Small Grants Program

Purpose

The Program provides funding for eligible entities to complete projects under $100,000 that make transformative investments in the Delta’s social, economic, scientific, and physical infrastructure. Projects may support community needs, advance scientific research that informs resource management, or enhance tourism and public understanding of Delta places through events, programs, materials, or facilities.

Description

The Grant has three focus areas: Nature Based Solutions (NBS), community enhancement and access, and ecosystem restoration. NBS goals are to support restoration, conservation, and 3 climate projects that will stop or reverse ongoing subsidence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions occurring on highly organic soils. NBS projects provide technical assistance and financial support for crop conversion, restoration of managed wetland, research, education and outreach on related topics, land acquisition or easement, and technical assistance to access the Voluntary Carbon Market. Community enhancement and access projects will benefit Delta communities through public access, recreation and tourism, historic and cultural preservation, environmental education, and community engagement or education. Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Adaptation projects will restore and conserve the Delta and Suisun Marsh’s natural resources, environment, and biodiversity. Current projects restore, research, plan or educate about landscape health or reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon natural resources, fish, and wildlife. Priorities within these programs include: 1. Protecting and enhancing habitat and habitat restoration. 2. Protecting and preserving Delta agriculture and working landscapes. 3. Providing increased opportunities for tourism and recreation in the Delta. 4. Promoting Delta legacy communities, historical preservation and economic vitality in the Delta. 5. Mitigating the impacts of climate change and increasing climate change resilience. 6. Increasing the resilience of the Delta to the effects of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, in coordination with the Delta Protection Commission. 7. Protecting and improving water quality. 8. Protecting, conserving, and restoring the region’s physical, agricultural, cultural, historical, and living resources. 9. Promoting environmental education. 10. Other projects that show a significant benefit to the environment, economy, culture or agriculture in the Delta. 11. Projects that plan for or provide capacity for any of the priorities in this list. 12. Research projects that provide a scientific foundation or inform the priorities listed above.