California grants for County governments

The Tobacco Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Attorney General, California Department of Justice, aims to foster a healthier California by curtailing illegal cigarette and tobacco sales and marketing to minors. This highly competitive program, enabled by Proposition 56, allocates funds to applicants with robust enforcement capabilities. Funded agencies will focus on enforcing tobacco-related laws, conducting retailer and online inspections, and enhancing local coordination and education efforts.

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund demonstrations of community-based virtual power plant (VPP) approaches and demonstrations of innovative energy management systems (EMS) in commercial buildings with the goal of increasing demand flexibility. Demand flexibility refers to comprehensive programs and strategies that align electricity consumption with dynamic grid conditions. These can include both event-based demand response (DR) and load shifting strategies. Accelerating demand flexibility is a key strategy for California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the state’s climate and clean energy goals reliably and affordably.    VPPs are portfolios of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as smart thermostats, rooftop solar photovoltaics, electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and smart water heaters that are actively controlled by software to benefit the power system, consumers, and the environment. While these resources have the potential to meet grid needs as reliably as conventional alternatives such as gas-fired generators, their advantages extend further, offering greater affordability and substantial decarbonization benefits.[3] However, research and development of both technologies and business models is needed to fully capitalize on and understand VPPs’ potential, especially the systems that feature predictive controls and require minimal consumer engagement. The examples of predictive controls relevant to this research include, but are not limited to, the use of artificial intelligence or model predictive controls for EV load shifting or building pre-cooling applications.   Projects will be funded in two groups. Group 1: Virtual Power Plants: Demonstrations that showcase community-based demand flexibility programs as a long-term (10 or more years) grid resource. Project teams must partner with local governments or non-profits to facilitate customer participation and smart device installations. Projects must evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of community-based VPP approaches that use state-of-the-art DER management software (DERMS).   ·       Group 2: Commercial Building Energy Management in Low-Income or Disadvantaged Communities: Demonstrations of innovative EMS in commercial buildings focused on specific characteristics such as interoperability and adherence to open-source standards. Demonstrations require participation in electric investor-owned utility (IOU) or third-party DR programs and partnerships with device and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). These projects must showcase the latest advancements in energy management in the commercial sector and ensure technology adaptability, efficiency, and collaboration within the broader energy landscape.       

This funding furthers the purposes of the Conservancy’s mission, enabling legislation Public Resources Code, Division 22.9, Sections 32630 et al. (“the San Diego River Conservancy Act”), the Conservancy’s Strategic Plan Update 2018-2023, and other state approved priorities and plans.

This funding opportunity is designed to assist local governments and organizations in California with urgent tasks related to the conservation and management of natural habitats for wildlife and plant species.

The Aaron Judge ALL RISE Foundation is accepting applications for its Mini-Grant Program, offering $2,500 grants to organizations in Bronx County, NY, Fresno County, CA, and San Joaquin County, CA, that support youth leadership, citizenship, health, school activities, and community involvement.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is a multi-component grant program designed to innovate, implement, and evaluate new approaches for optimizing the One Health laboratory diagnostic network and specimen transport in Liberia. The core mission of this program aligns with strengthening public health infrastructure by addressing the critical inter-dependencies necessary for a functional diagnostic system. While the specific foundation mission is not stated, the focus on 'One Health'—the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals, and our environment—indicates an alignment with organizations committed to integrated health security and capacity building in resource-limited settings. The target beneficiaries of this program are the public health systems, laboratory personnel, and ultimately the human, animal, and environmental populations served by the Liberian national and sub-national laboratory network. The primary impact goal is to create a comprehensive, resource-mapped, and accredited diagnostic network that is sustainable and efficient. This focus on optimization is crucial for improving disease surveillance, detection, and response capabilities across the country, mitigating health risks that span human and animal populations. The program prioritizes three interconnected areas. First is the establishment of a comprehensive, resource-mapped, and accredited national and sub-national laboratory network, ensuring standardized quality and coverage. Second is the optimization of the physical transportation architecture required to transfer network commodities, specifically human, animal, and environmental specimens, reliably point-to-point. The third priority involves the optimization of digital communication, information, and supply chain systems. These systems are essential for sustaining the network by ensuring laboratories have necessary supplies, information is shared efficiently, and communication is streamlined. Expected outcomes include the establishment of a fully functional, accredited, and resilient One Health diagnostic network in Liberia. Measurable results would involve metrics such as the number of accredited laboratories, the efficiency and reliability of specimen transport logistics (e.g., turnaround time reduction), the successful integration of digital information systems, and the demonstrated sustainability of the network components. The overarching theory of change, implied by the program's design, is that by simultaneously strengthening the physical network, the transport infrastructure, and the digital support systems, Liberia will achieve a robust and integrated One Health diagnostic capability capable of effectively managing current and emerging health threats.

