Transformative Climate Communities - Implementation Grant

The Transformative Climate Communities Program Implementation Grant is administered by the California Strategic Growth Council in partnership with the California Department of Conservation. The program is designed to support community-led initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while delivering measurable environmental, economic, and public health benefits. Funded through the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, the program prioritizes California’s most disadvantaged communities and promotes equitable, place-based climate solutions. Implementation Grants represent the most comprehensive funding track within the program, supporting large-scale, neighborhood-level transformation efforts. These grants fund integrated portfolios of projects that must collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve community conditions. Eligible activities include infrastructure investments such as affordable housing, transit improvements, urban greening, renewable energy systems, and community resilience centers, as well as social programs like workforce development, transit subsidies, and food distribution. All funded projects must align with a unified community vision and demonstrate coordination across multiple strategies. Applicants may request up to $27.5 million in funding, with flexibility to request smaller amounts depending on project scope and community capacity. The total program funding for Round 6 is approximately $98.8 million. The grant term spans six years and includes four phases: a pre-development phase of up to nine months, a short administrative transition period, a four-year implementation phase, and a one-year evaluation phase. During the pre-development phase, applicants must finalize project details, budgets, and compliance requirements before accessing full implementation funding. Eligibility requirements are extensive and require strong partnerships and demonstrated capacity. Lead applicants must be California-based entities such as public agencies, nonprofit organizations, tribes, utilities, or special districts. Applications must include at least two co-applicants and form a collaborative governance structure that includes community residents. Projects must be located within a defined project area where at least 51 percent of the population qualifies as disadvantaged based on state criteria. Applicants must also demonstrate robust prior community engagement and readiness to implement complex, multi-sector initiatives. Implementation Grant applications must incorporate six required Transformative Elements: community engagement, displacement avoidance, workforce development and economic opportunities, climate adaptation and resilience, leverage funding, and grant evaluation. These elements ensure that projects deliver long-term benefits and are responsive to community needs. Most applicants must secure leverage funding equal to 25 to 50 percent of the requested grant amount, though tribal applicants are exempt from this requirement. The application process for Round 6 follows a structured timeline. Applications officially opened on May 29, 2026, following the release of the Notice of Funding Availability. Implementation-specific pre-proposals are due June 30, 2026, with an earlier deadline of June 15, 2026 for certain innovation proposals. Final applications are due September 30, 2026. Applications are reviewed during Winter 2026–2027, and awards are expected to be approved in Spring 2027. Applications are submitted through an online system and require detailed documentation including project plans, governance agreements, and evidence of community engagement. Overall, the Implementation Grant is a highly competitive and resource-intensive funding opportunity designed to catalyze long-term, community-driven climate transformation. By requiring integrated planning, strong partnerships, and measurable outcomes, the program aims to create lasting improvements in environmental quality, economic opportunity, and public health in California’s most vulnerable communities.

Prioritize strong community engagement, integrated multi-project strategies, and readiness for implementation; ensure alignment with all six Transformative Elements and secure leverage funding early