Enriching the Greenbelt
Funding and education available for the Arlington Heights Greenbelt in Riverside
Firstly, thank you to all our supporters, neighbors and members who have stood with us thus far. The Board at En-Gage Riverside is excited to announce the first fund available for new farmers and existing farmers in the Arlington Greenbelt. We will also be offering agriculture-based classes free and open to the public, the class schedule will be posted to the website and updated as more options become available.
Applications are open as of 9/16/2026 and will stay open until all funds are distributed. Please see the notice of funding post, FAQ page and application attached below.
NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)
Arlington Heights Greenbelt Agricultural Improvement Fund
Issued By:En-Gage Riverside, Inc.A California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation and Public Charity Recognized as Tax-Exempt Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Funding Opportunity Announcement
Funding Opportunity Number: AHG-2026-1
Announcement Date: 9/16/2026
Application Opens: 9/17/2026
Application Deadline: 6/01/2026
Award Announcements Anticipated: Award announcements will be sent to applicants within one month of application receipt
Program Overview
The Arlington Heights Greenbelt Agricultural Improvement Fund ("Program") provides competitive grant funding to support agricultural improvement projects that further the charitable mission of En-Gage Riverside Inc by preserving, strengthening, and improving agricultural production within the Arlington Heights Greenbelt in Riverside City, California.
The Program is intended to promote long-term agricultural sustainability through strategic investments that improve productivity, conserve natural resources, modernize agricultural infrastructure, expand active agricultural use, and increase the diversity of agricultural products grown within the Greenbelt.
Funding is awarded through a competitive application process. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
Program Goals
Applicants should propose projects that accomplish one or more of the following objectives:
Increase actively farmed acreage within the Arlington Heights Greenbelt
Improve agricultural productivity
Increase crop diversity
Optimize agricultural water consumption
Improve environmental stewardship
Modernize agricultural infrastructure
Strengthen the long-term sustainability of agricultural operations serving the Arlington Heights Greenbelt.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include the following:
Sole Proprietorships
General Partnerships
Limited Partnerships
Limited Liability Companies (LLC)
Applicants must be operating an agricultural business within the Arlington Heights Greenbelt or demonstrate a documented plan to establish an agricultural business within the Arlington Heights Greenbelt. Existing businesses must demonstrate commercial activity during the preceding calendar year. Start-up agricultural businesses must submit a business plan and supporting documentation as described in the Grant Application.
Applicants may lose eligibility status if it is found they are in poor financial standing with the state or internal revenue service.
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects include agricultural improvements that further one or more Program objectives.
Examples include but are not limited to the following:
Water Optimization
Efficient irrigation systems
Water storage improvements
Leak reduction
Irrigation modernization
Water treatment materials and equipment
Evaporation reduction
Environmental Improvements
Soil conservation
Carbon sequestration
Soil health and conditioning
Cover crop establishment
Agricultural Expansion
Increasing cultivated acreage
Crop diversification
Orchard establishment
Infrastructure
Irrigation modernization
Equipment rehabilitation or modernization
Pest exclusion fencing
Pest reduction through environmental engineering
Farm utility improvements
Livestock facility improvements
Agricultural drainage improvements
Any qualifying project which reduces the farms overall environmental impact
Eligible projects may include reimbursement for qualifying expenditures incurred within twelve (12) months preceding the application date, provided those expenditures otherwise satisfy all Program requirements and adequate documentation is submitted.
Ineligible Activities
Grant funds shall not be used for:
Personal living expenses
Personal vehicles
Debt unrelated to the project
Taxes or penalties
Political contributions
Lobbying
Land purchases
Residential construction
Luxury improvements
Expenses unrelated to the approved project
This is not an exhaustive list and the Organization reserves the right to determine whether an expense is reasonably related to Program objectives.
Funding Priorities
Although all eligible applications will receive consideration, priority may be given to projects that:
Increase productive agricultural acreage
Introduce new crop varieties
Reduce environmental impacts associated with agricultural production
Demonstrate project readiness
Provide lasting benefits to the Arlington Heights Greenbelt agricultural community
Application Requirements
Applicants shall submit a complete Grant Application together with all required supporting documentation.
Required documentation may include:
Business information
Financial documentation demonstrating eligibility
Business plan (if applicable)
Project budget
Cost estimates
Receipts and proof of payment (for reimbursement requests)
Site photographs
Property ownership or lease documentation
Any additional information reasonably requested by the Organization.
