Closed
California state funding opportunity
Building Forward Library Improvements Grant Program: Round Two
CA State Library
- Portal ID25757
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
The Building Forward Grant Program supports capital projects for public library buildings that address critical maintenance needs, improve energy efficiency and sustainability, and expand access physically and digitally. This competitive grant program prioritizes funding for library facilities in high poverty areas.
The Building Forward Grant Program has been the largest investment made by the state in California’s public libraries. For Round Two, approximately $175 million is available to fund capital projects for public library buildings that address critical maintenance needs, improve energy efficiency and sustainability, and expand access physically and digitally. This competitive grant program prioritizes funding for library facilities in high poverty areas. The maximum grant amount per library facility is $10 million. Projects funded by this grant must be completed according to California Building Standards Code and all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, and policies. If a library facility is leased, a commitment of at least 10 years following project completion is required. A dollar-for-dollar cash match is required. This requirement may be reduced based on the Local Operating Income Per Capita (LIPC) for the library facility. Applicants seeking a reduction in the required match will be required to submit a justification as part of the application. Round Two grant and local match funds must be fully expended by June 30, 2027. Note: Both the Grant Guidelines and the Grant Application for Round Two have changed significantly from Round One. It is strongly recommended that perspective applicants read the grant guidelines thoroughly before applying.
Timeline
Key dates
-
March 16, 2023
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
May 18, 2023
Applications close -
Fall 2023
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Public Agency
- Additional info on eligibility
- Applications may be submitted by cities, counties, or special library districts. Library-related nonprofit organizations are not eligible to apply. One application per facility will be accepted. Organizations seeking funding for multiple facilities must submit one application for each site. The maximum award per site is $10 million. Facilities that benefited from Round One funding are eligible for apply for funding for new projects in Round Two.
- Geography
- Cities, counties, and library districts throughout California. Funding will be prioritized for projects serving high poverty areas, as determined by the California Poverty Measure (CPM).
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- CA State Library
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
1-916-323-9843
BuildingForward@library.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- State
- Funding method
- Advance(s)
Government Grants Consulting
Federal, state, and local grant funding is highly competitive, and the gap between a complete application and a winning one usually comes down to strategy, compliance, and execution. GTC 360° Advisors supports organizations across the entire grant lifecycle — from identifying the right opportunities to managing the award long after it is won. The questions below cover how our grant consulting practice works and the organizations we serve.
What is government grant consulting, and how does GTC 360° Advisors help?
Government grant consulting means guiding an organization through the full grant lifecycle — research, eligibility review, strategy, writing, submission, and post-award compliance. GTC 360° Advisors manages this end to end, pairing grant writers, project managers, financial analysts, and compliance analysts to maximize the odds of an award and keep it in good standing afterward.What types of organizations can GTC 360° Advisors help win grants?
GTC 360° Advisors supports municipalities, state agencies, nonprofits, school districts, tribal governments, higher education institutions, and private companies pursuing grant funding. Clients have included the City of Los Angeles, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, Virginia Commonwealth University, and nonprofit partners such as the Walton Family Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners.What federal agencies has GTC 360° Advisors secured funding from?
GTC 360° Advisors has secured funding from agencies including the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Commerce (EDA and NIST), Education, and State, as well as FEMA, EPA, NSF, NIH, HRSA, SAMHSA, and the CDC. The firm has won over $860 million and counting in federal and state contracts and grants for its clients.Does GTC 360° Advisors handle state and local grants, or only federal?
GTC 360° Advisors pursues grant funding at the local, state, federal, and international levels. The firm’s advisor network is positioned in every state to help clients identify and compete for regional and state-level funding in addition to federal opportunities.What is GrantSignal AI, and how does it help find grant opportunities?
GrantSignal AI is GTC 360° Advisors’ AI-powered funding intelligence platform. It aggregates federal, foundation, and other public funding sources into a single dashboard, then uses AI to match opportunities to an organization’s mission, eligibility, and capacity — rather than relying on simple keyword search — and sends alerts as new, winnable opportunities appear.Does GTC 360° Advisors provide grant compliance and post-award management?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors manages grants through close-out, including compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Davis-Bacon labor standards, Section 3, environmental review requirements, and funder reporting obligations. The firm builds compliance systems and reporting frameworks so clients stay in good standing with federal and state grantors.What is GTC 360° Advisors’ track record on grant applications?
GTC 360° Advisors has historically maintained an 88%-plus win rate on the grant applications it has submitted, including a 100% win rate in 2024 across several highly competitive programs. Recent wins include $180 million in EDA Tech Hubs funding for three consortia and $20 million in EDA Recompete funding for the City of Birmingham, Alabama.Can nonprofits and higher education institutions work with GTC 360° Advisors on grants?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors regularly supports nonprofits and universities with grant strategy, writing, and administration, including current work with the Walton Family Foundation, Blue Meridian Partners, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Working With GTC 360° Advisors
Every engagement is scoped around the organization in front of us — its goals, its deadline, and the internal capacity it already has. Pricing, team assignments, and project milestones are agreed before any work begins, so there are no surprises mid-project. Below are the questions prospective clients and partners ask us most often.
How much does it cost to work with GTC 360° Advisors?
Pricing is customized to the scope, timeline, and budget of each engagement, with both hourly and fixed-fee options available depending on the deliverable. GTC 360° Advisors prices transparently, with no hidden fees for administrative or incidental work, and structures fees so clients gain a full team of senior professionals for less than the cost of a single in-house hire.What is the process for getting started with GTC 360° Advisors?
Engagements typically start with a conversation about your organization’s goals, funding needs, or growth targets, followed by a scoped proposal outlining services, team, and pricing. From there, GTC 360° Advisors assigns team members matched to the work and begins with research, strategy, or capture planning, depending on the engagement.How long does it take to see results from a grant or contract engagement?
Timelines vary by opportunity: some grant or contract cycles run a few months from research to submission, while others (large infrastructure or multi-year programs) take longer and continue through post-award management. GTC 360° Advisors sets clear project timelines and milestones at the start of every engagement so clients know what to expect.Does GTC 360° Advisors work with organizations outside the United States?
GTC 360° Advisors primarily supports U.S.-based government contracts, grants, and business development, but its public affairs and business development services extend internationally through its global partner network for clients running cross-border campaigns.Can I join the GTC 360° Advisors Network as a consultant or subject matter expert?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors welcomes applications from experienced firms and freelancers who align with its mission and values to join the GTC 360° Advisors Network, giving members access to mutual marketing, referrals, and new client opportunities.How do I contact GTC 360° Advisors to discuss a project?
You can reach GTC 360° Advisors at info@gtc360.com or through the contact form at gtc360.com/join-our-network. The firm typically responds to discuss goals, funding needs, or growth targets and outline next steps for an engagement.
Planning for the next cycle?
Tell us the opportunity and we will come back with an honest read on fit, the partners you would need, and what a compliant submission takes.