and other vulnerable and underserved groups. The direct grants range from $1,000 to $20,000 and primarily serve socially disadvantaged small-scale and medium scale producers.
Step 4. Identifying a Funding Source
This funding came through the 2021 and 2022 General Fund budgets. The program received multiple allocations for the direct producer grants as drought conditions increased in severity in 2022. TA organizations continued to provide TA services and in 2023 there was a second solicitation for the program. These new grantees began their two-year projects July 1, 2023.
Step 5. Selecting TA Providers and Recipients
The CUSP program prioritizes TA providers who are able to provide assistance in languages other than English, and organizations that have experience and trusted relationships with small-scale and medium-scale socially disadvantaged producers. Serving underserved groups in languages other than English, or languages spoken in the farming community is a focal point of the program as can be seen in the staff hired as part of this objective – Small Farms Advisors and Staff.
Step 6. Develop a Feedback Loop
The CUSP program recognizes the value of listening to and engaging with TA providers and producers and being as flexible with program guidelines as possible to adjust to changing needs related to drought and disaster conditions.
Some best practices learned from this program include prioritizing language expertise, flexible program guidelines to accommodate for one-on-one assistance that might take more time, having a regional lead like UCANR to provide more detailed and technical TA support to the other organizations, and offering regular opportunities for networking among TA providers. The CUSP program looks to continue building relationships with TA organizations and producers to allow for an ongoing engagement process that builds and grows, with ample opportunities to change direction as needed and build in flexibility to accommodate changing TA needs, etc.
For more information about the CUSP Program, please visit the program website: www.cdfa.ca.gov/CUSP