Closed
California state funding opportunity
Urban Greening 2026
CA Natural Resources Agency
- Portal ID171387
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
Urban Greening Grant Program funds projects that use nature-based solutions to mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts in urban areas.
The 2026 Urban Greening Grant Program will solicit Step 1 Concept Proposals (between May 4-June 4) and extend invitations to submit Step 2 Full Proposals in July 2026. Successful projects will green and cool communities and offer multiple benefits including sequestering carbon, limiting stormwater runoff, providing habitat and preserving biodiversity, protecting public health during extreme heat, increasing equity, and expanding economic and workforce opportunities. Funded projects are expected to advance the goals of the State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan and Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets. To be eligible for funding, Urban Greening projects must comply with all the following: • Be located in an urban area; • Provide public benefit; and • Provide public access At the time of full project proposal submission, applicants must either own the property or demonstrate landowner willingness to enter into future site control negotiations. Projects that proposing at least one of the following will be prioritized for funding: 1. Providing direct and meaningful benefits to vulnerable populations, disadvantaged communities, or severely disadvantaged communities, and meet these 4 criteria (A thru D): a) Create direct, tangible, and substantial benefits that would not have happened without the project. Meaningful benefits are not incidental, indirect, or speculative. b) Protect or enhance a community’s resources and quality of life by building climate resilience. This may include reducing risks to the community from climate hazards or protecting resources threatened by climate change (e.g. drinking water supply/quality, urban tree canopy, critical community infrastructure, etc.). c) Directly respond to a community’s expressed need or desired benefit, either through direct project input or as part of a larger planning or engagement effort. d) Avoid long-term degradation or reduction of any population’s resources (i.e., benefits provided to one community cannot burden another). 2. Using the services of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) or Certified Local Conservation Corps (LCCs) 3. Leverage private, federal, and local funding or produce the greatest public benefit This program intends to award funding to disadvantaged communities with a minimum of 40% of funds to projects providing meaningful and direct benefits to vulnerable populations, or disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged communities. For projects that affect tribal communities, applicants must show meaningful outreach and attempts to collaborate with local California Native American tribes throughout the planning, design, and implementation of their project.
Timeline
Key dates
-
May 4, 2026
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
June 4, 2026
Applications close -
December 2026
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Nonprofit
- Public Agency
- Additional info on eligibility
- • Public agencies • Local agencies • Nonprofit organizations • Special districts • Joint powers authorities • California Native American tribes • Public utilities • Local publicly owned utilities • Mutual water companies
- Geography
- Statewide. Priority will be given to projects that are in and serve disadvantaged communities. Projects must be located in an urban area. The minimum qualifying threshold for inclusion as an urban area is a geographic territory that contains at least 2,000 housing units or has a population of at least 5,000. To determine if your project is located within an urban area, refer to the 2020 California Urban Areas layer in California Census Map.
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- CA Natural Resources Agency
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
1-916-653-2812
urbangreening@resources.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- State
- Funding method
- Advances & Reimbursement(s)
- Notes
- On November 5, 2024, California voters passed Proposition 4 (the Climate Bond). The Climate Bond authorizes $10 billion to fund projects to address climate change, protect communities and nature from its impacts, and improve the lives of Californians. The Climate Bond directs funding to CNRA for competitive urban greening grants for projects that mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts.
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.