Lynwood City Council
September 15, 2026

o Examples of participant compensation may include, but is not limited to, stipends, “TCC Project Name” branded reusable merchandise (shirts, bandanas, totes, water bottles, stickers), trees (as part of volunteer tree-planting day, for example).  Note about stipends – Partners may distribute stipends as checks, or as cash gift cards to allow access for residents without banking access. These must not be specific to any specific store, service or product, no gas cards, etc.
 None of these items may be provided as a “door prize” to simply draw attendance to meetings, but instead must be provided as compensation for work contributed toward grant implementation.
o Examples of community work products and deliverables include, but are not limited to, documentation of attendance/participation, along with documentation of the product contributed to (such as summary of community feedback, written surveys, interactive checklists to learn more about projects/plans, completion of workshop/training, canvassing volunteer logs, etc.)
 Note that deliverable documentation will often include a combination of these examples to demonstrate that participants contributed to a work product that supports the grant implementation, and were not just attending an event (in which case compensation would be ineligible) • Provision of transportation services for community residents, such as a vanpool, that increases access to community engagement activities to benefit the project and public.

Eligible events include public meetings, volunteer events, educational tours, etc. • Provision of childcare services for community residents, excluding individual cash benefits (subsidies) to participants, that increases access to community engagement activities to benefit the project and public
o Grantee staff time or third-party provider to provide childcare services during a public community event being held for TCC
o Offering children’s activities during a public community event being held for TCC.

Ideally these items would be reusable and used throughout the grant term including but not limited to arts and craft materials, sports equipment, board games, etc.
o Note that in line with general community engagement costs, childcare-related costs may not include “giveaway” items for children with TCC funding (such as stuffed animals, prizes, etc.)
• Food and refreshments (excluding alcoholic beverages) that are determined to be an integral part of public community engagement events. Examples of eligible events include, but are not limited to, public engagement meetings, design charrettes, events to solicit feedback, or volunteer workdays (such as tree planting days) o The intent of food or refreshments is to support public participation. Food and refreshments are not eligible for internal coordination meetings. This includes meetings with partners who are receiving stipends or other forms of compensation.

Events considered to encourage public participation would be advertised to the community and open to members of the public.
• Event-related costs:
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o Renting a facility or venue for a specific public engagement event, especially to make the event more accessible to targeted populations
o Hiring a third-party facilitator to lead and facilitate community outreach and engagement events
o Logistical costs deemed necessary for successful public events, such as permits, security services, traffic control, emergency services, rental chairs/tables, etc. o For major milestone events related to the TCC grant: provision of emcees, cultural art performances, and other placemaking activities within reasonable cost Ineligible Costs
• Direct cash benefits or subsidies to participants
• Alcoholic refreshments
• General meetings that do not specifically discuss or advance implementation of the TCC grant
• Food and refreshments that are not for public-facing community engagement events. This includes meetings among TCC Partners and meetings with individuals who are receiving stipends or other forms of compensation. Events considered to encourage public participation would be advertised to the community and open to members of the public. (See Eligible costs above)
• Covering the cost of food or incidental reimbursement related to travel for programmatic work, namely per diem
• Incentives, giveaway items, or providing participant compensation without participant contribution toward a community work product • Providing cash subsidies to secure private transportation services. For example, Taxi/Uber/Lyft, personal mileage, gas cards
o Exception for reimbursement for transportation in rural areas where public transit is not accessible. In these cases, partners may provide mileage reimbursement to support attendance of key community meetings.

Supporting documentation (maps with start/end points, meeting descriptions/roles) will be required.
• Offering sponsorships for events or organizations where expenses cannot be directly tied to eligible program costs
• Covering parking fees of attendees at a community meeting

7.4 Displacement Avoidance 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
If Planning or Project Development Grant applicants choose to address this Transformative Element, they do not have to allocate a minimum or maximum amount of their budget for displacement avoidance.
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Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Implementation Grant applicants may allocate up to 3% of the total TCC Grant Award to support displacement avoidance activities. SGC will review requests to exceed the 3% cap on a case-by- case basis during the Pre-Development Phase.

TCC Implementation Grant applications must include a Displacement Avoidance Plan (DAP) that details the actions Lead Applicant and Partners will take to establish policies and programs to avoid the displacement of existing households and small businesses within the Project Area. DAPs must be directly informed by robust community engagement. Applicants will describe how their Displacement Avoidance Plan will be successfully implemented and evaluated to ensure that it has the intended impact. See Appendix C for a list of example displacement avoidance policies and programs.

The Displacement Avoidance Plan must include, at a minimum:
• Description of displacement vulnerability among existing households and small businesses within the Project Area
• Description of the policies, plans, ordinances, or programs that are already in place to avoid displacement
• Identification of existing policies or programs that will be updated and improved, or new policies or programs that will be pursued to avoid displacement among existing households and businesses within the Project Area. Applicants must select policies and programs from examples provided in Appendix C:
 At least three new or updated policies or programs to prevent the displacement of very low and low-income households
 At least two new or updated policies or programs to prevent the displacement of local and small businesses
 Applicants must select a combination of short- and long-term policies for the household and small business Displacement Avoidance Plans (defined in Appendix C)
 Applicants are encouraged to define quantifiable goals for selected policies through the community engagement process
• Identification of the entities responsible for and involved in implementing each new policy and program, and whether the implementing entities are the Lead Applicant or Partners
• For anti-displacement policies that require a vote from the local jurisdiction, the DAP must include a timeline of when a policy is expected to go before an elected body. All DAPs should be detailed and implementable
• If a project is subject to a relocation plan required by State Relocation Law (Gov. Code, § 7260 et seq.) and Section 6038 of the Relocation Assistance and Real Property Guidelines (25 Cal. Code of Regulations, div. 1, ch. 6, § 6000 et seq.) for the Project Area, applicants must provide a copy of the relocation plan at application or prior to beginning project work
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Displacement Avoidance Plan Requirements
TCC funds must be used to support displacement avoidance activities that meet all of the following criteria:
• Activity is focused on implementing additional or new policies and programs, which may include but are not limited to new policies not yet adopted, programs that address implementation barriers of existing policies and programs and expanded efforts around existing policies and programs. Activities can be either policy development or programmatic activities, which include community engagement and educational activities • Activity is directly addressing the displacement vulnerabilities of the TCC Project Area and the potential impacts of implementing the TCC-funded Project • Activity is located within the defined TCC Project Area • Activity is focused on engaging existing residents and small businesses located or involved within the defined TCC Project Area
Applicants should choose activities that are appropriate for their community and align with the criteria above, even if they are not listed in Appendix C.

SGC understands that a jurisdiction cannot commit in advance to actions that require votes from elected officials. Applicants must provide work plans and timelines for any actions that require approval from elected officials (just as they must provide work plans and timelines for all other proposed actions). For example, if part of the Displacement Avoidance Plan is to develop and implement a specific policy that requires the approval of the City Council or Board of Supervisors, the application work plan and budget would include the specific steps and budget items needed to conduct research, do community engagement, develop a draft policy, coordinate with all relevant City/County departments and external entities, present the policy to the relevant Board or Council for adoption, and implement the policy. These actions would need to fit within the budget and grant term of the proposed TCC activities.

Eligible Costs
Eligible costs include but are not limited to:
• Direct costs for implementing additional or new policies and programs • Salaries, wages, and stipends of nonprofit or consultant staff dedicated to the Project Area • Preparation of outreach and education materials
• Costs associated with education, coordination, and policy development to support displacement avoidance implementation activities
• Translation and interpretation for meetings or written materials • Rental costs for facilities required to perform training o Applicants are encouraged to seek access to free or low-cost facilities through partnerships with community facilities where possible
• Transportation subsidies (including public transportation passes and vanpool) for low- income, disabled, or other participants with accessibility or transportation challenges • Provision of transportation services for community residents, such as a vanpool, that increases access to community engagement activities to benefit the project and public 144
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• Participant compensation that is an exchange of payment for services rendered in the development of community work products, and appropriately documented with deliverables such as sign-in sheets or written surveys
• Provision of transportation services for community residents, such as a vanpool, that increases access to community engagement activities to benefit the project and public • Provision of childcare services for community residents, excluding individual cash benefits (subsidies) to participants, that increases access to community engagement activities to benefit the project and public
o Grantee staff time or third-party provider to provide childcare services during a public community event being held for TCC
o Offering children’s activities during a public community event being held for TCC  Ideally, activity materials would be reusable and used throughout the grant term, including but not limited to arts and craft materials, sports equipment, board games, etc.
o Note that in line with general community engagement costs, childcare-related costs may not include “giveaway” items for children with TCC funding such as stuffed animals, prizes, etc.
• Food and refreshments (excluding alcoholic beverages) that are determined to be an integral part of community engagement events. Examples of eligible events include, but are not limited to, public engagement meetings, design charrettes, or events to solicit feedback
Ineligible Costs
• Costs for implementing existing policies, plans, ordinances, or programs (e.g., local government staff salaries, supplies, meetings, etc.)
• Direct cash benefits or subsidies to participants
o Ineligible transportation subsidies: gas cards
• Alcoholic refreshments
• Incentives, giveaway items, or providing participant compensation without participant contribution toward a community work product
Tribal Applicants
California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits (as defined in Appendix A) who are Lead Applicants with Project Areas that falls mostly within federally recognized Tribal boundaries may request modifications to the Displacement Avoidance Plan requirements. Please see Section 2 for more information on requesting a modification. 145
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7.5 Workforce Development and Economic
Opportunities 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
If Planning or Project Development Grant applicants choose to address this Transformative Element, they do not have to allocate a minimum or maximum amount of their budget for workforce development and economic opportunities.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Implementation Grant applicants may allocate up to 5% of their budget to support Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities Plan.

TCC Implementation Grant applicants must develop a Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities Plan that works toward the two goals below. Applicants must include workforce development training programs and/or partnerships that prepare Project Area residents for high- quality career pathways in the region, with a focus on preparing residents for careers in a future net-zero economy. Applicants must also develop an economic opportunities plan to create local, high-quality jobs in the Project Area or region. This may include targeted hiring on TCC projects and/or regional planning for workforce and economic development.

TCC encourages training and job placement partnerships with small businesses in the Project Area owned by priority populations, including women; minority; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT); and disabled veteran-owned business enterprises.

Goal 1: Create workforce development training programs and/or partnerships to provide career pathways for residents of the Project Area.

TCC workforce development and training programs must include the following features:
• Target occupations and industries that support TCC grant implementation • Reduce barriers to employment
• Address the range of employment readiness needs of local residents and individuals with employment barriers
• Be developed in partnership with, or lead to partnerships with, local workforce development boards and other key partners, including organized labor and education providers
• Align and enhance high-performing education and training programs that have a proven record of leading to high-quality, industry-recognized credentials and labor market advancement
• Address critical skill issues emerging as industry faces challenges of climate change and environmental sustainability
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Applicants must demonstrate demand for the proposed education and training initiatives.

