Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC)- Capacity and Project Development Grants

Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC)- Capacity and Project Development Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: California Department of Conservation
Last Updated: September 20, 2025

Summary

The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) offers Capacity and Project Development Grants to enhance organizational capabilities for agricultural conservation projects. These grants aim to protect agricultural lands from conversion to more greenhouse gas-intensive uses, aligning with California's climate goals. By supporting eligible applicants in developing conservation easements and acquisition projects, SALC facilitates smart growth and ensures food security amid climate challenges. This initiative underlines the importance of maintaining healthy agricultural systems in the face of environmental changes.

Overview

NOTE: SALC Program staff are available prior to the application deadline to provide technical assistance to eligible applicants interested in submitting an application. Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC), a component of the Strategic Growth Council’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, supports California’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals by making strategic investments to protect agricultural lands from conversion to more GHG-intensive uses. It also contributes to implementation of Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-82-20, which calls for the accelerated use of nature-based solutions to address the climate and biodiversity crises. Protecting critical agricultural lands from conversion to urban or rural residential development promotes smart growth within existing jurisdictions, ensures open space remains available, and supports healthy agricultural and tribal food systems, and resulting food security. Healthy and resilient food systems are becoming increasingly important in meeting the challenges occurring and anticipated as a result of climate change. Capacity and Project Development Capacity and Project Development grants expand organizational capacity to develop agricultural conservation acquisition projects.​ SALC capacity grants will be provided to: build organizational and financial capacity to develop agricultural conservation acquisition projects, assist eligible applicants in developing agricultural conservation easement and fee acquisition projects in preparation for submitting such projects for acquisition funding in future rounds, andprovide funds to cover associated costs to help close agricultural conservation acquisition projects where the cost of the acquisition is covered by an alternate source of funding.

Eligibility

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