Incomplete applications may be determined ineligible.
Evaluation Process
Applications will be evaluated through a competitive review process.
The review process generally consists of:
Eligibility determination
Conflict of interest review
Independent scoring by qualified reviewers
Grant Review Committee recommendation
Final approval by the Board of Directors
Applications will be evaluated using objective scoring criteria established by the Organization.
Award Conditions
Successful applicants will be subject to the following:
Execute a Grant Agreement
Comply with all Program requirements
Complete the approved project within the required timeframe unless an extension is approved
Maintain receipts and supporting documentation
Permit reasonable site inspections during normal business hours upon at least twenty-four (24) hours' advance notice
Cooperate with monitoring and compliance activities conducted by the Organization
Failure to comply with Program requirements may result in suspension of funding, repayment obligations, termination of the Grant Agreement, or disqualification from future funding opportunities.
Submission Instructions
Applications will be reviewed monthly, applications received after the second Monday of the month may be delayed until the following month.
Applications may be submitted by one or more of the following methods, as authorized by the Organization:
☐ United States Mail
Applications received after the published deadline may be rejected unless otherwise authorized under Program procedures.
Questions
Questions regarding this funding opportunity should be directed to:
Grant Program Administrator
Name: Audrey Pongs
Email: contact@en-gageriverside.org
Office Address: POBOX 7907 Riverside CA 92513
Questions and answers of general applicability may be shared with all prospective applicants to ensure fairness and equal access to information.
Reservation of Rights
The Organization reserves the right to:
Modify this Notice of Funding Opportunity
Extend or shorten application deadlines
Request additional information from applicants
Reject any or all applications
Award less than the total funding available
Partially fund applications
Cancel or suspend the funding opportunity
Decline to make any awards
Correct administrative errors
Take any other action consistent with applicable law, donor restrictions, and the Grant Program Policy Manual
Nothing contained in this Notice shall be construed as creating any contractual obligation or entitlement to funding.
Nondiscrimination Statement
The Organization administers the Arlington Heights Greenbelt Agricultural Improvement Fund in a manner consistent with applicable federal and California nondiscrimination laws.
Eligible applicants will be considered without unlawful discrimination on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable law. Funding decisions will be based solely upon Program eligibility, application quality, anticipated public benefit, available funding, and compliance with Program requirements.
Authority
This Notice of Funding Opportunity is issued pursuant to the Arlington Heights Greenbelt Agricultural Improvement Grant Program Policy Manual and applicable resolutions of the Board of Directors of En-Gage Riverside.
Publication of this Notice authorizes the acceptance of applications for the funding cycle identified above and supersedes any prior announcement for the same funding cycle.
APPLICATION
FAQ'S
General Questions
1. What is the purpose of this Program?
The Program provides competitive grant funding for qualifying agricultural improvement projects that advance the charitable mission of En-Gage Riverside by supporting agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship, water conservation, modernization of agricultural infrastructure, and crop diversity within the Arlington Heights Greenbelt.
2. Is this a loan?
No.
Grant awards made under this Program are not loans and generally do not require repayment, provided the recipient complies with all Program requirements and the terms of the Grant Agreement.
Recipients may be required to repay grant funds if Program requirements are not met or if funds are used for unauthorized purposes.
3. Is funding guaranteed if I apply?
No.
This is a competitive grant program. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
Awards depend upon applicant eligibility, project quality, anticipated public benefit, available funding, and the results of the competitive review process.
4. Who may apply?
Eligible applicants include:
Sole Proprietorships
General Partnerships
Limited Partnerships
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
Applicants must operate, or have a documented plan to operate, an agricultural business within the Arlington Heights Greenbelt.
5. Can a new agricultural business apply?
Yes.
New agricultural businesses may apply if they provide the documentation required by the Grant Application, including a business plan, operating budget, project timeline, and documentation demonstrating legal authority to operate on the proposed agricultural property.
Geographic Eligibility
6. Where must my business operate?
The agricultural operation must operate, or be proposed to operate, within the boundaries of the Arlington Heights Greenbelt in Riverside County, California.
Applicants may be asked to provide documentation verifying the project location.
7. Does my business office need to be located inside the Greenbelt?
No.
The relevant consideration is the location of the agricultural operation or project being funded.