Applicants will be asked to explain how workforce demand is determined and planned for in their local region. Applicants must explain how, or if, the required skill sets for the proposed workforce sector will be impacted by climate policy.

Education and training initiatives must result in recognized credentials relevant to the selected training sector. Credentialing is an important mechanism for regional employers to encourage desired skill sets and readily assess the abilities of regional job seekers, as well as a way for workers to understand the specific skills required for entry and advancement within a field. As benchmarks of skill attainment, eligible credentials can include, but are not limited to certificates, degrees, licenses, and certifications. The ideal characteristics of a quality credential include being accessible, transparent, stackable, portable, meaningful, and connected to a clear career pathway.

For example, a workforce plan could include pre-apprenticeship programs that use industry standard developed curriculum such as the Multi-Craft Core curriculum developed by North America’s Building Trades Unions and are tied to state-certified apprenticeships.

Organizations leading the workforce development and training programs should use and build upon existing formalized pathways or partnerships with potential employers or industries.

Organizations should have a demonstrated track record of providing training with sufficiently high rates of completion, post-training job placement, and job retention. Previous experience should be similar in scale, scope, and activities to the proposed TCC workforce development programs.

Applicants may be asked to verify the track record of the organization through the Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education, the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, their local workforce board, or by using outcome data provided by a State Agency funder (ex. ETP or Chancellor’s Office).

If the applicants propose an education or training initiative that does not result in direct job placement for trainees, such as an entrepreneurship or incubator program, the application must clearly explain how it will result in a high-quality career pathway for the program completers. For example, entrepreneurship programs must include the development of a business plan and start- up support (e.g., operational space, seed funding, etc.). Such programs should target emerging or underrepresented sectors in line with the TCC Program Objectives.

In Project Areas that do not have training programs or clear career pathways to support, applications may include tasks to assess and plan for such workforce development activities. This might include development or strengthening of local partnerships to specifically identify and create training program needs for potential career pathways in the Project Area or surrounding region (which must be accessible to residents of the Project Area).

Applicants’ proposed workforce development planning and training programs must meet all of the following criteria:
• Reduce barriers to participation through the training program design and recruitment strategy
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• Result in recognized credentials (e.g., certifications, certificates, degrees, licenses, other documentation of competency and qualifications) to support long-term, stable employment and career development. Programs that provide recipients with more than one type of skill or credential should be prioritized
• Focus job training and placement plans on high-quality employment. Factors commonly considered to influence job quality include, but are not limited to: local living wages; benefits provided: health insurance, paid leave, sick leave, childcare services; opportunities for advancement; geographic accessibility and commute distance; job strain, scheduling, flexibility; working conditions and health risks; and job retention or duration of employment
• Increase capacity of firms and workers to adapt and compete in a net zero economy • Recruit trainees who are residents of the Project Area Goal 2: Provide economic opportunities through the creation of high-quality jobs.

Applicants must develop a plan that will result in the creation of local, high-quality jobs that offer living wages, benefits, worker voice, predictable scheduling, and opportunities for advancement with clear access points for low-income residents in and near the Project Area. The jobs created may—but do not have to—be tied directly to Projects that are part of the TCC application.

The plan should be informed by regional partnerships, including workers and employers, such as High Road Training Partnerships, that identify evolving “skill needs” of local industries and works with education and training providers to align training pathways accordingly. In industries impacted by climate policy, the plan should increase the capacity of workers and organizations to adapt and compete in a net-zero economy. Applicants should use regional labor market data to demonstrate the current or projected labor demand and skill needs for proposed plans.

Applicants should use targeted recruitment strategies, consistent with federal and state law, to direct training opportunities to residents and/or businesses within the TCC Project Area, low- income residents, residents of disadvantaged communities, veterans, and/or residents displaced or otherwise impacted by project development. Organizations and individuals responsible for recruitment should have proven track records working amongst diverse populations and socioeconomic barriers by providing evidence of previous similar experience. Lead Applicant and/or Partners can collaborate with local nonprofit organizations for successful implementation of targeted hiring.

Tools to support targeted hiring may include, but are not limited to:
• Community Benefits Agreement (CBA): A contract between community-based organizations and project proponents or agencies that identifies benefits to be provided as part of a project or program. CBAs commonly feature hiring priority for low-income individuals and prevailing wage requirements. CBAs may also include provisions for ongoing community engagement to ensure continued success. • Labor agreements or community workforce provisions: Comprehensive agreements between labor unions and project proponents (e.g., contractors, developers) or local agencies (e.g., transit agencies, cities) to achieve a breadth of objectives including uniform labor standards. These agreements may extend across multiple projects. Applicants may 148
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choose to prioritize projects with established labor agreements or community workforce provisions that contain targeted hiring provisions.
• Contract provisions: Contract provisions between a Lead Grantee and Partner or subcontractor that include criteria for targeted hiring that provides quality jobs. • Establishing and/or supporting a Workforce Resource Center in the Project Area to facilitate recruitment for workforce training programs and supportive services to trainees.

Eligible Activities
• Workforce Training programs
• Recruitment and outreach
• On-the-Job Training, Earn-and-Learn training opportunities • Coordination to develop or align training programs with local or regional career pathways • Job placement
• High-quality job creation
• Entrepreneurship and incubation programs with high-quality career pathways Additional Requirements
Workforce development and training programs must meet all of the following criteria:
• Focus job training and placement plans on high-quality employment (e.g., local living wages, benefits, opportunities for advancement, geographic accessibility, predictable scheduling, working conditions, job retention).
• Train participants for jobs and skills that are transferable, and result in high-quality jobs that are reflective of the State’s goals and priorities. • Result in recognized credentials (e.g., certifications, certificates, degrees, license, other documentation of competency and qualifications) to support long-term, stable employment and career development. Programs that provide recipients with more than one type of skill or credential should be prioritized. Programs that lead to industry- recognized credentials should also be prioritized. According to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), industry-recognized credentials are:
o “Sought or accepted by employers within the industry or sector involved as a recognized, preferred, or required credential for recruitment, screening, hiring, retention or advancement purposes.
o Where appropriate, is endorsed by a nationally recognized trade association or organization representing a significant part of the industry or sector. (See ACTE credentials)
• Recruit and serve Project Area residents.
o Workforce development programs can be located outside of the Project Area but must serve Project Area residents and businesses.
• Reduce barriers to participation through the training program design and recruitment strategy, including through the provision of wraparound services (e.g., case management, childcare support, public transportation vouchers, purchase of work-related equipment). • Address emerging critical skill issues to increase the capacity of workers and organizations to adapt and compete in a clean energy economy.
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Applicant Requirements
Organizations leading the workforce development and training programs should have:
• Demonstrated track record of providing training with sufficiently high rates of completion, post-training job placement utilizing existing formalized pathways or partnerships with potential employers or industries, and job retention
• Previous experience in programs of a similar size and scope as proposed in the workforce development and opportunities plan
• Demonstration of formalized partnership frameworks, such as involvement in the California Workforce Development Board's High Road Training Partnership Initiative, to align workforce training programs with regional industry demand o Possible partners may include local workforce development boards, community college districts and local educational institutions, community-based training organizations, industry partners, labor unions, and local governments o Partnerships that include trusted community-based organizations will be prioritized
Eligible Costs
Eligible costs include but are not limited to:
• Instructor salaries, wages, and stipends
• Trainee salaries up to 50% of the wages, including six months of benefits or no more than 1040 hours for on-the-job training programs
• Trainee stipends, up to 100%, depending on sufficient completion of training program or placement in related high-quality career pathway
o Stipends may be used when an employer-employee relationship does not exist, for participation in activities such as occupational skills training resulting in recognized credentials
o Sufficient completion of training programs for stipend reimbursement is defined as trainees completing 85% or more of the committed training • Credential expenses, including but not limited to the education, testing, and registration costs of attaining credentials such as certificates, degrees, licenses, and certifications • Cost of tools, materials, work appropriate clothing or personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to perform training
• Support costs for outreach and recruitment, including translation and interpretation services
• Rental costs for facilities required to perform training o Applicants are encouraged to seek access to free or low-cost facilities through partnerships with community facilities where possible.
• Public transit or mobility subsidies for low-income, disabled, or other participants with accessibility or transportation challenges
• Support services for trainees, such as individual employment or development plans, workforce readiness skills trainings (within programs directly linked to credentials or pathways), and job placement or retention support
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• Provision of childcare services for trainees, excluding individual cash benefits (subsidies) to participants, that increases access to workforce development activities to benefit the project and public
• Coordination of partnerships to strengthen workforce development activities Ineligible Costs
• Training programs that do not include clear career pathways for residents of the Project Area or committed partnerships for high-quality job placement. • Training programs that provide workforce readiness skills (i.e., “soft skills” training) but are not directly linked to employment credentials or pathways. • Direct cash benefits or subsidies to participants (other than transit subsidies) including gift cards or gas cards.
• Food and refreshments.

Tribal Applicants
California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits (as defined in Appendix A) may request modifications to Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities Plan requirements.

SGC will consider requests on a case-by-case basis during the application process. Please see Section 2.5 for more information on requesting a modification.

7.6 Climate Adaptation and Resilience 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grant 🅟🅟
If Planning Grant applicants choose to address this Transformative Element, they do not have to allocate a minimum or maximum amount of their budget for Climate Adaptation and Resilience.

Project Development and Implementation Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
This element is required for both Project Development and Implementation Grants. No grant funds may be allocated as Climate Adaptation and Resilience provisions, but they must be integrated into the Vision Statement, Strategies, Projects, and Transformative Plans of the TCC application.

Applicants must describe how the TCC investment and leverage-funded projects will increase the Project Area’s resilience to the anticipated impacts from climate change. This includes describing:
• Climate hazard exposures within the Project Area, such as additional days of extreme heat or precipitation, increased average temperatures wildfire, flooding, sea level rise, and drought
• Anticipated impacts of climate hazard exposures on vulnerable populations, biodiversity, and natural habitat loss
• Anticipated impacts of climate hazard exposures on the built environment, such as extended power outages, road damage, erosion, disrupted wastewater treatment, and house integrity
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Based on the risks and anticipated impacts, applicants will describe the processes and community collaboration and engagement approach they will use to identify and prioritize adaptation measures to:
• Address climate change-related impacts and exposures for vulnerable populations • Increase resilience and functionality of proposed infrastructure projects Eligible Costs
Climate Resilience and Adaptation must be integrated into the Projects, other Transformative Plans, and Vision. No specific costs are allowed for this Transformative Element.

7.7 Leverage Funding 🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning and Project Development Grant applicants do not have to meet a leverage funding requirement.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Implementation Grants require leverage funding. Leverage funding requirements vary by community type:
• Applicants who qualify for the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal as described in Section 9.4 must leverage additional funding sources that equal a minimum of 25% of the total requested grant funds
• Applicants who qualify for the Tribal Funding Goal (those who have a Lead Applicant that is a California Native American Tribe or a Tribally-owned nonprofit, as defined in Appendix A) do not have to provide any leverage funding. See more information at the end of this section
• All other applicants must secure additional funding equal to at least 50% of the total requested grant amount
Leverage funding does not need to be formally committed by the application due date.

