On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) hosted a workshop discussing updated guidelines and timelines for Cycle 2 of the Clean California Local Grant Program for local communities to beautify and improve local streets and roads, parks, pathways, tribal lands, and transit centers. Applications for grants of up to $5 million each in Cycle 2 of the program are due in April 2023.
The goals of the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) are to reduce the amount of waste and debris within public rights-of-ways and other public spaces; enhance, restore, rehabilitate, or install measures to beautify and improve public spaces; enhance public health, community placemaking, and cultural connection by improving public spaces; and advance equity.
Legislative and Budgetary Background
The 2022-23 State Budget package included nearly $1.1 billion over a three-year period for the Clean California Initiative. Of this total spending package, $296 million over two of those years has been included for this new competitive program – Clean California Local Grant Program – to be administered by Caltrans to support local litter abatement and beautification projects. According to Caltrans’ Clean California Local Grant Program Guideline, all projects for Cycle 1 must be completed and all funds expended by June 30, 2024.
In its first cycle (Cycle 1), Caltrans asked for projects in December 2021. In Cycle 1, a little over 100 projects were rewarded with funds for projects they had applied for out of 329 applicants. Each grant award cannot exceed $5 million with no minimum award and there is no limitation to the amount of applications each eligible applicant can apply for. Eligible applicants include a local or regional public agency (special districts included), transit agency, or a federally recognized tribal government.
Cycle 2 of CCLGP
Caltrans began working on Cycle 2 of the CCLGP in the winter of 2022 and held its first workshop on program guide updates on November 3, 2022. The first workshop was recorded and the presentation can be watched here in conjunction with the slideshow Caltrans had presented with. The Budget for Cycle 1 was approximately $100 million in available grant funding with most projects being awarded $3 million or less. Still, each applicable project can have a maximum of $5 million and entities are not limited to one application.
During the second Cycle 2 workshop conducted December 13, 2022, Caltrans provided updates on participant engagement, a recap of workshop #1, and changes made to the guidelines based on stakeholder engagement and updates to guidelines for new topics.
With respect to key changes to the guidelines based on stakeholder engagement, the area median income data has been updated along with more flexibility on how “surrounding the project site” is defined. The current proposal states that the census tracts must be located within a half mile of the perimeter of the project site.
Project Application and Award Process for Cycle 2
The application packet for each eligible entity is submitted online through Smartsheets. Roughly 81 percent of Workshop #2 participatnts were unfamiliar with Smartsheets, however, it is not necessary to have a license with Smartsheets to apply and application materials must be submitted online through the program. Additionally, updated application instructions and resources can be found on the CCLGP website. Applications are due April 2023, however, no specific date in April has been provided at this time.
Each application package is reviewed by multi-disciplinary teams and scored using a standard scoring methodology and rubric. Scored applications with be compiled with projects receiving the highest score being submitted to the Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency for concurrence. Awarded projects will be announced in August and September 2023 via the CCLGP website and email and will begin the restricted grant agreement. A copy of the grant will be on the website and the grant agreement process takes approximately six months to execute.
For payments to process, primary use of an item must meet program goals and be consistent with grant scope and budget. Indirect cost rates must be approved by Caltrans. If indirect cost rates are not approved, the eligible applicant can submit an application to Caltrans’ Internal Auditor’s Office and the approval letter must be included in the executed grant agreement project.
Note that competitive procurement procedures must be used for sub-contracts and that a grant recipient is/would be fully responsible for all and any work performed by its sub-recipients, consultants, and sub-consultants.
Timeline Moving Forward
Caltrans announced that there will be three workshops on how to complete an application held January through March 2023 following a call for projects in January. As stated, applications are due April 2023 and the project completion date is June 2026.
The recorded meeting and presentation of Workshop #2 will be posted on the CCLGP website this week and the CCLGP team will continue finalizing guidelines and develop additional FAQs and application instructions. Should you have questions, you can email the CCLGP team at CleanCA.LocalGrant@dot.ca.gov.
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