Funding Opportunities Report- November 2025

Get the latest updates on upcoming grant opportunities from the state and federal government, courtesy of CARPD's Legislative Advocates at California Public Policy Group.

Download the Report HERE

The Funding Opportunities Report is provided as a resource for CARPD Members to keep you all apprised of the most current and comprehensive information on competitive funding programs.

Highlights for this month include an overview of the status of major state and federal grant funding sources:

Parks and Recreation

• The State has appropriated $188.5 million through the Climate Bond (Prop 4) for the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program. The program's intent is to create new parks and new recreation opportunities in critically underserved communities across California. Draft guidelines will be released soon for public comment. The upcoming Round 5 competition, which will be held in Summer/Fall 2026, will be the only Climate Bond-funded round of grants.
• The Art in California Parks Grant Program is anticipated to be released in Spring 2026 for Round 3. The goal of the program is to revitalize local parks with diverse experiences that foster creativity, community connection and transform them into hubs of art, culture, and nature.
• The federally funded Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has not been impacted by shifts in federal policy or administrative procedures. LWCF dollars are managed and awarded by the State as a federal pass-through grant. the LWCF provides matching grants to local governments for outdoor recreation projects. Grant competitions are typically held annually. The California State Parks Office of Grants and Local Assistance (OGALS) notes that the next LWCF competition is "coming soon."
• The California State Parks Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) had a public comment period for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Non-Motorized this summer and is working on revisions of the guidelines. The next application cycle is anticipated to be released in 2026 or 2027.
• OGALS also had a public comment period for the Habitat Conservation Fund this spring and are working on revising the guidelines. The next application cycle is anticipated to be released in 2026 or 2027. This program funds projects for nature interpretation programs to bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas, protection of various plant and animal species, and acquisition and development of wildlife corridors and trails.

Sustainability and Climate Action

• The EPA’s Brownfield Assessment, Cleanup, and Multipurpose Grants have released the next round of funding. Funding for these programs can be used to prioritize sites and conduct community activities and planning for implementation of cleanup activities. Applications for all three programs are due 1/28/2026.
• The Priority Conservation Area program through the MTC has released its solicitation for projects. Funds can be used for planning and design, environmental review and permitting, project implementation, and easements or acquisitions. Letters of Intent are due 12/19/2025 and full applications will be due 3/20/2026.
• The Strategic Growth Council has released the draft guidelines for the Transformative Climate Communities Program for Round 6. This program provides funds for community-led development and infrastructure projects that achieve major environmental, health, and economic benefits. The State has appropriated $100 million from the Climate Bond for this program. Draft guidelines are currently open for public comment until 1/2/2026.
• The Strategic Growth Council has released the draft guidelines for the Community Resilience Center Program for Round 2. This program provides funds for development and implementation of community resilience centers that mitigate the public health impacts of extreme heat and other emergency situations. The State has appropriated $55 million from the Climate Bond for this program. Draft guidelines are currently open for public comment until 1/2/2026.
• The Communities in Charge Program is now open and accepting applications. This wave of funding is focusing exclusively on multi-family housing and related EV charger installation. Applications are due 1/9/2026.
• The Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program is currently oversubscribed but is continuing to accept voucher requests to be put on a waitlist.

Water Quality & Conservation

• The Bureau of Reclamation has stated that several WaterSMART funding opportunities were planned to be launched in Fall 2025 prior to the government shutdown: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Program, Water and Energy Efficiency Grants, and Drought Resiliency Projects.
• The State Water Resources Control Board accepts applications for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund on a rolling basis. The annual Intended Use Plan drafts are published in November/December of each year.
• Applications for the Proposition 13 – Water Recycling Planning Grant have been announced by the State Water Resources Control Board. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until 6/30/2027. Projects can include recycled water treatment, recycled water storage, distribution, and pumping, and groundwater recharge.

Fire & Emergency Response

• Future funding remains uncertain for FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation programs, which include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC). These programs fund a wide variety of mitigation activities, including flood protection, hazardous fuels treatment, retrofitting structures, and supplying backup power via generators for critical facilities. Going forward, options to fund these types of projects may be limited to the Congressional appropriations aka “earmarks” process.

California Public Policy Group (CPPG)'s Grant Services Team is a trusted partner to local governments across California, having worked to secure more than $277 million in competitive grant funding awarded since the team's formation in 2021. CPPG specializes in working with public agencies to navigate complex funding landscapes and programmatic requirements, with a proven track record of success securing funding from a wide array of state and federal agencies — including OGALS and the National Park Service.

If you are interested in learning more about CPPG's grant writing services, please reach out to Jake Whitaker, Director of Grant Services, via email at jwhitaker@publicpolicygroup.com.