During the Application Period, applicants must identify potential sources equal to the required total and submit a leverage funding worksheet. Applicants must secure final commitments for the full leverage amount during the Pre-Development Phase. If Lead Grantees and Partners cannot meet the leverage funding requirement during the Pre-Development Phase, SGC will decide what to do on a case-by-case basis.

If the applicant has leverage funding committed at the time of application, that can count towards the Leverage Funding requirement. Applicants must provide proof of commitment in the form of, but not limited to a grant award letter, council resolutions, letter from the leadership of an organization committing the funds to a specific project and identifying their source, or provision of operating budgets, identifying the Project as part of the operating budget. 152
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Leverage funding must be spent within the TCC Project Area and for the purposes of the TCC grant.

Leverage funding must clearly support the implementation of the Strategies and Projects selected to achieve the TCC Program Objectives. (See Section 1.3) At least half of the required leverage funding must contribute directly to budgets of TCC grant-funded Projects or Transformative Plans.

The remaining funds may come from stand-alone leverage projects that are not funded by Transformative Climate Communities Program and are considered new investments in the Project Area. Leverage funds may come from a variety of sources, such as federal, state, local public, private and/or philanthropic. The specific leverage funds and projects that will count towards the requirement for the grant will be subject to review and approval during the Pre-Development Phase.

Leverage funding expenditures and progress will be reported on an annual basis.

Leverage Funding Timing
Expenditure of leverage funding will count towards the grant only if it occurs after the grant has been awarded by Strategic Growth Council and within the grant term.

In addition, leverage funding expended within the year prior to the TCC grant application due date may count towards the purpose of meeting up to half of the total leverage requirement, if the previously expended leverage funds projects meet all of the following requirements:
• Leverage projects are aligned with the TCC Program Objectives and the Community Vision • Leverage projects resulted from a TCC community planning process connected to the development of the TCC application
• Leverage projects comply with the TCC Program requirements for meaningful community engagement
As part of the application, applicants will be required to submit information related to the community-engaged process that led to these leverage funds. This information will be reviewed by TCC staff to determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

Eligible Leverage Funding Sources
Eligible funding sources for leverage may include, but are not limited to:
• Federal funding sources
• State funding sources, including other SGC-administered funds o Including current TCC Planning Grants and Project Development Grants o Only the amount spent one year before the application due date will count towards the leverage requirement
• Private capital
• Foundation grants
• Low-income housing tax credit equity contributions and tax-exempt bonds in connection with 4% low-income housing tax credits
• Funds from regional or local tax measures, bonds, property assessments and fee revenue committed to public infrastructure related to Projects included in the TCC application, and located within the designated Project Area
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• Funds for transportation projects that are programmed for allocation and expenditure in the applicable capital improvement plan consistent with the terms and timeframes of the contract agreement
• In-kind goods and services, such as staff time allocated to TCC Projects, Plans, or grant administration
o The provision of meals, transportation, or childcare for an eligible community event may be accepted as eligible sources of leverage if they are adequately defined and documented. They will be subject to review by the State the Pre-Development Phase.

Eligible Stand-alone Leverage Projects
• Stand-alone leverage projects must be clearly integrated into the overall TCC application, aligned with the TCC application timeline, and within the TCC Project Area. Applicants must demonstrate that the investment is a result of the community planning process that led to the TCC application.
o Stand-alone investments on-going investments (i.e. standard maintenance, repair, or operations) and were not a result of the community planning process that led to the TCC application will not count towards the leverage requirement o Applicants will describe existing stand-alone investments that make the Project Area ready for an Implementation Grant that will achieve TCC Program Objectives in the application narrative, and that will be scored under the “Vision for Transformation” criteria
• To ensure that stand-alone leverage projects are committed and implemented during the project timeline, applicants are required to include the leverage partners and scope of work in the TCC Project’s overall Collaborative Governance Agreement Tribal Applicants
Applicants with a Lead Applicant that is a California Native American Tribe or a Tribally-owned nonprofit, as defined in Appendix A, are exempt from the Implementation Grant leverage funding requirement. However, these applicants are encouraged to secure leverage funding in order to amplify the impact of their work. If these applicants do include leverage funding (including in-kind contributions) in their application to make projects feasible, they will need to follow the same reporting requirements for that leverage funding as all other applicants, including:
• Quantifying the committed leverage funding in their application and grant agreement • Providing adequate documentation that the leverage funding is committed to the project Leverage Funding Example
The table below illustrates how the leverage funding requirements may be met for a hypothetical $100 Implementation Award.
• Applicants may exceed the required leverage but will not receive additional points for a higher leverage amount.
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Example Leverage Funding Threshold Breakdown
Eligible Projects or
Plans
Incorporated
Applicants:

Total dollar amount
for hypothetical
$100 TCC award at
50%
Unincorporated
Applicants:

Total dollar
amount for
hypothetical
$100 TCC award
at 25%
Leverage funding for TCC
Grant-funded projects or
Transformative Plans
$25 $12.50
Stand-alone leverage
projects $25 $12.50
Total $50 $25
$100 (TCC award) + $50 (leverage funds) = $150 total investment in the Project Area for incorporated applicants
$100 (TCC award) + $25 (leverage funds) = $125 total investment in the Project Area for unincorporated applicants

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Section 8. Program Costs
Summary of Section 8:
• Eligible and ineligible costs vary by grant type.
• Depending on the grant type, eligible costs may include direct costs (such as personnel costs, subcontracts, equipment, supplies, translation or interpretation, and travel expenses) and indirect costs.
• Each grant type has caps on the types of costs that are eligible.

8.1 Eligible Costs 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Direct Costs
Direct costs are defined as costs directly tied to the implementation of the grant agreement. Direct costs incurred within the grant term and as specified in the grant agreement will be eligible for reimbursement. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Personnel costs for project management, Project or Transformative Plan implementation, and grant administration
• Subcontractors
• Costs for equipment, supplies, translation or interpretation, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, or travel expenses
Lead Grantees and Partners must adhere to the following additional requirements for direct costs:
• Travel reimbursement costs must follow the rates and conditions established on the CalHR website6, except for “incidentals” and out-of-state travel, which are not reimbursable under this grant
• Subcontractor procurement processes must adhere to local requirements Lead Grantee and Partners’ personnel costs may include:
• Staff salary at an hourly rate or full-time equivalent (FTE) basis, and may include benefits, taxes, and leave, or “fully burdened rates”
• Grant funds may be used to support existing staff or to hire new staff within the grant term Staff may be full-time or part-time employees
• Grant funds may also be used to pay stipends to volunteers, interns, elders, or fellows

6 California Department of Human Resources. Travel Reimbursements. http://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/pages/travel-reimbursements.aspx 156
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TCC recognizes that public participation in community engagement activities is a benefit to the project and the public. See Section 7 and Appendix C-1 for more details on eligible costs to increase access and accountability to disadvantaged communities.

SGC strongly recommends budgeting for the following costs for all grant types:
• Personnel costs that include an adequate budget to cover benefits, raises, promotions, and professional development opportunities within the grant term • Contingency. For Implementation Grant applications, between 5% and 10% of each Project, Plan, and Grantee Costs budget must be reserved for contingency. Planning and Project Development applicants may include up to 10% contingency. • Peer-to-peer learning. TCC will aim to host two to four virtual and in-person peer-to-peer opportunities per year. Applicants should also factor in personnel time and travel costs associated with these opportunities. These would fall under grant administration costs.

Additionally, SGC strongly recommends including the following costs for Implementation Grants:
• Community resource center or other shared space in the Project Area: Many previous grantees have found it beneficial to have a physical space in the Project Area for multiple Projects and Plans to use. Applicants can choose to budget for this space as a Community Resource Center under Strategy 8 (Health Equity and Well-Being), under Grantee Costs, or as components of one or more Projects or Plans. Eligible costs include rent, operating costs, and any other necessary costs. Since these costs can be significant, applicants should only propose this type of space if the costs are reasonable, it provides a benefit to the community, and they have a plan for how it will be utilized and managed. Applicants are encouraged to utilize existing spaces (such as Lead- or Co-Applicant-owned spaces) when possible.
• Annual strategic planning day: Many previous grantees have found it beneficial to have an annual strategic planning day for the Lead Grantee (Lead Applicant), all Partners (Co- Applicants), and other appropriate individuals and organizations (such as members of the Collaborative Governance Structure). This day can strengthen relationships, celebrate successes, identify areas for improvement in grant implementation, and plan for the upcoming year. SGC recommends budgeting for an external facilitator and other necessary costs, such as space rental. These costs should be included in the Grantee Costs budget.

Pre-development Costs
Pre-development costs are a type of direct cost. These may account for up to 20% of Implementation Grant applications. There is no limitation for Planning or Project Development Grant applications. Pre-development costs include but are not limited to the items below:
• Community engagement costs to prepare projects for implementation • Soft costs for activities such as construction plans
• Specifications and estimates, including but not limited to planning, engineering, architectural, and other design work
• Environmental impact reports and assessments
• Appraisals, legal expenses, and easements
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Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructure Costs
Water supply and wastewater infrastructure costs are a type of direct cost. Costs include infrastructure (new or remedial) that supports clean water supply and wastewater infrastructure.

These may include both consolidated and dispersed systems. These may account for up to 10% of an Implementation Grant application or any amount of a Project Development Grant application.

For Tribal applicants (Lead Applicants who are California Native American Tribes and Tribally- owned nonprofits as defined in Appendix A), costs may account for up to 25% of an Implementation Grant application.

For unincorporated communities, requests for more than 10% and for non-water/wastewater infrastructure will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Indirect Costs
Lead Grantees (Lead Applicants) and Partners (Co-Applicants) may charge indirect costs at a rate of up to 15% of direct costs with two exceptions. Indirect rates may not be applied to capital costs, and equipment purchases with a per unit cost of $5,000 or more.

This applies to all entities including the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU). See “Tribal applicants” below for an exception to this cap.

Indirect costs are costs of doing business that are of a general nature. These costs are not directly tied to the grant but are necessary for the general operation of the organization. Indirect costs include, but are not limited to:
• Personnel costs associated with administrative, supervisory, legal, and executive staff • Personnel costs associated with support units, including clerical support, housekeeping, etc.
• Operating expenses and equipment costs not included as part of direct project costs (functions such as accounting, budgeting, audits, business services, information technology, janitorial, rent, utilities, supplies, etc.) Documentation related to the determination of the indirect cost rate must be retained by the Lead Grantee and Partners for audit purposes.

Tribal Applicants
California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits (as defined in Appendix A) may use a higher indirect cost rate. SGC will accept an applicant’s federally negotiated rate that is current at the time of application. If the Tribe does not have a federally negotiated rate, they may request a modification to receive a rate higher than 15%. For more information on how to request a modification, see Section 2.5.