CAL FIRE's Wood Products and Bioenergy team seeks to maintain and enhance the wood products infrastructure of California to promote healthy resilient forests throughout the state by supporting a diverse set of business development and workforce development projects.  ; Eligible business development projects include facilities, operations, and professional services that support the restoration of healthy, resilient forests.   Eligible workforce development projects include universities, colleges, government and community organizations, and businesses that aim to increase workforce capacity in the fields of logging, fuels treatment, transportation, manufacturing, or other support services that bolster the development of a resilient forest sector workforce.   Research and development projects related to both business and workforce development will also be considered. Check out the Wood Products website and subscribe for updates.     

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that develop fast public electric vehicle charging stations in California, particularly benefiting underserved communities and promoting clean transportation.

Draft program proposals are available on the program website.  This will be updated once final criteria are adopted.

The LA County Department of Arts and Culture is offering a two-year Organizational Grant Program for Los Angeles County nonprofit arts organizations to fund projects that increase accessibility, sustainability, and capacity in arts programming, with eligibility criteria including tax-exempt status, a primary mission in arts programming, and a minimum of two years of programming history in the county.

The Multipurpose Drainage Management grant program, offered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), aims to provide financial assistance for projects and practices that control water volume and rates. This program aligns with the broader mission of protecting infrastructure, improving water quality, and delivering related public benefits, while also mitigating climate change impacts. It serves as a competitive grant opportunity, with $900,000 available in FY24, to support multipurpose drainage management activities. The program's core objective is to reduce critical pollution in source areas, thereby decreasing erosion and sedimentation, lessening peak flows and flooding, and enhancing water quality. Simultaneously, it seeks to preserve drainage system efficiency and lower maintenance requirements for priority Chapter 103E drainage systems. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are Chapter 103E drainage authorities, including County, Joint County Boards, or Watershed Districts, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). The program strongly encourages partnerships between these entities to apply for and utilize the grant funds effectively. Local governments, such as counties, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, and SWCDs, are also eligible if they are operating under current State-approved and locally adopted water management plans. Municipalities can qualify if they have an approved water plan or adopted a comprehensive watershed management plan. Counties in the seven-county metropolitan area are eligible if they have adopted a county groundwater plan or a county comprehensive plan approved by the Metropolitan Council. The impact goals are centered on comprehensive water resource management, aiming for widespread environmental and infrastructural improvements across Minnesota. The grant program prioritizes a range of activities, including structural and non-structural practices and projects, project support, and grant management and reporting. Technical and engineering assistance is considered an essential component of eligible activities, to be factored into the total project or practice cost. The focus is explicitly on multipurpose drainage management practices that target specific pollution sources. By doing so, the program aims to address multiple environmental challenges simultaneously, such as reducing the physical degradation of land through erosion, preventing widespread water damage from flooding, and improving the overall ecological health of water bodies. This integrated approach ensures that interventions are holistic and yield compounded benefits. Expected outcomes from the funded projects include a measurable reduction in erosion and sedimentation, which will contribute to clearer waterways and healthier aquatic ecosystems. A decrease in peak flows and flooding is anticipated, leading to enhanced protection for infrastructure and agricultural lands, thereby reducing economic losses associated with water damage. Critically, the program expects a tangible improvement in water quality, which has direct public health and environmental benefits. Furthermore, by improving drainage system efficiency and reducing maintenance needs for Chapter 103E drainage systems, the program aims to create more sustainable and cost-effective water management solutions for the long term. These measurable results collectively support the strategic priorities of BWSR in fostering responsible water stewardship and resilience against climate change impacts.

Hydrogen can serve as a zero-carbon energy carrier and act as a potential replacement for fossil fuels in hard-to-electrify applications, particularly for the transportation, industrial, and electricity generation sectors. For the purposes of this solicitation, clean hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced from water using eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Public Utilities Code 399.12, or produced from these eligible renewable energy resources. To achieve sustainable wide-scale deployment, hydrogen must be produced cleanly at increased scale and reduced cost. This solicitation aims to reduce the cost burden of clean hydrogen production through large-scale, centralized production coupled with storage, delivery, and pre-determined offtakers to support a comprehensive hydrogen value chain. Expected outcomes include the development and deployment of low-carbon, cost-competitive hydrogen production from renewable energy sources and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in hard-to-electrify sectors.   The 2022 California Air Resources Board (CARB) Scoping Plan estimates that by 2045, demand for low-carbon hydrogen increases nearly two-fold the current levels of fossil hydrogen – or a 1,700-fold increase in existing low-carbon hydrogen supply – especially to support emerging end uses such as heavy-duty vehicles, power generation, industrial process heat, and synthetic fuels for aviation. Hydrogen produced from water using renewable energy resources or produced directly from renewable energy resources can provide low-carbon energy and act as an alternative to fossil gas, helping meet California's GHG reduction goals of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2045.     

