CAL FIRE Regional Wildfire & Landscape Resilience Grants

CAL FIRE is soliciting applications from regional collaboratives prepared to implement projects identified through transparent, data-informed prioritization processes that incorporate practitioner expertise and community input. The program aims to accelerate landscape-scale, regionally appropriate activities that are consistent with the Climate Bond’s goals to strengthen local capacity, improve landscape health and resilience, and reduce wildfire risk to communities.

Regional Grants will direct funding to forest collaboratives, regional entities, and other collaborative partnerships that develop, plan, and implement portfolios of multi-benefit projects across a landscape, including across landownerships. Regional Grants have the potential to bring funding to high-priority projects that would not otherwise have access to CAL FIRE’s grants or similar grant funding. They also seek to foster regional capacity building and partnerships by providing resources to carry out regional priority projects.

To be eligible for the Program, Regional Grantees will be required to perform a science-based assessment of landscape and community conditions and utilize decision-support tools or subject matter expertise of their choice to prioritize a portfolio of projects for funding. Prior to Regional sub-awards, CAL FIRE must review and confirm the eligibility of the portfolio of proposed projects to ensure that it meets the minimum requirements of the funding authority.

Eligible activities include landscape resilience treatments in forested and non-forested areas, community hazardous fuels reduction, prescribed and cultural fire, pest management, reforestation and revegetation, biomass utilization, and maintenance of prior resilience efforts. Planning and workforce education and training aligned with project goals are also eligible.

For full program information, eligibility requirements, and application materials, please visit the CAL FIRE’s Regional Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Grants website.

Key Project Details

Concept Proposal deadline: June 30, 2026 3pm 

Award range: $5,000,000 to $20,000,000 

USDA NIFA Supplemental and Alternative Crops Program (FY 2026)

USDA NIFA has released the FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Supplemental and Alternative Crops (SAC) Competitive Grants Program. The SAC program supports integrated research and extension projects that improve the productivity and profitability of supplemental and alternative crops to help farmers diversify operations, improve economic stability, and incorporate rotational benefits into their production systems.

Eligible Crops

Historically, SAC funding has been concentrated almost exclusively on canola and hemp. The FY 2026 NOFO marks a notable expansion, explicitly opening the program to a broader range of supplemental and alternative crops across including but not limited to:

• Oilseeds/Industrial: Canola, Castor beans
• Food/Industrial: Industrial hemp (fiber/seed), Confectionary sunflowers
• Grains/Pseudocereals: Buckwheat, Amaranth, Quinoa, Pearl millet, Rye, Spelt
• Legumes/Pulses: Lentils, Mung beans, Dry edible beans

Priority Research Areas

NIFA is soliciting applications under two broad focus areas:

1. Oilseed and Food/Feedstock Crops: Germplasm testing, breeding, and production systems research to develop superior-performing cultivars, improve input cost efficiency, reduce producer risk, and enhance the use of alternative crops as pollinator-friendly species.
2. Feedstock for Industrial Value-Added Purposes: Production systems research for crops grown for grain, fiber, or industrial value-added products, including cultivar evaluation and harvesting techniques, alongside economic research and extension on market development and supply chain analysis.

Program Requirements

All projects must be integrated, combining both research and extension (education is optional). No single component may exceed 67% of the budget. Projects must demonstrate interdisciplinary, multi-state cooperation and include stakeholder input in priority setting and implementation. Region-based, multi-state research networks are strongly encouraged.

For full program information, eligibility requirements, and application materials, please visit the NIFA SAC Funding Opportunity page.

Key Project Details

Application deadline: June 25, 2026 

Project duration: 24 – 48 months 

Award range: $230,000 – $460,000 

Anticipated awards: 4 – 8

Match: No match required.