Closed
California state funding opportunity
Proposition 1 – Round 1 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Implementation Grant Program
Department of Water Resources
- Portal ID1089
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
The IRWM Grant Program is designed to encourage integrated regional strategies for water resource management in California by providing funding for projects and programs throughout the state including climate change adaptation, providing incentives for collaboration and setting priorities in water resource and infrastructure management, and improving regional water self-reliance while reducing reliance on Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Grant applications are submitted by an eligible IRWM Region representative (applicant) and an application may have multiple projects from Local Project Sponsors (LPS). To be part of the application and access grant funding through their relationship with the applicant, LPS must meet eligibility requirements specified in the 2019 IRWM Grant Program Guidelines. Projects must be included in an adopted IRWM Plan that is consistent with the 2016 IRWM plan standards. The State’s 48 IRWM regions cover almost 90% of the State’s area and 99% of its population. The applicant must demonstrate that the project is listed in the IRWM Plan project list. Each LPS of a project included in an IRWM Implementation proposal must adopt the IRWM Plan. Each individual agency proposing a project(s) must adopt the IRWM Plan. Regional Water Management Groups will not be allowed to adopt an IRWM Plan on behalf of their member agencies. Subject to regional priorities, projects may include, but are not limited to, the following: Water reuse and recycling; Water-use efficiency and water conservation; Local and regional surface and underground water storage, including groundwater aquifer cleanup or recharge projects; Regional water conveyance facilities that improve integration of separate water systems; Watershed protection, restoration, and management projects, including projects that reduce the risk of wildfire or improve water supply reliability; Stormwater resource and flood management; Conjunctive use of surface and groundwater storage facilities; Water desalination projects; Decision support tools to model regional water management strategies to account for climate change and other changes in regional demand and supply projections; Improvement of water quality, including drinking water, groundwater, wastewater treatment, water pollution prevention, and management of urban and agricultural runoff; Regional projects or programs as defined by the IRWM Planning Act (Water Code §10537). Proposition 1 authorized $510 million for DWR to award IRWM grants, with specified allocations to 12 Funding Areas in California. Of the $510 million, $25.5 million (5%) is designated for DWR’s grant administration costs, $15.3 million (3%) is designated for DWR’s planning and monitoring costs, and $10.2 million (2%) is designated for other State costs (issuance of bonds). Previously awarded funds include $4.2 million for IRWM Planning Grants and $51.7 million for DAC Involvement Grants. At least 10% of authorized funds ($51 million) will be reserved for projects that directly benefit Disadvantaged Communities, with the minimum 10% requirement applied to each Funding Area. DWR plans to administer multiple rounds of solicitations for Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation Grants. The Round 1 Implementation Grant solicitation will award approximately $212 million in grant funds. The Round 2 Proposal Solicitation process to award the remaining funds (approximately $191 million) is scheduled for late 2021.
Timeline
Key dates
-
April 22, 2019
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
December 20, 2019
Applications close -
July 15, 2020
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Nonprofit
- Public Agency
- Tribal Government
- Additional info on eligibility
- An eligible applicant will submit an application on behalf of a specific IRWM region(s). No more than one application will be accepted per IRWM region; however, application(s) may be submitted on behalf of multiple IRWM regions within a Funding Area.
- Geography
- Projects must be included in an adopted IRWM Plan that is consistent with the 2016 IRWM plan standards. The applicant must demonstrate that the project is listed in the IRWM Plan project list.
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- Department of Water Resources
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
1-916-653-0975
dwr_irwm@water.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- State
- Funding method
- Reimbursement(s)
- Notes
- This grant solicitation is Round 1 of a planned two rounds of funding. Approximately $403 million in grant funding is being made available for implementation projects with at least $51 million being made available for projects that provide benefits to Disadvantaged Communities. Specified allocations to 12 Funding Areas in California (Water Code §79744). Round 1 allocated $222 million. The remainder will be available in the summer of 2021.
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.