This modification is available to all California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits regardless of whether they are a Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant. It is not available to any other Lead or Co-Applicants involved in an application. 158
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Reasonableness
All costs must be reasonable. A cost is reasonable if, in its nature and amount, it does not exceed that which a prudent person would incur under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the cost. In determining the reasonableness of costs, consideration must be given to the following:
• If the costs are typical or necessary for running the organization or for fulfilling the grant agreement effectively
• The requirements set by factors such as sound business practices, arm's-length bargaining, laws at various levels (federal, state, local, Tribal), and terms and conditions of the grant agreement.
• The market prices for similar goods or services for the geographic area • If those involved acted wisely given their responsibilities to employees, the public at large, and the State
• Whether the costs significantly differ from the organization’s practices and policies for incurring costs
Investment in the Project Area
TCC investments must take place inside the Project Area and directly benefit Project Area residents. In certain circumstances, SGC may allow a small percentage of household-level investments (such as from Strategies 4 and 5) to take place near the Project Area but outside its boundaries if it improves program delivery for Project Area residents. These investments would be subject to the same eligibility requirements, including income restrictions, and would be capped at a maximum percentage of overall households. Lead Grantees and Partners may not conduct any TCC work or invest any TCC funds outside of the Project Area without explicit prior approval from SGC staff. SGC will issue further guidance on the eligibility of these investments after grant award.

Land
Acquisition 🅟🅟
Lan
d acquisition is a type of direct cost. Land acquisition is an eligible Implementation Grant cost only if it is necessary to implement a Project within a Strategy and will directly result in development of the site. Projects being completed under the Land Acquisition for Neighborhood Stabilization Strategy (Appendix B-2), must demonstrate that development on the acquired land will be completed within the grant term, and may be paid for with either grant funds or leverage dollars.

SGC may require that land acquired with TCC funds be subject to a recorded deed restriction, Memorandum of Unrecorded Grant Agreement, or other mechanism to ensure long-term use of the facility in accordance with the TCC-funded work. Specific details of any land restrictions would be a part of the grant agreement and would be tailored by SGC and the Lead Grantee to achieve the objectives of the grant.
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8.2 Ineligible Costs 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
The following costs are ineligible under the TCC Program:
• Exceeding cost caps for pre-development, water supply and wastewater infrastructure, indirect costs, and Transformative Plans.
• The following costs associated with community engagement and outreach:
o Direct cash benefits or subsidies to participants
o Alcoholic refreshment
o Food and refreshments that are not for public-facing community engagement events
o Participant incentives, such as door prizes, which are unrelated to specific community work products.
o General meetings that do not specifically discuss or advance implementation of the TCC Project
o Costs associated with community or publicity events which are unrelated to specific project work products as outlined in the work plan in the TCC grant agreement
• Lobbying
• Direct lobbying for the passage of specific bills or local propositions • Commission fees
• Ongoing operational, maintenance, or staffing costs beyond the grant term • Mitigation activities that are already mandated by local or state governing bodies or agencies
• Expenses for publicity not related to the awarded TCC Project implementation • Bonus payments of any kind
• Damage judgments arising from the acquisition, construction, or equipping of a facility, whether determined by judicial process, arbitration, negotiation, or otherwise • Services, materials, or equipment obtained under any other State program • Real estate brokerage fees and/or expenses or commission based compensation related to the acquisition or disposition of real property
• Stewardship of legal defense funds
• Fees associated with persistent late payment of services • Costs associated with automobile or motorcycle parking (excluding electric vehicle charging infrastructure that may be located at a parking spot) • Costs that would supplant other committed funds for any element of the application, including capital projects, programs and services
• Acquisition and/or maintenance of fossil-fuel powered appliances and infrastructure, such as diesel generators and gas-powered appliances
The following project characteristics will result in ineligibility:
• Projects that cannot demonstrate site control
• Projects that acquire property through eminent domain • Projects that are in active litigation
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• Projects without long-term operations and maintenance plans • Projects that fund additional parking infrastructure or other infrastructure that may induce demand for parking or lead to an increase in regional Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) • Projects that do not provide GHG reduction, public health, environmental, and economic benefits to the Project Area through the grant term and the life of the Project • Projects without logical termini7 or independent utility8 • Projects that are acquisition only9
• Projects that result in a net loss or conversion of agricultural or other working lands, or natural resource lands for other uses, unless the project is within a disadvantaged unincorporated community or Tribal boundaries10

8.3 Cost Categories and Caps 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants may include indirect costs at a rate of up to 15% of direct costs with two exceptions. Indirect rates may not be applied to capital costs, or equipment purchases with a per unit cost of $5,000 or more. See Section 8.1 for information on higher indirect cost rates for California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits (as defined in Appendix A). Applicants may budget for up to 10% of the grant award for Contingency.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
In addition to the eligible and ineligible direct implementation costs described in Appendix B, the TCC Program generally funds four types of costs:

7 Logical termini for project development are defined as 1) rational end points for a transportation improvement, and 2) rational end points for a review of the environmental impacts. See the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration for additional information:
8 Independent utility for project development defines such improvements as 1) usable and can function as stand-alone improvements without forcing other improvements which may have impacts, and 2) a reasonable expenditure even if no additional transportation improvements in the area are made. 9 Projects that include eligible land acquisition costs must demonstrate that grant funds will also be used to complete a TCC project. Projects being completed under the Land Acquisition for Neighborhood Stabilization Strategy, must demonstrate that development on the acquired land will be completed within the grant term, and may be paid for with either grant funds or leverage dollars. 10 With the exception of projects under Strategy 1: Equitable Housing and Neighborhood Development, which are subject to AHSC Program Guidelines, TCC will consider proposals that entail construction on prime agricultural, working, or natural resource lands for unincorporated areas and areas within federally - recognized Tribal boundaries, provided that said proposals demonstrate (i) that construction would not have an adverse impact on the region’s agricultural, labor, environmental, or economic resources, and (ii) that the proposal does not contradict the state’s Planning Priorities, including promoting infill development, preserving agricultural lands, and encouraging location and resource -efficient new development. 161
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Implementation Grants Cost Breakdown
Eligible Costs Percent of Grant Award
Direct Costs for Pre-Development
Phase
Up to 20% (20% of each individual Project)
Direct Costs for Projects during
Implementation Phase* (including
water supply and wastewater
infrastructure and construction
contingency)
At least 51%
(Up to 10% of overall TCC Grant Award may go to water
supply and wastewater infrastructure**) (5-10% must
be reserved for Contingency)
Direct Costs for Transformative
Elements during Implementation
Phase
Up to 16% (See Section 7 Transformative Elements) (5-
10% must be reserved for Contingency)
Indirect Costs May include an indirect cost rate of up to 15% of direct costs excluding capital costs and equipment
purchases with a per unit cost of $5,000 or more***
TOTAL 100%
* Eligible direct costs are defined for each Strategy in Appendix B. ** For California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits, water supply and wastewater infrastructure costs may account for up to 25% an Implementation Grant application.

For unincorporated communities, requests for more than 10% for water/wastewater infrastructure will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
*** See Section 8.1 for information on higher indirect cost rates for California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits (as defined in Appendix A).

The Lead and Co-Applicants must ensure sufficient resources are allocated to grant administration, which includes:
• Grant invoicing and reporting
• Regular meetings with TCC staff (twice a month for Implementation Grantees and monthly for Planning and Project Development Grantees)
• Engaging with the Evaluation Partner by gathering and reporting data, participating in focus groups, surveys, and interviews
• Peer-to-peer learning opportunities hosted by TCC (virtually and in-person) approximately two-to-four times per year
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Section 9. Application Overview
Summary of Section 9:

This section outlines the Round 6 timeline, funding targets, application process, and scoring criteria. The application due date will be provided on the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Grant applications will be evaluated and awarded through a competitive process. Applications will be submitted electronically on Submittable, an electronic application platform. SGC will provide instructions on how to apply with the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and with application materials.

All applications and submitted materials will be treated in accordance with Public Records Act requirements. Per the California Public Records Act (CPRA), (GOV 7920a.000 et seq.) materials provided by applicants in response to a NOFA from SGC, subject to specific exceptions, will generally be deemed public records subject to production under a properly filed CPRA request subsequent to grant award. Applicants shall refrain from including sensitive personal identifying information.

Under California Government Code Section 8450, any record containing financial information submitted by Tribes to fulfill obligations as party to a grant agreement under this program will be confidential, will not be a public record, and will not be open to public inspection.

Staff recommendations including a summary of applications received will be made available for public review ten days prior to SGC’s public meeting where the Council Members will make final awards.

9.1 Award Amounts 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
SGC received funding to implement Round 6 of the TCC Program including grant awards, staff support, and technical assistance. Because the program seeks to serve a diverse set of communities, applicants have the flexibility to request the amount of funding needed to carry out the work described in their application for the grant term.

Applicants should request the amount of funding needed to carry out the proposed work in their application (up to the caps listed below). The final number of awards per grant type and dollar amount will be determined in the NOFA. For Round 6, the number of awards and amounts are approximately:
• 3 Planning Grants, up to $300,000
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• 3 Project Development Grants, up to $5 million
• 3 Implementation Grants, up to $27.5 million
Exact award amounts are contingent on the competitive selection process. SGC retains the right to make partial awards and to reallocate funds between TCC Round 6 grant types.

Lead Applicants may only apply to one TCC grant type. Only one application may be submitted for a proposed scope (i.e., the same set of organizations cannot apply to a second grant type with a similar Project Area but with a different organization serving as the Lead Applicant.) Organizations may be Co-Applicants on multiple applications.

9.2 Application Submission Process 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
All applications will be submitted online using the SGC application platform identified in the Notice of Funding Availability (i.e., Submittable). Once the NOFA is announced, the application will open. The application due date will be provided on the NOFA. Below is an overview of the application process.

1. Final Round 6 TCC Program Guidelines adopted by Strategic Growth Council

2. NOFA is announced and the Application Period begins. The following items will have due dates during the Application Period which will be stated in the NOFA:
o Tribal modification requests (optional)
o Application Technical Assistance Request Form (optional, Implementation Grants only)
o Disadvantaged unincorporated communities local data submission for pre- approval (if applicable)
o Other Climate Innovation proposals for pre-approval (optional, Implementation Grants only)
o Pre-Proposals (required, Implementation Grants only)

3. All applications due

4. Application review completed by Interagency Review panel and TCC staff

5. Staff present recommendations to the Council for final grant awards Staff will publish final guidance on how to submit a Tribal modification request, local data submission, and Other Climate Innovation proposals in the NOFA.

During the Application Period, SGC reserves the right to issue clarifications and minor modifications to the application instructions and requirements as needed.

