Community Air Grants
AB 617 seeks to ensure that all Californians benefit equitably from our State's air quality and climate efforts, especially those who live in the areas of California most severely impacted by air pollution.
Included in AB 617 is a provision for grants to community-based organizations for technical assistance and to support their efforts in this process. CARB has been charged with administering these grants.
In order to meet the intent of the Legislature, and in order to continue to build the capacity of California communities to participate in developing and implementing AB 617 programs, CARB created the Community Air Grants Program (Air Grants Program). The Air Grants Program aim is to provide support for community-based organizations to participate in the AB 617 process, and to build capacity to become active partners with government to identify, evaluate, and ultimately reduce air pollution and exposure to harmful emissions in their communities.
Examples of what Community Air Grants are being used to fund includes, but is not limited to:
- Community engagement and outreach related to AB 617
- Hiring consultants and/or technical experts
- Travel and logistical support for hosting and/or attending meetings related to AB 617 (i.e., room rental, meeting facilitation, transportation)
- Support for community operated air monitoring
- Data collection and analysis, including community based participatory research projects
2022 Community Air Grants Request for Applications
August 25, 2023 UPDATE: The Community Air Grants Program (Program) received a number of competitive applications, and the 2022 Community Air Grant (Cycle 4) applications are still under review. The Program has updated the grant process timeline and CARB now plans to announce grant award selection in October 2023. Grant terms are still expected to start in Fall 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Leah Asay, Grants Coordinator at airgrants@arb.ca.gov or at (916) 282-6250.
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CARB is also working to revise and update the 2018 Program Blueprint, the statewide strategy to reduce emissions of criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants in communities affected by a high cumulative exposure burden, with an updated five year strategy, also known as Blueprint 2.0. Per AB 617, the Blueprint must be updated every five years. Blueprint 2.0 consists of two parts. Part One is a strategic plan to grow the Program over the next five years. Part Two of BP 2.0 offers practical guidance for partners to actively engage in improving air quality at the local level.
CARB has updated the timeline for the Blueprint 2.0 revision to allow more time to incorporate comments that CARB staff have heard as part of the BP 2.0 revision public process. The CARB Governing Board will now consider for approval the final draft of the Blueprint 2.0 at the October 26, 2023 Board Hearing. The Board will also hear an informational update on staff’s efforts in working on updates to the Community Air Protection Incentives Guidelines (Guidelines) in parallel with the development of the Final Draft Blueprint 2.0. CARB staff will release and post on the CARB Community Air Protection website the Final Draft Blueprint 2.0 for public comment by September 26, 2023.
Email Updates
Keep up to date with the latest information regarding the California Community Air Protection Program.
