The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund gives direct financial disaster assistance of up to $5,000 to organic producers.
The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund has a long history of giving grants to organic producers recovering from natural disasters like wildfires or floods, unforeseeable life events, and other difficulties that can be challenging to any business. As climate change, the pandemic, and economic instability continues to impact farming communities, the Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund is part of an important support network helping organic businesses survive uncertain times.
Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund – Grants for Organic Producers
Receive financial assistance to help cover losses from natural disasters, personal hardship, or other unplanned emergencies.
Grant Amount: up to $5,000
Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund applicants requirements:
- Be a certified organic operation in good standing
- Provide a valid organic certificate from any accredited certifier
- Submit a complete description of hardship endured within the last 12 months
- Submit supporting financial documentation of economic loss
- If awarded, agree to submit a final progress report
- Applying organic business must be in the United States
- Grant funds cannot be used for organic certification fees
First-time applicants and underserved producers will be prioritized.
Deadline: Applications open April 12 and close May 12, 2023. Check back here then to apply!
Drought Relief Grants for Producers in California
CCOF has partnered with California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to administer drought relief grants, which will be reimbursement grants for expenses incurred as a result of drought. Drought funding is open to California producers only. Applicants must be small-scale farmers and/or from underserved (socially disadvantaged) communities as described in CDFA’s Farmer Equity Report**.
Examples of covered expenses can include but are not limited to:
- Increased electric utility bills of 50 percent or more due to increased electricity rates
- Surface water costs if increased from year prior
- Cost of hauling water for livestock
- Lowering ag well pumps if a primary source of water is lost
- Emergency upgrades to irrigation system (paired with conservation) if not covered through CDFA OEFI programs or USDA programs and for other emergency scenarios.
- Decreased crop yields/crop loss due to less water available or having to fallow land
- Drilling of new wells or repairs on existing wells if sole source of water for operation. To be eligible, an applicant must provide written verification from a Groundwater Sustainability Agency managing the basin or area of the basin where the well is located or proposed to be located approving the action, per Executive Order N-7-22.
Producers are not eligible for this grant if they have received a CDFA CUSP within the last 12 months.
Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $20,000. Applications must be filled out completely to be eligible for consideration.
Deadline: Applications open April 12 and close May 12, 2023. Check back here then to apply!
**CDFA definition of socially disadvantaged groups: “AB 1348 states that a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher is a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. A “socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender discrimination. These groups include the following: African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, Female farmers and ranchers of color.”
Even Changemakers Need Help at Times
Chris and Dana Laughlin grow organic fruit, vegetables, and herbs at Sea to Sky Farms, with farm sites in the redwood forests and along the Pacific coastline. When the CZU Lightning Complex fires swept through the Santa Cruz mountains last year, they lost their fruit orchard, equipment, and farm facilities. Our goal is to make recovery just a little bit easier for farmers like the Laughlins with financial assistance from the Hardship Assistance Fund.
"At a time when our farm needed it the most, following the CZU Lightning Fire Complex, we were granted relief funds from CCOF's Foundation. Those funds helped us rebuild from the fire, which damaged critical infrastructure at the farm,” explained Chris.
Community support is at the heart of the CCOF Foundation, and we’re here to support you, too. Apply for hardship assistance support or email Larissa Hernandez at lhernandez@ccof.org.