Eligible Projects
8. What kinds of projects may be funded?
Examples include but are not limited to:
Water conservation improvements
Irrigation modernization
Agricultural infrastructure improvements
Greenhouses
High tunnels
Shade structures
Equipment rehabilitation
Livestock facility improvements
Soil conservation projects
Crop diversification projects
Environmental improvements supporting agricultural production
All projects must further one or more Program objectives.
9. Can previously completed work qualify?
Possibly.
Eligible reimbursement requests may include qualifying expenditures incurred within twelve (12) months preceding the application date if all Program requirements are met and adequate documentation is provided.
10. What expenses are generally not eligible?
Examples include:
Personal expenses
Residential improvements
Entertainment
Political activities
Lobbying
Alcohol
Firearms
Land acquisition
Expenses unrelated to the approved agricultural project
The Organization reserves the right to determine final eligibility of all proposed expenditures.
Application Process
11. What documents must I submit?
Applicants should review the Grant Application carefully.
Supporting documentation may include:
Business records
Financial documentation
Project budget
Cost estimates
Vendor quotations
Receipts (for reimbursement requests)
Site photographs
Property ownership or lease documentation
Business plan (if applicable)
Other supporting documentation requested by the Organization
12. What happens if my application is incomplete?
The Organization may request additional information or determine the application ineligible if required information is not provided.
Submission of a complete application is the responsibility of the applicant.
13. Can I submit more than one application?
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity, applicants may submit only one application per funding cycle.
Separate funding cycles may permit future applications.
14. May I revise my application after submission?
Applications may be revised only if requested or authorized by the Organization before the application deadline.
After the deadline, revisions generally will not be accepted except to correct minor administrative deficiencies identified by the Organization.
Review Process
15. How are applications evaluated?
Applications undergo:
Administrative review;
Eligibility determination;
Conflict of interest review;
Independent scoring by qualified reviewers;
Committee recommendation;
Final approval by the Board of Directors or its authorized designee.
16. Will reviewers visit my property before making a decision?
The Organization reserves the right to conduct site visits before or after funding when reasonably necessary.
Not every application will receive a pre-award site visit.
17. May I speak with reviewers about my application?
No.
Applicants should communicate only with the Organization's designated Grant Program Administrator unless otherwise instructed.
Reviewers do not communicate directly with applicants regarding pending applications.
Awards
18. When will award decisions be announced?
Award announcements are expected to occur according to the schedule published in the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Actual dates may change depending upon the number of applications received and administrative needs.
19. Can the Organization award less than the amount I requested?
Yes.
The Organization may approve full funding, partial funding, or no funding.
Partial funding does not obligate the Organization to provide additional funding later.
20. What happens if I receive a grant?
Successful applicants will be required to:
Execute a Grant Agreement;
Comply with Program requirements;
Maintain supporting documentation;
Complete the approved project within the required timeframe unless an extension is approved;
Permit reasonable site inspections;
Cooperate with monitoring activities.
Project Administration
21. How long do I have to complete my project?
Projects should generally be completed within eight (8) months following the grant award unless an extension is approved by the Organization.
22. Can I request additional time?
Yes.
Recipients may submit a written extension request explaining the circumstances requiring additional time.
Approval of extensions is at the discretion of the Organization.
23. Will the Organization inspect my project?
The Organization reserves the right to conduct reasonable site inspections during normal business hours upon at least twenty-four (24) hours' advance notice until the project has been completed and all required documentation has been approved.
24. What records should I keep?
Recipients should retain:
Receipts
Invoices
Contracts
Proof of payment
Photographs
Permits
Correspondence
Other records supporting project expenditures and completion
The Organization may request these records during monitoring or closeout.
Additional Questions
25. Who should I contact if I have questions?
Questions should be directed only to the designated Grant Program Administrator identified in the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity.
To ensure fairness, responses to questions that may affect multiple applicants may be shared with all prospective applicants.
Disclaimer
This FAQ is intended solely as a general informational resource.
It does not amend, modify, or replace any provision of the Grant Program Policy Manual, Grant Administration Procedures, Grant Application, Grant Agreement, Board Resolution, or other governing Program documents.
The Organization reserves the right to interpret and administer the Program in accordance with its governing documents, applicable law, donor restrictions, and the charitable purposes for which the Program was established.
Comments