Clean Air Grants Infrastructure Program

The Clean Air Grants Infrastructure Program is administered by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, a local governmental agency responsible for protecting public health through air quality management and emissions reduction initiatives. The program is funded through a combination of state and local funding sources, including the California Air Resources Board Carl Moyer Program, Community Air Protection Program, FARMER Program, CHIRP Program, DMV surcharge revenue, and the District Clean Air Fund. The overarching purpose of the program is to accelerate the adoption of cleaner technologies by supporting infrastructure that enables low and zero emission equipment and vehicles. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to expand access to alternative fueling and charging infrastructure that serves a wide range of covered sources, including on road vehicles, off road equipment, agricultural machinery, marine vessels, and locomotives. Eligible infrastructure includes electric vehicle charging stations, hydrogen fueling stations, shore power installations, stationary agricultural pump electrification systems, and portable power solutions. Projects must be located within Santa Barbara County and must directly support the fueling or powering of eligible equipment types. The program emphasizes cost effective emissions reductions and prioritizes projects that provide broad public benefit. Funding is available on a competitive basis, with individual awards ranging from 10000 to 250000 dollars. Actual award amounts depend on eligible project costs and available funding. The District reimburses costs after project completion, requiring applicants to initially finance the full project cost. Funding may cover design, engineering, equipment, installation, permitting, and related expenses, while excluding operational costs, internal labor, and certain indirect expenses. Projects must be surplus to regulatory requirements, meaning they cannot be mandated by federal, state, or local laws. Eligibility for the program is broad, including public agencies, private organizations, nonprofit entities, and out of county applicants, provided that the project itself is located within Santa Barbara County. Applicants are limited to one infrastructure project per organization or tax entity. Projects must comply with all applicable regulations, including environmental, building, and accessibility standards. Additional requirements include use of new equipment, adherence to ADA standards, and compliance with specific technical requirements for each project type. The application process requires submission of a complete application package including detailed project descriptions, cost estimates, site plans, proof of site control, and supporting documentation such as vendor quotes and equipment specifications. Applications may be submitted in person, by mail, or via email to the District. Only complete applications are considered, and incomplete submissions are returned. The District evaluates applications based on criteria such as project location, public accessibility, and alignment with program priorities, with additional preference given to projects in disadvantaged communities and multi unit housing developments. The application window for this funding cycle opens on July 27 2026 and closes on September 4 2026. Applications submitted outside this period are not accepted. Following submission, the District reviews and ranks eligible projects, conducts pre inspections where applicable, and awards funding until available funds are exhausted. Funded projects must be completed within two years of contract execution and require ongoing reporting for the duration of the project life, typically three years. Contact for the program is provided through the District grants office, with inquiries directed to the program email address. Applicants are encouraged to ensure compliance with all program guidelines and to carefully prepare documentation to support eligibility and cost justification. The program is expected to recur annually as part of the broader Clean Air Grants initiative, subject to continued funding availability and regulatory guidance updates.

Prioritize projects in disadvantaged communities and ensure public accessibility to increase competitiveness; provide detailed cost breakdowns and ensure all documentation is complete to avoid disqualification