The program prioritizes Projects that benefit vulnerable and LMI populations as well as those located inside the Most Impacted and Distressed area (MID) or documented to impact the MID. Per the grant requirements program funds must benefit the MID and 50 percent of the program funds are required to benefit LMI persons. Additionally, for CDBG-MIT funds to be used as the non-federal cost share local match, the Project must be a HUD eligible activity and must meet a HUD national objective, per CDBG-MIT rules and regulations. Similarly, the Project must fully comply with all applicable federal rules and regulations, to include Davis Bacon and related acts, Section 3, Section 504, procurement, environmental review, and all other CDBG-MIT, cross-cutting, state and local applicable statutes, rules, and regulations. Jurisdictions within the MID that do not meet the allocation requirements are still eligible to submit Projects towards a 20 percent set aside. Applicants will then be required to submit Project applications which will be reviewed against eligibility thresholds to ensure they meet program requirements. The following Jurisdictions will be eligible to apply towards the 20 percent set aside:o City of Agoura Hillso City of Andersono City of Calabasaso City of Chicoo City of Gridleyo City of Lakeporto City of Los Angeleso City of Orovilleo City of Shasta Lakeo City of Westlake Villageo Tribal Entities located within the MID  

Arts Integration Training projects should be designed to pave a pathway for increased equitable student learning in, through, and about the arts. This may be realized in a specific classroom, in all classrooms across a school site, or as a central strategy for a district or countywide arts plan. The project must be planned and implemented with collaboration between a nonprofit arts organization, teaching artists, and the educational entity, with fullcommitment from all participants.

The United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program was originally created by the Federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and expanded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). New funding wBIL as allocated to the program in 2021 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) with the broad goals to reduce carbon emissions and energy use, improve energy efficiency, and increase community investment and local workforce development. IIJA funding made available in 2021 under the EECBG (2021 EECBG) allocated funds directly to state and certain local jurisdictions that met program criteria, with approximately $4.5 million allocated to the State. Of the funds allocated to the State, $4,070,070 are available for the LGBDC.

The Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act (Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 129675) requires that hospitals be constructed to remain open and safely provide services to the public after an earthquake. The Small and Rural Hospital Relief Program will administer this new grant program to eligible small, rural, or Critical Access hospitals that have limited funds for seismic safety retrofit requirements. Ten percent of the funds from the California Electronic Cigarette Excise Tax will be allocated to HCAI to fund the new program (HSC Section 130075). The SRHRP supports qualified small, rural and Critical Access hospitals by providing state grant funding and technical assistance to help meet seismic safety standards and preserve access to general acute care for the communities they serve. The program is being developed to assist qualified facilities with technical assistance for development of seismic improvement program planning, project planning and development, and financial grants to apply towards implementing each facility’s unique compliance program. The first step in qualifying for the program will be the application process, which will be used to determine if facilities meet the qualifications as either a small, rural or Critical Access hospital at risk of closure for financial reasons. Program applicants will be required to have current seismic compliance plans and agreed-upon project delivery plans on file with HCAI’s Seismic Compliance Unit prior to acceptance of funding package applications. A process will be employed to optimize use of available funds across all program participants based on need and adherence to approved project schedules.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for conservation projects aimed at protecting and recovering endangered and threatened species across the United States, targeting eligible applicants such as state and local governments, educational institutions, tribal organizations, and nonprofits.

This grant cycle has been designed for smaller projects that complement existing and/or regional HHW programs in California. Grant applications must include one or more of the following types of projects: HHW public education and outreach for general audiences (may include extended producer responsibility [EPR] information).Implementation of sustainable EPR collection opportunities, to include but not limited to: (1) Promotion of an ongoing retail take-back program such as batteries or fluorescent lamps at local hardware stores, businesses, or government facilities.(2) Promotional collection events hosted at businesses or government facilities.(3) Promotional public education and outreach materials specifically for local retail take-back programs. (4) Project to: Determine and implement the most safe and cost effective methods for collecting propane gas cylinders and/or marine flares.Implement effective education programs and identify effective incentives that reduce the disposal of household hazardous waste. The incentives must be something reusable to replace HHW being disposed (does not include monetary or SWAG incentives, rechargeable batteries, adapters, valves, caps or other accessories for refilling propane canisters).(5) Set-up and operation of temporary or mobile collection program for one-day or multi-day collection events for the following except for those materials that are currently covered by another recycling/collection program (e.g. covered electronic waste, cell phones, thermostat, etc.): Common HHW materials and universal waste.Marine flaresPropane gas cylinders up to 5 gallonsSolar panels as a pilot project. Awardees are required to collect and report data on type/style of panels, manufacturer, volume, and the method of disposal.(6) New or expanded curbside and/or door-to-door collection programs to allow for the collection of new and eligible HHW materials. (7) Minor improvements to an existing HHW facility. (Examples include but are not limited to: storage bins, signage, painting, paving, shelving, etc.). Purchase of personal protection equipment. (8) 8-hour refresher Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standards (HAZWOPER) training. Projects that do not fall within one of these eight categories will not be eligible for grant funding. A Resolution is required by the secondary due date.  

This funding opportunity provides financial support to public defender offices and qualified entities in California to expand holistic defense services that address clients' legal and social needs, ultimately improving outcomes in the criminal justice system.

This funding provides financial support to social service organizations in Carlsbad to improve housing and services for low-income residents and those with special needs.