Closed
California state funding opportunity
Community Air Protection Program Cycle 5 Community Air Grant Request for Applications
Air Resources Board
- Portal ID80933
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
Community Air Grants (CAGs) build community capacity, improve air quality at the local scale, and support community participation in the Community Air Protection Program (Program), whose mission is to reduce harmful air pollution emissions and exposures to communities most impacted by poor air quality. CAGs provide a pathway to bring resources to communities with CARB’s commitment to diversity, racial equity, inclusion, and environmental justice.
CAGs will promote and support a diverse range of effective community based and community driven solutions, which can serve as models and be expanded upon to benefit impacted communities throughout the state through achieving equitable participation and the demonstration of local partnership building and coordination, resource leveraging, in-kind support, or other forms of collaboration; fostering workforce training and development (e.g., job creation and/or job training); advancing equity and environmental justice within the context of California’s air quality policies; promoting transferability of emissions reduction strategies contained in CARB-approved Community Emission Reduction Programs (CERPs); building community capacity to engage more equitably in the CAPP and brings together partners to develop and implement Local Community Emission Reduction Plans (L-CERPs); and providing benefits to communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution identified as disadvantaged communities by CalEnviroScreen 4.0 or SB 535. Project activity examples that are eligible include, but are not limited to identification and assistance of community stakeholders and/or Tribal governments to participate in CAP Program and air quality governmental decision-making processes; collaboration with academia, air districts or other local city/county government entities to collect data in communities affected by air quality impacts and exposure to pollution; providing technical tools, information, or protocols to improve community and/or tribal government knowledge and understanding of issues related to air pollution and hazards; partnering with affected residents and stakeholders to identify community air quality priorities and strategies to address them. For more examples, see the Cycle 5 Request for Applications. CAG projects may be either an educational, technical, or focused project type:Educational projects (maximum award $300,000) are similar to community capacity building projects that strengthen local community leadership, skills, expertise, and resources so communities can work to address their air quality concerns and issues to reduce air toxic emissions and exposures. This work uplifts community knowledge, skills, develops partnerships, and supports community planning for air quality emission and exposure reduction projects. Technical projects (maximum award $500,000) are similar to small scale community air monitoring plans intended to generate data that will support action to reduce emissions and exposure. These projects can augment other community-led and government-led air monitoring programs to enhance community understanding of pollution impacts within communities and collect data to support taking actions to reduce emissions. Focused projects (maximum award $500,000) design elements are similar in the development of CERPs in selected communities which include convening, building partnerships, and governance; facilitating shared learning to build capacity and raises awareness about air quality; prioritizing air quality concerns and strategies; planning; and effective implementation and evaluation.
Timeline
Key dates
-
October 17, 2024
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
November 1, 2024
Applications close -
June 2025
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Individual
- Nonprofit
- Tribal Government
- Additional info on eligibility
- Eligible Applicants California non-profit with current IRS section 501(c)(3) tax exemption California current IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempted non-profit as the Grantee, in partnership with a California community-based organization without Section 501(c)(3) status as a sub-grantee California Native American Tribe. This includes all Federally Recognized Tribes, and other California Native American Tribes, as defined by Governor’s Executive Order B-10-11.
- Geography
- Projects must be wholly located in and benefit disadvantaged and/or low-income communities, as identified pursuant to California Health and Safety Code sections 39711 and 39713 (added and amended by Senate Bill 535 and AB 1550), or on Tribal lands. Specific project census tract location(s) must be included in the application narrative. CARB’s priority population investments mapping tool may be utilized for location identification purposes.
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- Air Resources Board
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
Leah Asay
1-916-282-6250
Airgrants@arb.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- State
- Funding method
- Advances & Reimbursement(s)
- Notes
- In response to Assembly Bill (AB) 617 (C. Garcia, Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017), CARB established the Community Air Protection Program. Included in AB 617 is a provision for technical assistance grants to community-based organizations to support community participation in the Program. CARB administers these grants. Grants are funded through the State’s portion of Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF).
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.