California Air Resources Board

Current Incentive Amounts*

CARB does not set minimum or maximum grant amounts for STEP.

*No new incentives are currently available.

Who is Eligible

Each STEP application must include partnerships between a lead applicant, at least one sub-applicant, and community partners with different skillsets and expertise. If awarded, the lead grantee, sub-grantees, and community partners work together to implement the various project components and include the project community residents in decision-making throughout the grant term. The project community is the geographic area that will be the focus of the project benefits. More than 50% 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 2024 CES 4.0.

The partnership structure must include at least one community-based organization and one local or tribal government. Local governments, community-based organizations, or tribal governments can apply as lead applicants. Sub-applicants may be public agencies, private companies, tribal governments, or non-profit organizations who are sub-contracted for specific purposes and/or services, such as clean transportation services, infrastructure equipment and installation, community outreach, and technical assistance. Community partners serve as key stakeholders and representatives of the project community and contribute to the development of the proposed projects and continue to participate in decision-making throughout project implementation, while not directly implementing components of the project.

How STEP is Administered

CARB directly administers STEP. This means a CARB liaison works with each STEP grantee team to implement their project. Grant administration includes activities like providing guidance on program requirements, tracking progress via quarterly status reports and data reporting, and supporting grantees in navigating CARB's disbursement request system.

Where and When STEP Grants are Offered

STEP grants are awarded through a competitive solicitation process. The frequency and timing of solicitations for future fiscal year funds is subject to availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature and the annual Funding Plan process. The most recent Request for Applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Planning and Capacity Building (Planning), Clean Mobility in Schools (CMIS), and STEP funds closed on November 4, 2023. CARB awarded grants with FY 2022-23 and 2023-24 funds as part of the same Request for Applications.

Project Funding or Participation Requirements

For the FY 2022-23 Request for Applications, CARB split the application process into two phases in response to previous stakeholder input about reducing barriers to access funding. Applicants first submitted a shorter and less detailed concept phase application to check for eligibility and basic alignment with project goals. Applicants meeting all eligibility requirements and passing a threshold score in the concept phase were invited to submit a full phase application, which required greater detail and more time investment to prepare.

Some of the general eligibility requirements for the concept phase used in the FY 2022-23 Request for Applications are described below. For complete eligibility requirements, please see the Request for Applications. 

• More than 50% of the project community must be in disadvantaged or low-income community census tracts as defined in the California Climate Investments Priority Populations 2024 CalEnviroScreen 4.0.
• If the lead applicant is a local government, one of the sub-applicants must be a community-based organization. If the lead applicant is a community-based organization, one of the sub-applicants must be a local government or tribal government.
• The concept must iInclude at least two coordinated projects in the categories of active transportation, fixed-route transit, or shared mobility.

The full phase application had more specific eligibility requirements, which can be found in the Request for Applications.