Prop. 68 Funding Grants Available, Cities Must Apply

Aug 15, 2019

With the passage of Proposition 68, there is approximately $102 million in per capita funding grants from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and each city is entitled to $200,000 in grants.

Cities must apply to receive these funds and should expect to receive letters from the department discussing the application process for these grants in the coming weeks.

Background

This program originates from the voter-approved Prop. 68, the $4 billion parks and water bond. The state budget made numerous allocations to multiple state agencies for the first year of implementation of the measure. Allocations include:

  • $39 million for the Natural Resources Agency to provide competitive grants to local agencies, nonprofit organizations, nongovernmental land conservation organizations, and Native American tribes. Grants may be used for numerous purposes including preserving or acquiring Native American, natural, cultural, and historic resources, enhancing natural resources recreation and tourism, developing venues and visitor’s centers, and other purposes;
  • $5 million for the Department of Water Resources for the Sutter Butte Flood Management Agency for sediment management with provisional language to specify the project is consistent with the requirements of this section;
  • $30 million for the State Water Resources Control Board for Pure Water San Diego;
  • $1 million for the Department of Conservation for watershed restoration and conservation projects;
  • $25 million to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for local assistance;
  • $25 million for the State Coastal Conservancy for San Francisco Bay wetland restoration;
  • $10 million for the State Coastal Conservancy for the Santa Margarita River;
  • $19.4 million for the State Coastal Conservancy for coastal watershed;
  • $10 million for the Wildlife Conservation Board to provide grants for wildlife corridor infrastructure projects; and
  • $21 million for the Wildlife Conservation Board for the Lower American River Conservancy Program and Conservation Project grants. 
 

The first step in applying for these grants is to respond to the Department’s mailed letter seeking information necessary to determine final allocations of per capita funding by June 3.

Subsequently, the timeline to submit a grant application is the following:

  • Grantee submits an adopted resolution to Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) by Nov. 1, 2019;
  • The application must be submitted to OGALS by Jan. 31, 2020; and
  • The OGALS contract must be signed and submitted back to OGALS by March 31, 2020. 

The grant application and funding guide is available on the department’s webpage for more information.

Additionally, the department is hosting a series of public meetings around the state to discuss the grant program and for the public to express any comments or questions. View the meeting schedule to find dates and locations.

More information on the per capita program can be found on the department’s Prop. 68 webpage.

The Department of Parks and Recreation notes that once it receives funding, program details will be developed in conjunction with likely public workshops and meetings. Additional details will be posted on the Department’s Grants and Local Services webpage.