Rubberized Pavement Grant Program

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) administers the Rubberized Pavement Grant Program under Public Resources Code sections 42872, 42872.1, and 42873. This program aims to divert California-generated waste tires from landfills, prevent illegal dumping, and promote markets for recycled-content tire products. It specifically supports the use of Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC) Hot-Mix and Rubberized Chip Seal in roadways, Class 1 bikeways, greenways, and disability access projects at parks. The program is designed to encourage first-time or limited users of rubberized pavement and requires that only California-processed crumb rubber be used. Projects must be owned and maintained by the applicant, located in California, and accessible to the public. For FY 2025–26 (Cycle 18, TRP18), CalRecycle has allocated $6,571,315 in total funding. Individual applicants may request up to $375,000, regional applications up to $525,000, and qualifying tribal entities up to $750,000. Funding levels are determined by the type of project, geographic tier, and applicant’s history of previous CalRecycle pavement grants. RAC Hot-Mix projects are funded at variable rates per ton based on county tier and prior grant count, while Chip Seal projects are funded at flat per-square-yard rates, with higher rates for tribal applicants. Eligible costs must be incurred during the grant term, which begins on the issuance of the Notice to Proceed and ends April 1, 2028. Construction must begin after the Notice to Proceed and finish by the grant term end date. Eligible applicants include California local governments (cities, counties, cities and counties), other local governmental agencies such as regional park and special districts, Joint Powers Authorities where all members are eligible, qualifying tribal entities, and certain state agencies. State agencies are restricted to Class 1 bikeways, greenways, and disability access projects. Applicants that have received eight previous hot-mix or chip seal grants may be ineligible for that specific project type. Regional applications allow multiple jurisdictions to combine efforts, with a lead participant responsible for administration and compliance. All applicants must have an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices Policy in place by the secondary due date and must certify tire maintenance best practices for their vehicle and equipment fleets. The application process is managed through CalRecycle’s Grants Management System (GMS). Applications open with the release of the Notice of Funds Available and must be submitted by September 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Customer service support for submissions ends at 4:00 p.m. that day. Required authorization documents and the EPPP policy are due by October 21, 2025, if not included in the initial application. Awards are tentatively scheduled for December 2025. Questions about the program may be submitted by email to tiregrants@calrecycle.ca.gov until August 21, 2025. Responses will be posted online by August 28, 2025. Applicants must provide a detailed Project Summary and Calculation sheet in the required Excel format, specifying RAC tonnage and/or chip seal area, project types, and jurisdictions involved. The reimbursement amount will be calculated using published rates based on project category and applicant tier. CalRecycle prioritizes funding for greenway projects in communities with median household incomes less than 80% of the statewide median, tribal entities, first-time grantees, and regional applications. Additional ranking inducements are available for entities adopting policies that further CalRecycle and environmental goals, such as using RAC or Tire-Derived Aggregate as default materials or implementing retread tire policies. The grant agreement includes terms and conditions, procedures and requirements, reporting obligations, and payment processes. CalRecycle will retain 10% of each payment until final reporting is approved. Final reports and payment requests are due no later than April 1, 2028. Contact for program-specific inquiries is tiregrants@calrecycle.ca.gov, and technical assistance for GMS access can be requested via grantassistance@calrecycle.ca.gov or (916) 341-6809.