Technical assistance is available to help eligible applicants develop their application, through the completion of the Technical Assistance Request Form. (See below and Section 12 for details) Technical Assistance Request Form
Following the release of these Guidelines, staff will release the Technical Assistance Request Form on our website, which is part of the first phase of the application process. Applicants should 164
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fill out the form as soon as they are able so that TCC staff can connect eligible applicants to technical assistance services. Applicants who complete the Technical Assistance Request Form will describe their overall TCC application, willingness to participate in technical assistance, and types of technical assistance requested.

TCC staff and the Application Technical Assistance provider will review the Technical Assistance Request Form to match prospective applicants with Technical Assistance as appropriate. Since Technical Assistance availability is limited, SGC staff will prioritize Tribal Lead Applicants and Lead Applicants whose Project Area consists of disadvantaged unincorporated communities for Application Technical Assistance for all grant types.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Pre-Proposal
Implementation Grant applicants are required to submit a Pre-Proposal using the form provided by SGC. The Pre-Proposal is an opportunity for applicants to provide a broad overview of their implementation concept, proposed Projects and Plans, and overall vision to receive feedback from TCC staff. TCC staff will review all Pre-Proposal submissions to assess whether an applicant is likely to meet the Application Requirements by the application due date. All applicants who submit a Pre-Proposal may submit an application regardless of the feedback they receive.

9.3 Application Review Process 🅟🅟
All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Application Review
All applications that are complete and meet Application Requirements will be scored by an interagency review panel using the Scoring Criteria, with the support of TCC staff. Interagency panelists are sourced from state agencies who have a background in TCC objectives, Visions, and Strategies. TCC staff will finalize and prepare award recommendations to present to the SGC Council.

Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Applic
ants will receive a single score out of 105 points. TCC staff will recommend awards based on these scores and the Funding Goals. See Section 9.6 and Section 9.7 for more information.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Applicants will receive a single score out of 220 points. In addition to submitting applications, top- scoring applicants will participate in an interview with TCC staff and members from the interagency review panel. Interviews will be conducted during standard work hours and will be 165
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coordinated between applicants and TCC staff. See Section 9.7 fo r more information on
Implementation Grant scoring.

9.4 Funding Goals and Priority Points 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Tribes, disadvantaged unincorporated communities, and previous SGC or Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) grantees may be eligible for prioritization through the following mechanisms:
• Tribal Funding Goal: SGC intends to award at least one grant of each grant type to eligible applications from California Native American Tribes or Tribally-owned nonprofits • Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal: SGC intends to award one grant of each grant type to eligible applications with Project Areas in unincorporated communities
• Priority points: Eligible applications representing Tribal communities, disadvantaged unincorporated communities, or previous SGC or LCI grantees will receive additional points if they meet certain requirements
Tribal Funding Goal 🅟🅟
SGC intends to fund a minimum of one eligible Implementation Grant, one eligible Project Development Grant, and one eligible Planning Grant where the Lead Applicant is a California Native American Tribe or a Tribally-owned nonprofit. See Appendix A for definitions of California Native American Tribe and Tribally-owned nonprofit.

If SGC does not receive an eligible application from a California Native American Tribe or Tribally- owned nonprofit for a given grant type, SGC will release the unused funds to the general applicant pool for that grant type.

Unless stated otherwise, the applicant must meet all TCC grant Application Requirements. Only applications that are complete and meet all TCC eligibility requirements will be eligible for the Funding Goal. If multiple California Native American Tribes or Tribally-owned nonprofits apply for a given grant type, the Council will apply the scoring criteria from these Guidelines to rank the applications. The top-ranked application will be awarded under the Council’s Tribal Funding Goal, and the remaining application(s) will compete with all other submitted applications.

If the highest-scoring application that qualifies for the Funding Goal for a given grant type receives a score high enough to be awarded in the general pool, that award will satisfy the Tribal Funding Goal for that grant type and no additional Funding Goal awards will be made for that grant type.

The exception is if the highest-scoring Tribal applicant is awarded significantly less funding than the maximum funding amount, as described below.

If the Council awards a grant using the Funding Goal and the awarded amount is less than the maximum, SGC will allocate the remainder in the following way:
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If the next highest-scoring application for that grant type that qualifies for the Tribal Funding Goal can be fully funded by the remaining funds, that application will receive an award. The same will be true for additional awards of that grant type until no more full (not partial) awards can be made.

When no more full funding awards can be made for that grant type, the remaining grant funds will be returned to the general pool and awarded at the direction of the Council according to the terms laid out in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

An application will be eligible for the Tribal Funding Goal if either of the following conditions are met:
• The Lead Applicant is a California Native American Tribe, defined as a federally recognized Native American Tribe or a non-federally recognized Native American Tribe listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission on February 19, 2026).
• The Lead Applicant is a California Native American Tribally-owned nonprofit defined as an organization exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code 501 (c)(3) (26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)), nonprofit organization incorporated under Tribal law, California nonprofit public benefit corporation (Corp. Code, § 5110 et seq.), or equivalent that is fully controlled and operated by a California Native American Tribe and serve to advance the goals and priorities of a California Native American Tribe. This term does not include nonprofit organizations owned or controlled by individuals who are Native American or individual member(s) of a California Native American Tribe when the organization is not associated with a California Native American Tribe.

Applicants whose Lead Applicant is a California Native American Tribe or Tribally-owned nonprofit are referred to as “Tribal applicants” throughout the Guidelines.

There is no cap on the total number of awards that can be made to Tribal applicants in Round 6.

Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal 🅟🅟
SGC intends to fund a minimum of one eligible Implementation Grant, one eligible Project Development Grant, and one eligible Planning Grant to disadvantaged unincorporated communities.

If SGC does not receive an eligible application from a disadvantaged unincorporated community for a given grant type, SGC will release the unused funds to the general applicant pool for that grant type.

Unless stated otherwise, the application must meet all TCC grant Application Requirements. Only applications that are complete and meet all TCC eligibility requirements will be eligible for the Funding Goal. If multiple disadvantaged unincorporated communities apply for a given grant type, the Council will apply the scoring criteria from these Guidelines to rank the applications. The top- ranked application will be awarded under the Council’s Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal, and the remaining application(s) will compete with all other submitted applications.
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If the highest-scoring application that qualifies for the Funding Goal for a given grant type receives a score high enough to be awarded in the general pool, that award will satisfy the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal for that grant type and no additional Funding Goal awards will be made for that grant type. The exception is if the highest-scoring disadvantaged unincorporated community applicant is awarded significantly less funding than the maximum funding amount, as described below.

If the Council awards a grant using the Funding Goal and the awarded amount is less than the maximum, SGC will allocate the remainder in the following way:

1. If the next highest-scoring application for that grant type that qualifies for the Funding Goal can be fully funded by the remaining funds, that application will receive an award. The same will be true for additional awards of that grant type until no more full (not partial) awards can be made.

2. When no more full funding awards can be made for that grant type, the remaining grant funds will be returned to the general pool and awarded at the direction of the Council according to the terms laid out in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

An application will be eligible for the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal if all of the following conditions are met:
• More than 75% of the Project Area is unincorporated
• More than 75% of Project Area residents live in disadvantaged unincorporated communities as defined by the TCC Guidelines
• At least 75% of the TCC funds and at least 75% of overall project funds (TCC funds + leverage funding) are for projects in the disadvantaged unincorporated community as defined by the TCC Guidelines. These funds can go towards a combination of:
o Fixed-location projects in disadvantaged unincorporated communities o Projects or programs serving residents of disadvantaged unincorporated communities
 If an activity (such as a Project of an Implementation Grant or a task in a Project Development Grant) is serving 40% residents of disadvantaged unincorporated areas and 60% residents of incorporated areas, only 40% of those funds would count towards the 75% requirement
There is no cap on the total number of awards that can be made to applicants from disadvantaged unincorporated communities in Round 6.

Priority Points 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
The following applicants will receive additional points.

Priority Communities
An application that meets one or more of the following will receive 4 points (Planning Grant or Project Development Grant) or 8 points (Implementation Grant):
• The Lead Applicant qualifies for the Tribal Funding Goal 168
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• The Lead Applicant qualifies for the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal
Alternatively, if a Lead Applicant does not qualify for the Tribal Funding Goal or the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal but the following two statements are true, then the an application will receive 1 point (Planning Grant or Project Development Grant) or 2 points (Implementation Grant):
• The Lead Applicant is a nonprofit whose mission is primarily focused on serving Tribal communities
• The proposed grant activities are primarily focused on serving Tribal communities An applicant can receive a maximum of 4 points (Planning Grant or Project Development Grant) or 8 points (Implementation Grant) in the priority communities’ category.

Previous SGC and LCI Grantees
Applications that directly further previous SGC- or Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI)-funded work will receive 1 point (Planning Grant or Project Development Grant) or 2 points (Implementation Grant). The intent of these additional points is to support communities through the project pipeline and make implementation funds available to grantees who have completed SGC- or LCI-funded planning and project development work. To receive these points, the application must meet the following requirements:
• The Project Area is located in the same area as the previous SGC- or LCI- funded work • At least one Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant was a Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant on the previous grant
• The work is a direct continuation of the previously funded work o For example: a previous recipient of a TCC Planning Grant or Project Development Grant or a Regional Climate Collaboratives Grant is applying for a TCC Implementation Grant to implement the results of their previous work Priority Points Available
Planning or Project
Development Implementation
Applicants who are eligible for Tribal Funding
Goal or Disadvantaged Unincorporated
Community Funding Goal
4 points 8 p oints
Nonprofits focused on serving Tribal
communities who are not eligible for the Tribal
Funding Goal or Disadvantaged Unincorporated
Community Funding Goal
1 point 2 points
Previous SGC or LCI grantees 1 point 2 p oints
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9.5 Planning Grants: Program Thresholds and Scoring
Criteria 🅟🅟
Planning Grant Program Thresholds
General Completeness
□ Application materials are complete and are sufficient to assess the feasibility of the proposed grant activities and the application’s compliance with the TCC Program and Application Requirements
□ Application documents are properly labeled, stored in the proper file structure, and are easily accessible
□ Work plan adheres to the two-year grant term and contains sufficient detail □ Budget contains sufficient detail and is accompanied by all necessary supporting documentation
Applicant Eligibility
□ Lead Applicant is an eligible organization type (See Section 3.1) □ Application contains at least one Co-Applicant
□ Co-Applicants are all eligible organizations. All Co-Applicants submitted Letters of Commitment
□ At least one Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant are an appropriate public agency and have provided the necessary authorization for the application □ An application with a Project Area that crosses jurisdictional boundaries must have the support of a relevant public agency for each portion of the Project Area, demonstrated by a Letter of Support
Project Area Eligibility
□ Project Area meets all requirements
□ Applicant has submitted a Project Area Map in all required formats

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Planning Grant Scoring Criteria Summary

SCORING CRITERIA POINTS
Objectives and Vision 35 Points
Transformative Elements and Project
Identification
45 Points
Capacity 20 Points
Priority Points 5 Points
TOTAL 105 POINTS

Please see Section 9.4 for information on Priority Points and Funding Goals for Tribes, disadvantaged unincorporated communities, and previous SGC or LCI grantees.

