Community Planning and Capacity Building
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About
What Does it Fund?
Community-led planning and capacity-building activities that advance transportation equity and support a community’s vision—such as clean mobility planning, transportation needs assessments, outreach, workforce development, and other early-stage efforts that prepare communities for implementation.
Current Incentive Amounts
Solicitation | Grant Amounts | Number of Grants Awardees | Total Funds Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
FY 2022-23 Request for Applications | Up to $500,000 | 7 | $3.3 million |
FY 2023-24 – Request for Applications | Up to $500,000 | 15+ (TBD) | Up to $7.3 million |
Community Planning and Capacity Building (Planning) grants provide up to $500,000 per project. Applicants are encouraged to request only the amount needed to effectively support their community’s planning and capacity goals.
Who is Eligible
Local governments, community-based organizations, public schools, or tribal governments may apply as lead applicants. Sub-applicants can include project partners who are subcontracted for specific purposes and/or services. Sub-applicants may include, but are not limited to, organizations that provide community outreach services and technical expertise/assistance. Sub-applicants may be public agencies, private companies, tribal governments, or non-profit organizations.
Each application must include partnerships between a Lead Applicant, Sub-applicants, and Community Partners with different skillsets and expertise and that work together to implement the different project components and represent the Project Community. More than 50 percent of the geographic area of the Project Community must be within low-income or disadvantaged community census tracts as shown in the California Climate Investments Priority Populations 2022 CES 4.0.
How it’s Administered
Community Planning and Capacity Building is administered through a partnership between CARB and the Statewide Planning and Capacity Building Project Administrator, Data for Social Good, along with their partners, the Institute for Sustainable Communities and Momentum. The Administrator team supports implementation of projects selected through CARB's competitive Request for Application Process, including providing technical assistance and coordination to community-based projects.
Where and When it’s Offered
Community Planning and Capacity Building grants are provided through a competitive solicitation process (or Request for Applications). The frequency and timing of solicitations for future fiscal year funds is subject to funding availability and the annual Funding Plan process. The most recent Request for Applications for Fiscal Year 2023-24 opened on December 2, 2025, and closed on February 10, 2026.
Project Funding or Participation Requirements
Applicants must submit a complete application in response to a competitive Request for Applications (RFA) and meet all eligibility requirements outlined in the RFA. Key requirements include:
- Maximum funding request of $500,000 per project;
- More than 50% of the Project Community must be in disadvantaged or low-income community census tracts;
- Lead Applicants must meet eligibility criteria and include required partnerships based on the Lead type (e.g., community-based organization, local government, or Tribal government and partnerships must include at least one Community Partner; and,
- The application must meet the funding and timeline requirements dictated in the Request for Applications