Funding opportunities for environmentally-focused cannabis projects across California will soon be available.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on Thursday announced plans for funding opportunities through the Cannabis Restoration Grant Program (CRGP).
Along with announcing funding opportunities, the CDFW also released a Draft Proposal Solicitation Notice for public comment.
March 31, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. is the deadline for comments, which may be submitted via email to canngrantprogram@wildlife.ca.gov.
The draft covers funding opportunities for two priority categories in California.
The first category is the cleanup and remediation of public lands that have suffered under illegal cannabis cultivation operations.
The second category is watershed and community enhancements in areas of illegal cannabis cultivation.
“We are excited to engage with organizations of all sizes about their ideas and cannabis-related projects to benefit the environment,” says CDFW Cannabis Environmental Program Manager Jennifer Nguyen. “We are interested to see how these financial resources will help the industry and are eager to listen and learn from our stakeholders.”
On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, the CDFW will host an online workshop covering the draft solicitation and application requirements.
The CDFW will also answer questions dealing with the funding opportunity.
Additional details about the workshop are available on the CDFW website.
Funding for the grants comes from California’s Environmental Restoration and Protection Account under Revenue and Taxation Code section 34019(f)(2).
Funds may be used to support local partnerships as well as the cleanup, remediation, and restoration of environmental damage where cannabis cultivation has caused environmental damage in watersheds.
Also in development at the CDFW is a new grant opportunity geared toward assisting qualified cannabis growers.
The CDFW says that it will release details on the new opportunity later this year.
