2023-24 (Round 10) Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) Agricultural Conservation Acquisition Grants

Department of Conservation · State of California

At a glance

2023-24 (Round 10) Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) Agricultural Conservation Acquisition Grants is a closed California state grant opportunity from the Department of Conservation (State of California). The application deadline was January 31, 2025. Applicant types listed as eligible include nonprofit, public agency and tribal government. It is listed on the California Grants Portal. Cost sharing or matching is required.

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

Oct 31, 2024Posted
Jan 31, 2025Application deadline

Opened: Oct 31, 2024
Close date: Jan 31, 2025
Award floor: Not specified
Award ceiling: Not specified
Est. total funding: Not specified
Expected awards: Not specified
Matching funds: Required
Funding instrument: Grant

Program details (as published on the California Grants Portal)

Type: Grant
Funding source: State — Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The actual funding level for fiscal year 2023-24 will not be determined until after the fourth auction, which ends in May 2024.
Matching funds: 10% — Must provide at least 10% of the easement value as match. Applicants may apply for 100% funding for acquisition projects that: provide Priority Population benefits; that have tribe or tribal non-profit as applicant or co-applicant; or provide secure tenure to socially disadvantaged ranchers and farmers. Refer to the SALC Guidelines for more details.
Funding method: Other — Acquisition and Associated Costs
Estimated number of awards: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Estimated award amounts: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Award period: 2 years
Expected award announcement: October 2025
Letter of intent: Required
Geography: State of California
How to submit: By email: salcp@conservation.ca.gov
Latest change note: Updated Grant open date and grant term.

Who can apply

Applicant categories as listed on the California Grants Portal. GrantsJunction maps them to detailed applicant types for search and matching.

Nonprofit
Public Agency
Tribal Government

Additional information on eligibility (from the listing)

Eligible Applicants: Agricultural Conservation Acquisition Grants · Cities · Counties · California Native American Tribes (Federally Recognized and those on the NAHC list) · Nonprofit Organizations · Resource Conservation Districts · Regional Park or Open-Space Districts or Authorities

Can your organization apply?

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Purpose and description as published on the California Grants Portal.

Purpose

Permanently protect croplands, rangelands, and lands utilized for the cultivation of traditional resources from conversion to non-agricultural uses. Protecting these lands promotes smart growth within existing jurisdictions, ensures open space remains available, and supports healthy agricultural and tribal food systems, and resulting food security. Please note: pre-proposals are required, deadline for submittal is January 31, 2025.

Description

The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) supports the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission goals by making strategic investments to protect agricultural lands. Agricultural Conservation Acquisitions provide funding to leverage the protection of strategically located, highly productive, and critically threatened agricultural land, via the purchase of permanent agricultural conservation easements and fee title purchases.

Program page on the agency site ↗

Past applications & awards

Historical data · not a prediction

Reported by the agency for this listing

Fiscal year 2024–25102 applications · 47 awards

Counts as published on the California Grants Portal. Award counts can read zero until decisions are announced.

Awards published: 46
Total awarded: $117,070,852
Median award: $2,084,599 calculated
Smallest – largest: $420,000 – $14,800,000

Recipients by type: Nonprofit (43), Tribal Government (2), Public Agency (1)

Areas served: Monterey County (5), Yolo County (4), Sonoma County (4), Santa Clara County (3), Stanislaus County (3), Placer County (3), Fresno County (2), Madera County (2), Yuba County (2), Merced County (2), San Luis Obispo County (2), Imperial County (2)

Largest awards to organizations

Santa Clara Valley Open Space AuthoritySALC23_PP51_SCL$14,800,000 · FY 2024–25
Esselen Tribe of Monterey CountySALC23_PP52_MNT$6,060,000 · FY 2024–25
Middletown Rancheria Of Pomo IndiansSALC23_PP70_LAK$6,059,000 · FY 2024–25
Ag Land TrustSALC23_PP83_MNT$5,770,800 · FY 2024–25
California Rangeland TrustSALC23_PP22_MAD$5,158,500 · FY 2024–25
Sutter Buttes Regional Land TrustSALC23_PP79_YUB$5,147,470 · FY 2024–25
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara CountySALC23_PP50_SBA$4,785,000 · FY 2024–25
Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay AreaSALC23_PP103_SCL$4,470,000 · FY 2024–25
California Rangeland TrustSALC23_PP02_MNT$3,910,000 · FY 2024–25
San Benito Agricultural Land TrustSALC23_PP67_SBT$3,257,880 · FY 2024–25

Source: California Grants Portal grant award data. Awards to individuals are counted but not named. Past awards show who was funded; they do not predict future decisions.

Program contact (as published)

Shanna Atherton-Bauer
shanna.atherton@conservation.ca.gov
1-916-858-9724

Quick answers

Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?

The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Nonprofit, Public Agency and Tribal Government. It adds: “Eligible Applicants: Agricultural Conservation Acquisition Grants · Cities · Counties · California Native American Tribes (Federally Recognized and those on the NAHC list) · Nonprofit Organizations · Resource Conservation Districts · Regional Park or Open-Space Districts or Autho…” Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.

How do I apply for this opportunity?

Applications go directly to Department of Conservation, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: by email to salcp@conservation.ca.gov. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.

Other open California state opportunities, matched on agency, categories and wording.

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