Community Air Protection Support Grants

The Community Air Protection Support Grants are administered by the Butte County Air Quality Management District, a local government agency responsible for monitoring and improving air quality within Butte County, California. This funding opportunity is part of the broader Community Air Protection Program established under Assembly Bill 617, which was enacted in 2017 to address air pollution in communities that are disproportionately affected by poor air quality. The program operates in coordination with the California Air Resources Board and is supported through California Climate Investments, which utilizes Cap and Trade funds to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health outcomes. The primary purpose of the CAP Support Grants is to fund small scale, community focused projects that contribute to measurable improvements in air quality or reductions in public exposure to harmful pollutants. Eligible projects must align with one or more of the program goals, including reducing emissions of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, toxic air contaminants, or greenhouse gases, or reducing exposure to such pollutants through monitoring, outreach, or mitigation efforts. The program is designed to support localized initiatives that provide direct benefits to residents within Butte County. Funding for this opportunity is limited, with a total program allocation of sixty thousand dollars for the 2026 cycle. Individual projects may request funding up to ten thousand dollars. All awarded funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis, meaning that recipients must incur and document eligible expenses before receiving payment. Projects must receive formal written approval from the District prior to initiating any work, and retroactive costs are not eligible for reimbursement. Additionally, projects must be completed within a defined performance window, with all funding required to be expended by June 1, 2028. Eligibility for the program is broad and inclusive, encompassing organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and public agencies located within Butte County. Applicants must ensure that their proposed project is voluntary and not required by any regulatory mandate. They must also disclose any additional funding sources and agree to comply with public transparency requirements, including potential disclosure under the Public Records Act. Projects that serve sensitive populations, including disadvantaged or low income communities, are given priority consideration during the evaluation process. The application process requires submission of a general application form along with detailed project information. Applicants must provide a project name, location, overview, and clearly defined goals. They must also include quantitative or qualitative descriptions of expected emission reductions and exposure mitigation outcomes. Additional required components include a project timeline, estimated total costs, and the amount of funding requested. The District evaluates applications and may request additional information before making funding decisions. Applications for the 2026 cycle open on July 13, 2026 and must be submitted by August 14, 2026. The District reviews submissions after the deadline and selects projects based on alignment with program goals and community impact. While no explicit award notification date is provided, applicants can expect communication following the review period. The program does not specify recurrence formally, but references to ongoing and future funding opportunities suggest that similar grant cycles may be offered in subsequent years. Applicants and community members may direct questions or provide input to the program contact, Jason Mandly, Senior Air Quality Planner, via email or phone. The District also encourages ongoing engagement from the community to identify future project opportunities that support the goals of AB 617. Overall, the CAP Support Grants represent a targeted local funding mechanism to advance environmental health and equity through community driven air quality improvements.

Prioritize projects benefiting disadvantaged or low income communities and clearly quantify emission or exposure reductions