Please see Section 9.8 for information on how SGC will use a “Close Scores Protocol” to award Planning Grants that score within 0.5 points of each other.

Priority Points
The following applicants will receive additional points.

Priority Communities
An application that meets one or more of the following will receive 4 points:
• The Lead Applicant qualifies for the Tribal Funding Goal • The Lead Applicant qualifies for the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal
Alternatively, if a Lead Applicant does not qualify for the Tribal Funding Goal or the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal but the following two statements are true, then the application will receive 1 point:
• The Lead Applicant is a nonprofit whose mission is primarily focused on serving Tribal communities.
• The proposed grant activities are primarily focused on serving Tribal communities.

An applicant can receive a maximum of 4 points in the priority communities category.

Previous SGC and LCI Grantees
You may receive 1 point if your application builds on work previously funded by SGC or the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI). These points support continuity across the project pipeline and prioritize applicants advancing previously funded planning or 171
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project development work. To receive these points, the application must meet the following requirements:
• The Project Area is located in the same area as the previous SGC- or LCI- funded work. • At least one Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant was a Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant on the previous grant.
• The work is a direct continuation of the previously funded work. For example: a previous recipient of a TCC Planning Grant or Project Development Grant or a Regional Climate Collaboratives Grant is applying for a TCC Implementation Grant to implement the results of their previous work.

Planning Grant Scoring Criteria Details 🅟🅟
OBJECTIVES AND VISION 35 POINTS TOTAL

1. The applicant provides a clear Vision Statement that is specific to the community and aligns with the TCC Program Objectives. (5 points)

2. The proposed activities address the Vision Statement and are aligned with all TCC Program Objectives. (5 points)

3. The Project Area includes community resources, assets, local characteristics, and history that make it ready for a Planning Grant that
will achieve TCC Program Objectives. (5 points)

4. The proposed activities reflect the unique local conditions and context of the Project Area and will improve outcomes for Project Area residents. (5 points)

5. The proposed activities will advance health equity and racial equity in the Project Area. (5 points)

6. The applicant clearly explains the selected Project Area boundary and shows an understanding of the community's needs. (5 points)

7. Applicant describes how the proposed activities will advance the State Planning Priorities, which include promoting infill development, preserving agricultural lands, and encouraging location and resource-efficient new development. Applicant explains how their long-term vision considers these priorities within the context of local needs and capacities. (5 points) TRANSFORMATIVE ELEMENTS AND PROJECT IDENTIFICATION 45 POINTS TOTAL Applications are not required to address all of the TCC Implementation Grant Transformative Elements. SGC will award points based on the number of Transformative Elements addressed and how well they are addressed and integrated into the planning activities.

1. The proposed planning activities will prepare the applicants to meet the TCC Implementation Grant Transformative Elements related to: (25 points) a. Community Engagement: The proposed activities demonstrate that the applicant will conduct meaningful and inclusive engagement to gather the input and expertise of residents and community partners, including local public agencies, community-based organizations, workforce development boards, and others. 172
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b. Displacement Avoidance: The proposed activities will support the development of policies and programs to avoid displacement of existing residents and businesses. c. Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities: The proposed activities will allow the applicant to identify economic development needs and opportunities to create pathways to high-quality jobs in the Project Area. d. Climate Adaptation and Resilience: The proposed activities will support the applicant in identifying climate hazards to people, infrastructure, and natural systems and solutions to address those hazards.
e. Leverage Funding: The proposed activities include identifying and pursuing future funding sources to support implementation.

2. Applicant demonstrates a strong and meaningful process to identify projects for future implementation. Project identification is based on the community’s needs. Projects are prioritized based on feasibility and potential for community transformation. (20 points) CAPACITY 20 POINTS TOTAL

1. The applicant demonstrates the capacity to lead a high-quality planning process that prepares for pre-development and successful implementation. (10 points)

2. The applicant proposes strong, diverse, and committed partnerships for implementing the planning activities – including all relevant public agency partners, community members and community-based organizations. (10 points)
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9.6 Project Development Grants: Program Thresholds
and Scoring Criteria 🅟🅟
Project Development Grant Program Thresholds
General Completeness
□ Application materials are complete and are sufficient to assess the feasibility of the proposed grant activities and the application’s compliance with the TCC Program and Application Requirements
□ Application documents are properly labeled, stored in the proper file structure, and are easily accessible
□ Work plan adheres to the two-year grant term and contains sufficient detail □ Budget contains sufficient detail and is accompanied by all necessary supporting documentation
Applicant Eligibility
□ Lead Applicant is an eligible organization type (See Section 3.1) □ Application contains at least two Co-Applicants
□ Co-Applicants are all eligible organizations
□ Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant are an appropriate public agency and have provided the necessary authorization for the application
Capacity
□ Lead Applicant has submitted financial capacity documentation as described in Section

10.7. Lead Applicant has basic financial infrastructure, systems, and cash flow to manage state funds, including supporting Co-Applicants through the reimbursement model or the optional advance pay model. The Lead Applicant has no unresolved audit findings in the last five years. If nonprofit, Lead Applicant has proper 501(c)(3) documentation. □ Lead Applicant has submitted management capacity documentation as described in Section 10.8
Collaborative Governance Structure
□ Signed Collaborative Governance Agreement worksheet for the Collaborative Governance Structure or signed Collaborative Governance for Tribes worksheet meets all requirements as described in Section 3.2
□ Applicants with a Project Area that overlaps multiple jurisdictions have submitted a Collaborative Governance Agreement worksheet that meets all requirements described in Section 3.2
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Project Area Eligibility
□ Project Area meets all requirements
□ Applicant has submitted a Project Area Map in all required formats Priority Policies
□ Local Planning Consistency: Applicant has submitted a letter(s) signed by the local jurisdiction’s Planning and Public Works Departments verifying that the application is consistent with land use designations, building intensity, density, applicable goals, policies and programs, climate adaptation plans, and growth and conservation planning elements
Project Development Grant Scoring Criteria Summary

SCORING CRITERIA POINTS
Objectives and Vision 30 Points
Transformative Elements 20 Points
Project Design and Feasibility 30 Points
Capacity 20 Points
Priority Points 5 Points
TOTAL 105 POINTS

Please see Section 9.4 for information on Priority Points and Funding Goals for Tribes, disadvantaged unincorporated communities, and previous SGC or LCI grantees.

Please see Section 9.8 for information on how SGC will use a “Close Scores Protocol” to award Project Development Grants that score within 0.5 points of each other.

Priority Points
The following applicants will receive additional points.

Priority Communities
Applicants will receive additional points if your application meets one or more of the following conditions. You will receive 4 points if:
• The Lead Applicant qualifies for the Tribal Funding Goal • The Lead Applicant qualifies for the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal
• Alternatively, if the Lead Applicant does not qualify for either Funding Goal, you will receive 1 point if both of the following conditions are met:
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o The Lead Applicant is a nonprofit whose primary mission is to serve Tribal communities.
o The proposed grant activities primarily serve Tribal communities.

An applicant can receive a maximum of 4 points in the priority communities category.

Previous SGC and LCI Grantees
Applicants will receive 1 point if your application builds on work previously funded by SGC or the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI). These points support continuity across the project pipeline and prioritize applicants advancing previously funded planning or project development work. To receive this point, your application must meet all of the following requirements:
• The Project Area is located in the same area as the previous SGC- or LCI- funded work. • At least one Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant was a Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant on the previous grant.
• The work is a direct continuation of the previously funded work. For example: a previous recipient of a TCC Planning Grant or Project Development Grant or a Regional Climate Collaboratives Grant is applying for a TCC Implementation Grant to implement the results of their previous work.

Project Development Grant Scoring Criteria Details 🅟🅟
OBJECTIVES AND VISION 30 POINTS TOTAL

1. The applicant provides a clear Vision Statement that is specific to the community and aligns with the TCC Program Objectives. (5 points)

2. The proposed activities address the Vision Statement and are aligned with all TCC Program Objectives. (5 points)

3. The Project Area includes community resources, assets, local characteristics, and history that make it ready for a Project Development Grant that will achieve TCC Program Objectives. (5 points)

4. The proposed activities reflect the unique local conditions and context of the Project Area and will improve outcomes for Project Area residents. (5 points)

5. The proposed project development activities will further the Project Area’s ability to build future climate resilient infrastructure and social resilience. (5 points)

6. Applicant describes how the proposed activities will advance the State Planning Priorities, which include promoting infill development, preserving agricultural lands, and encouraging location and resource-efficient new development. Applicant explains how their long-term vision considers these priorities within the context of local needs and capacities. (5 points) TRANSFORMATIVE ELEMENTS 20 POINTS TOTAL
Applications are not required to address the entire list of TCC Transformative Elements but must address Community Engagement and Climate Adaptation and Resilience, at a minimum.

Applications will be evaluated based on the strength and integration of Transformative Elements. 176
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1. Applicant describes a history of inclusive, culturally appropriate, and community-driven planning efforts. Applicant describes how community input directly informed the selection of project(s) proposed in the application. (5 points)

2. The proposed Project Development activities directly address or prepare the applicants to address the TCC Transformative Elements related to: (15 points) a. Community Engagement: Application presents an inclusive process to meaningfully engage the community during the grant term. Applicant will use effective and meaningful community engagement programs and practices to gather the input and expertise of community members, including local public agencies, community-based organizations, workforce development boards, and other partners.
b. Displacement Avoidance: The proposed activities support development of policies and programs to prevent displacement of current residents and small businesses. c. Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities: The proposed activities identify economic development needs and support pathways to high-quality jobs in the Project Area.
d. Climate Adaptation and Resilience: Applicant identifies the top two or three climate hazard impacts that will affect the Project Area over the next 25 years and analyzes the impact of these exposures on the most vulnerable community members and on the built environment. Proposed activities provide climate adaptation and resilience benefits to the community.
e. Leverage Funding: Applicant’s proposed activities will assist in identifying and securing potential funding sources to implement their work.

PROJECT DESIGN AND FEASIBILITY 30 POINTS TOTAL

1. The proposed projects respond to community needs and include appropriate scope, scale, and components. The projects provide multiple community benefits. (15 points)

2. The proposed activities advance health equity and racial equity in the Project Area. (5 points)

3. Work plans include clear timelines, discrete tasks, and detailed deliverables. Budgets have adequate detail and demonstrate financial feasibility. (5 points)

4. The proposed activities will prepare the community to receive and implement future funding opportunities. (5 points)
CAPACITY 20 POINTS TOTAL

1. Lead Applicant demonstrates organizational capacity to carry out proposed project development activities and work collaboratively toward implementation. Applicant may demonstrate capacity through prior experience with similar programs, strong relationships with Co-Applicants, and/or demonstrated ability to deliver community-based initiatives.

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and support all Co-Applicants in complying with TCC financial and administrative requirements. (10 points)

2. Lead Applicant and Co-Applicants have established work history, sustained community engagement around climate change, and/or experience working with one or more of the following areas: (3 points)
a. disadvantaged communities
b. Tribal communities
c. housing and community development
d. economic development
e. environmental
f. public health issues.

