The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Cannabis Restoration Grant Program has announced a call for concept proposals in preparation for the qualified cultivator funding opportunity.

The Qualified Cultivator Funding Opportunity, Proposal Solicitation Notice is scheduled for release in fall of 2021 and will be open for applying until spring of 2023.

Applications will be approved on a scheduled basis.

“We expect our new qualified cultivator program will help with remediation projects that may be unaffordable for many smaller cultivators, and also promote environmentally sustainable practices,” said Jeremy Valverde, CDFW’s Cannabis Program director. “We hope this support will help cultivators progress from provisional to annual license status.”

While funding is not directly paid to cultivators, it can be secured through eligible applicants, which include nonprofits, government agencies or tribes.

There are three steps to the qualified cultivator program: consultation, pre-application and full application.

The consultation process is optional but will allow staff and the prospective applicants to discuss the proposed project’s applicability and eligibility.

Once the solicitation is released, applicants will be required to submit a pre-application before being considered for the full application.

“This is a great opportunity to assist our local small cannabis farms in overcoming the financial barriers that many face on the road to compliance,” said Peggy Murphy, economic development specialist, county of Humboldt. “I look forward to hearing more about this funding opportunity, participating in the solicitation process and helping members of our cannabis community access this valuable resource.”

More information about the concept consultation and funding priorities can be found in the Concept Consultation Request Overview.

Grants through the Cannabis Restoration Grant Program are funded through California’s Environmental Restoration and Protection Account pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code section 34019(f)(2), and may be used to fund the cleanup, remediation, and restoration of environmental damage in watersheds affected by cannabis cultivation and related activities, and to support local partnerships for this purpose.

For questions on CDFW’s CRGP, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..