3. Collaborative Governance Structure is composed of a diverse representation of resident voices, local leadership, and key partners, which will be scored within the context of their local community. Tribal Lead Applicants will not be evaluated on the inclusion of non- Tribal entities or the following list of partners. Tribal Lead Applicants will receive full points if they have broad support and involvement from entities and individuals within the Tribe. (3 points)
a. labor unions
b. nonprofits
c. faith-based groups
d. community-based organizations
e. academics
f. economic development institutions
g. workforce development groups
h. businesses
i. representatives from local School District, Community College District, and others j. incorporates robust resident and community leadership.

4. Collaborative Governance Agreement or Collaborative Governance for Tribes worksheet is signed by all Lead- and Co-Applicants (if applicable) and meets all requirements in Section

3.2. Worksheet clearly outlines methods of governance and decision-making that are: (4 points)
a. transparent
b. accountable
c. inclusive
d. community-centered

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9.7 Implementation Grants: Program Thresholds and
Scoring Criteria 🅟🅟
Implementation Grant Program Thresholds
General Completeness
□ The application is complete and provides enough information to assess feasibility and compliance with the TCC Program and Application Requirements □ Application documents are properly labeled, stored in the proper file structure, and are easily accessible
□ Work plan adheres to the four-year Implementation Phase and an up to 9-month Pre- Development Phase and includes sufficient detail
□ Budgets contain sufficient detail for each task and are accompanied by all necessary supporting documentation. All costs must be within designated cost caps Applicant Eligibility
□ Lead Applicant is an eligible organization type (See Section 3.1) □ Application contains at least two Co-Applicants
□ Co-Applicants are all eligible organizations
□ Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant is an appropriate public agency as described in Section

3.1. The public agency has provided the necessary authorization for the application Capacity
□ Lead Applicant has submitted financial capacity documentation as described in Section

10.7. Lead Applicant has basic financial infrastructure, systems, and cash flow to manage state funds, including supporting Co-Applicants through the reimbursement model or the optional advance pay model. The Lead Applicant has no unresolved audit findings in the last five years. If nonprofit, Lead Applicant has proper 501(c)(3) documentation. □ Lead Applicant has submitted management capacity documentation as described in Section 10.8
□ Co-Applicants have submitted management capacity documentation as described in Section 10.8
Collaborative Governance Structure
□ Signed Collaborative Governance Agreement worksheet for the Collaborative Governance Structure or signed Collaborative Governance for Tribes worksheet meets all requirements as described in Section 3.2
□ Applicants with a Project Area that overlaps multiple jurisdictions have submitted a Collaborative Governance Agreement worksheet that meets all requirements described in Section 3.2
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Project Area Eligibility
□ Project Area is no greater than five square miles (urban area) or fifteen square miles (rural area, unless an exception is granted by SGC)
□ Project Area meets all requirements
□ Applicant has submitted a Project Area Map in all required formats Strategies and Projects
□ Applicant has selected at least three Strategies and proposed at least three Projects □ At least one Project must directly reduce GHG emissions □ All Projects must either directly reduce GHG emissions or contribute directly to meaningful public health benefits
Priority Policies
□ Local Planning Consistency Letter: Applicant has submitted a letter(s) signed by the local jurisdiction’s Planning and Public Works Departments verifying that the TCC Implementation application is consistent with land use designations, building intensity, density, applicable goals, policies and programs, climate adaptation plans, and growth and conservation planning elements
□ High-Speed Rail (HSR): For applicants with planned HSR stations located along “Silicon Valley to Central Valley Line,” the applicant has submitted:
o Map of existing and proposed:
 Multi-modal connectivity to the HSR station area
 Affordable and mixed-income housing that is connected and accessible to the High-Speed Rail station area
o A Community Engagement Plan that includes tasks on supporting station area design and implementation
□ Water supply and wastewater infrastructure: Applicant has submitted documentation of existing access to water supply and wastewater infrastructure that serves residents of the Project Area and long-term operations and maintenance plans, or a developed plan to obtain and maintain water supply and wastewater infrastructure □ Transit connectivity: Applicant has submitted documentation of existing transit connectivity to regional service hubs and major job centers, or has demonstrated that the TCC application includes affordable, clean transportation projects to provide connectivity

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Implementation Grant Scoring Criteria Summary 🅟🅟

SCORING CRITERIA POINTS
Objectives and Vision 40 Points
Capacity 30 Points
Transformative Elements 60 Points
Projects 60 Points
Priority Points 10 Points

INCENTIVE POINTS
Prohousing Policy Incentive 5 Points
Air Pollution Reduction/Mitigation Incentive 5 Points
TOTAL 210 POINTS
Interviews (for finalists only) 10 Points
TOTAL INCLUDING INTERVIEWS 220 POINTS

Please see Section 9.4 for information on Priority Points and Funding Goals for Tribes, disadvantaged unincorporated communities, and previous SGC or LCI grantees.

Please see Section 9.8 for information on how SGC will use a “Close Scores Protocol” to award Implementation Grants that score within 1 point of each other.

Priority Points
The following applicants will receive additional points.

Priority Communities
You may receive additional points if your application meets one or more of the following:

You will receive 8 points if:
• The Lead Applicant qualifies for the Tribal Funding Goal • The Lead Applicant qualifies for the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal
Alternatively, you may receive 2 points if both of the following apply:
• The Lead Applicant is a nonprofit whose primary mission is to serve Tribal communities. • The proposed activities primarily serve Tribal communities. 181
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You may receive a maximum of 8 points in this category.

Previous SGC and LCI Grantees
You may receive 2 points if your application builds on work previously funded by SGC or the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI). These points support continuity across the project pipeline and prioritize applicants advancing previously funded planning or project development work. To receive this point, your application must meet all of the following requirements:
• The Project Area is located in the same area as the previous SGC- or LCI- funded work. • At least one Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant was a Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant on the previous grant.
• The work is a direct continuation of the previously funded work. For example: a previous recipient of a TCC Planning Grant or Project Development Grant or a Regional Climate Collaboratives Grant is applying for a TCC Implementation Grant to implement the results of their previous work.

Implementation Grant Scoring Criteria Details 🅟🅟
OBJECTIVES AND VISION 40 POINTS TOTAL
Vision for Transformation (20 Points)

1. Applicant has provided a clear Vision Statement that is specific to the community and aligns with the TCC Program Objectives. (3 points)

2. Projects and Plans address the Vision Statement. (2 points)

3. Projects and Plans will achieve all TCC Program Objectives. (2 points)

4. Projects and Plans are integrated with one another and with existing community assets to amplify the impact of the TCC investment. (3 points)

5. The Project Area has community resources, assets, local characteristics, and history that make it ready for an Implementation Grant that will achieve TCC Program Objectives. (4 points)

6. Proposed Projects and Plans have been designed to fit the unique local conditions and context of the Project Area. (3 points)

7. Proposed grant activities have been designed to maximize short-term benefits and improve long-term outcomes for Project Area residents. (3 points) Prior Community Engagement (20 Points)
This section can refer to community planning and engagement specifically undertaken to inform the TCC Round 6 application, and/or to community planning and engagement that took place prior to TCC Round 6 but which directly informed the application.

1. Applicant provides a brief summary of inclusive and culturally appropriate community engagement efforts conducted in the Project Area in the last five years around issues related to climate impacts and community development. (5 points)

2. Applicant identifies the community priorities that surfaced from outreach and engagement activities. (5 points)
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3. Applicant describes how community input is incorporated into the development of the TCC application. (5 points)

4. Applicant identified and minimized barriers to community participation to facilitate meaningful community engagement. (5 points)
CAPACITY 30 POINTS TOTAL
Management and Organization (15 Points)

1. Lead Applicant demonstrates experience and capacity to implement the TCC application (e.g., has experience managing similar programs and/or long-term grant implementation).

Lead Applicant must show they can responsibly manage Implementation Grant funds and support all Co-Applicants in complying with TCC financial and administrative requirements. (10 points)

2. Co-Applicants demonstrate experience and capacity to support Lead Applicant in implementation of the TCC application. (5 points)
Collaborative Governance Structure (15 Points)

1. Lead Applicant and Co-Applicants have established work history, sustained community engagement around climate change, and/or experience working with one or more of the following areas: (5 points)
a. disadvantaged communities
b. Tribal communities
c. housing and community development
d. economic development
e. environmental
f. public health issues.

2. Collaborative Governance Structure is composed of a diverse representation of resident voices, local leadership, and key partners, which will be scored within the context of their local community. Tribal Lead Applicants will not be evaluated on the inclusion of non- Tribal entities or the following list of partners. Tribal Lead Applicants will receive full points if they have broad support and involvement from entities and individuals within the Tribe. (5 points)
a. labor unions
b. nonprofits
c. faith-based groups
d. community-based organizations
e. academics
f. economic development institutions
g. workforce development groups
h. businesses
i. representatives from local School District, Community College District, and others j. incorporates robust resident and community leadership.

3. Collaborative Governance Agreement or Collaborative Governance for Tribes worksheet is signed by all Lead- and Co-Applicants (if applicable) and meets all requirements in Section 183
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3.2. Worksheet clearly outlines methods of governance and decision-making that are: (5 points):
a. transparent
b. accountable
c. inclusive
d. community-centered
TRANSFORMATIVE ELEMENTS 60 POINTS TOTAL
Community Engagement (15 Points)

1. Applicant includes descriptions and anticipated timelines of diverse and appropriate community engagement activities and methods that will be used throughout the duration of the grant. These can include how the public, residents, and broader community will be engaged, invited to participate, provide input, and kept informed on grant activities. (5 points)

2. Applicant presents an inclusive process to receive feedback from a diverse community.

Describes outreach and trust-building strategies that will ensure participation and incorporate the voice of groups typically underrepresented in planning processes. The Community Engagement Plan builds, strengthens, and sustains local leadership and grassroots engagement in civic and community development, and climate resilience awareness and activities. (5 points)

3. Work plans include feasible timelines, discrete tasks, and detailed deliverables. Budgets have adequate detail and demonstrate financial feasibility, including adequate resources and funding for a Collaborative Governance Structure and includes accountability measures to ensure that community input and concerns will be taken into consideration throughout grant implementation. (5 points)
Displacement Avoidance (20 Points)

1. Applicant provides a comprehensive description of displacement vulnerabilities among existing households and small businesses. Application describes which population groups within the community are most at risk and provides the data informing this understanding. (2 points)

2. Applicant identifies existing policies and actions that aim to prevent the displacement of existing households and small businesses. (3 points)

3. Proposed policies and actions address specific displacement vulnerabilities in the Project Area to avoid the displacement of existing households with a combination of policies and actions with short-term and long-term outcomes. (3 points)

4. Proposed policies and actions address specific displacement vulnerabilities in the Project Area to avoid the displacement of existing small businesses with a combination of short- term and long-term policies. (3 points)

5. Application includes actions that are intended to result in long-term policy change. (3 points)

6. Application includes actions that are not contingent on political processes. (3 points)

7. Work plans include feasible timelines, discrete tasks, and detailed deliverables. Budgets have adequate detail and demonstrate financial feasibility. (3 points) 184
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Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities (15 Points)

1. Application demonstrates an understanding of the local labor market, including its barriers and opportunities, and community needs. Applicant demonstrates how the plan addresses current and projected labor demand and skill needs in a net zero economy.

Includes data, targeted partnerships agreement, and labor market insights that inform the plan. (3 points)

2. Application includes a workforce development plan to build a skilled workforce and prepare Project Area residents, especially individuals with employment barriers, to pursue healthy, safe, sustaining, and high-quality career pathways in a future zero carbon economy that are resilient to current and future climate impacts. The proposed workforce development and training programs will lead to industry-recognized credentials, career pathways, and high-quality jobs for residents of the Project Area and individuals with employment barriers. (4 points)

3. Application includes an economic opportunities plan for the creating local, high-quality jobs for residents of the Project Area and individuals with employment barriers. Application details which sectors are being targeted and how the plan supports entrepreneurship, small business growth, and local procurement. (4 points)

4. Work plans include feasible timelines, discrete tasks, and detailed deliverables. Budgets have adequate detail and demonstrate financial feasibility. (4 points) Climate Adaptation and Resilience (10 Points)

1. Applicant identifies the top two or three climate impacts that will impact the Project Area over the next 25 years. (2 points)

2. Applicant analyzes the impact of these climate hazard exposures on the most vulnerable community members and on the built environment. (2 points)

3. Applicant describes the characteristics, policies, programs, or other factors that make community resilient to the climate impacts described. (3 points)

4. Application describes how TCC investments will contribute to climate resilience in the Project Area. (3 points)
PROJECTS 60 POINTS TOTAL
Project Design (10 Points)

1. Projects are designed to meet the community’s needs. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate Strategy selection, scope, scale, components, etc. The proposed project is clear, relevant, and appropriate, given the local context, Vision Statement, and Program Objectives. (10 points)
Project Feasibility (35 Points)

1. Work plans, budgets, and narrative questions include a clear and feasible plan that prepares the applicant well to meet all Pre-Development Requirements within the nine- month Pre-Development Phase. (10 points)

2. Applicants’ current progress towards meeting Pre-Development requirements prepares them well to meet all Pre-Development Requirements within the nine-month Pre- Development Phase. (10 points)
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3. Work plans, budgets, narrative questions, and supporting documentation demonstrate that the proposed activities during the Implementation Phase are feasible to accomplish within the grant term and demonstrate adequate allocation of resources. (5 points)

4. Projects include clear plans for long-term operations, maintenance, and ownership, including coordination with appropriate responsible parties. Applicant discusses responsibility for ongoing upkeep and monitoring, including the funding source. (5 points)

5. The applicant has high degree of likelihood of securing their necessary leverage funding during the Pre-Development Phase. This will be scored based on the leverage funding identified at the time of application and the applicant’s plan for securing remaining leverage funding. (5 points)
Project Impact (15 Points)

1. Applicant describes how climate hazards will impact the Project Area and how the Project is designed to be resilient to those hazards. (5 points)

2. Projects provide multiple community benefits to the Project Area (e.g., education, health benefits, economic opportunities). Details how the benefits were identified as priorities by the community. (5 points)

3. Applicant has identified potential negative impacts of each project (e.g., temporary relocation, disruption during construction, potential displacement) and developed mitigation strategies and/or contingency plans where appropriate. Provides clear justification if no negative impacts are anticipated. (5 points) PROHOUSING POLICY INCENTIVE 5 POINTS
Prohousing Policy (5 Points)
Maximum points (5 points) will be awarded to applications whose Project Area are in jurisdictions designated as Prohousing jurisdictions by the TCC application due date. Partial points (2 points) are available to applicants whose Project Areas are in jurisdictions that have applied for Prohousing designation by the TCC application due date and are awaiting designation from HCD.

If the Project Area crosses multiple jurisdictions, the Prohousing score will be based on the jurisdiction that constitutes the majority of the Project Area.

The Prohousing policy incentive will not apply to applications located within federally recognized Tribal boundaries, and the TCC program will provide maximum points in this category for those applications.

AIR POLLUTION REDUCTION AND MITIGATION INCENTIVE 5 POINTS Maximum points will be awarded to applicants from a Project Area or jurisdiction that has demonstrated and proposes direct localized air pollution reduction and mitigation policies and programs, which includes reduced community exposure to particulate matter and toxic air contaminants. 2 points are available for existing actions, and 3 points are available for actions proposed though TCC. See Appendix F for eligible policies and programs and the point value of each policy.
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1. Applicant has demonstrated substantial progress towards preventing, reducing, or mitigating existing sources of local air pollution through policy adoption, enforcement programs, land use planning, etc. (2 points)

2. Applicant has proposed policies and programs that will make substantial progress towards preventing, reducing, or mitigating existing sources of local air pollution through TCC- funded Projects/Plans. (3 points)
Interviews 10 POINTS TOTAL
Project Design and Community Relevance (2 points)
Maximum points will be given to an application with strong alignment with TCC O bjectives, clear reasoning for projects based on community input, and general understanding of community needs.

Project Feasibility and Implementation Readiness (2 points) Maximum points will be given for an application with a strong feasibility plan, clear understanding of risks, and demonstrated capacity.

Collaborative Governance Structure and Partnerships (2 points) Maximum points will be given for an application with a strong and inclusive structure with shared leadership and meaningful community representation.

Transformative Plans (2 points)
Maximum points will be given for an application with culturally responsive and meaningful Transformative Plans.

Application-Specific questions (2 points)
You will be asked one or two questions related to your application. These will be shared with you at least 72 hours before the interview. Maximum points will be given for clear and specific responses that address perceived gaps or concerns.

9.8 Close Scores Protocol 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
SGC will round total scores to two decimal places and rank applications by score. SGC will designate the highest-scoring applications for award until the remaining funding is not enough to fully fund the next highest-scoring application. SGC does not intend to make partial awards.

If scores are close, SGC will use the following tiebreaker process to determine which application or applications receive awards:

1. Identify tied applications.

Applications are tied if they are:
o less than 0.5 points apart for Planning Grants or Project Development Grants; or o less than 1 point apart for Implementation Grants, and one application would otherwise be awarded while the other would not.

Applications are not tied if the difference is exactly:
o 0.5 points for Planning Grants or Project Development Grants; or 187
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o 1 point for Implementation Grants, or greater.

2. Use the Objectives and Vision score as the first tiebreaker.

If applications are tied under Step 1, SGC will compare their scores in the Objectives and Vision section. SGC will round those section scores to one decimal place.

Applications will remain tied at this step if their Objectives and Vision scores are within:
o 0.5 points for Planning Grants or Project Development Grants; or o 1 point for Implementation Grants.

3. Use raw total scores as the final tiebreaker.

If two or more applications are still tied after comparing the Objectives and Vision score, SGC will use the raw total scores for those applications as the final tiebreaker.

The tiebreaker process may result in a different number of awards if tied applications request substantially different funding amounts. Appendix G includes an example of how the Close Scores Protocol applies to an Implementation Grant.
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Section 10. Application Requirements
Summary of Section 10:
• This section details the Application Requirements for all grant types. Specific application materials and instructions will be provided with the Notice of Funding Availability. • Implementation Grants have additional requirements, called Pre-Development Requirements, which must be met by the end of the nine-month Pre-Development Phase.

10.1 Application phases 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
All grant types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
The Application Period consists of Early Application components and Application Requirements.

Early application components will have a due date prior to the application due date. Due dates will be provided with the Notice of Funding Availability.

Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants do not have a two-phased application process.

All Application Requirements outlined in Section 10.2 are due by the application due date.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
For Implementation Grant applicants, there will be two phases (See Section 6.7). Some items are due by the application due date, which are called Application Requirements. Other items will be developed after award, and during the nine-month Pre-Development Phase, which are called Pre- Development Requirements.

10.2 Summary of Application Components 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
This section summarizes the Application Requirements. The Application Requirements are described in greater detail in each subsection. TCC staff will provide more information on the specific requirements in the application materials.

All Grant Types🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟

1. Optional Tribal modification requests (if applicable) (See Section 2.5) o Early application component - will have a due date prior to the application due date.

2. Optional local data submission for disadvantaged unincorporated communities (if applicable) – see Section 3.3 Project Area eligibility
o Early application component - will have a due date prior to the application due date. 189
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3. Applicant eligibility:
o A signed Letter of Commitment from the Lead Applicant and each Co-Applicant outlining roles and responsibilities
 Note: For Project Development Grants and Implementation Grants, Letters of Commitment are not needed from the Lead Applicant or Co-Applicants if they have signed the Collaborative Governance Agreement worksheet. o If the Lead Applicant is a public agency, a passed formal resolution authorizing the agency to apply, accept, and execute documents if awarded, or o If the Lead Applicant is a California Native American Tribe, a letter from a Tribal Chairperson to the same effect as a resolution. If the application is chosen for award, a passed formal resolution will be required before the grant can be executed. o If a Tribally-owned nonprofit is a Lead or Co-Applicant, and the Project Area contains federally recognized tribal boundaries, and the relevant Tribe(s) is not a Lead or Co- Applicant, the Tribe(s) must provide a Letter of Support.

4. Threshold documentation:
o Demonstration of local planning consistency: Letter(s) signed by the Planning and Public Works Departments, or equivalents
o Map of proposed Project Area boundary, see Section 3.3 Project Area eligibility:
 Project Area map in PDF form, and
 Project Area map geospatial data file, and
 Disadvantaged unincorporated communities supporting documents (if applicable), such as LAFCo verification, or local data as outlined in Section

3.3. 5. Narrative application questions about:
o The community-informed vision for transformation
o How the grant activities will address TCC Program Objectives, Transformative Elements, and TCC Policy Priorities
o The Project Area, community assets, and community priorities o Climate hazard exposures to the Project Area, as well as adaptation and resilience measures
o Financial and organizational management capacity
o Prior community engagement efforts, if any
Planning Grants 🅟🅟
In addition to the above, the following application components are required for Planning Grant applications:
• Descriptive work plans with clear timelines, discrete tasks, and deliverables • Budget broken down by task that addresses the following:
o Accounts for additional staff to be hired, employee benefits and salary adjustments, and professional development opportunities within the grant term. o Contingency (optional for Planning Grants)
o Indirect costs up to 15%
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 See Section 8.1 for additional flexibility for California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits
Project Development Grants 🅟🅟
In addition to the above, the following application components are required for Project Development Grant applications:
• Documentation that demonstrates the Lead Applicant’s financial capacity • Documentation that demonstrates the Lead Applicant and Co-Applicant’s management capacity
• If including water supply or wastewater infrastructure projects or pilot projects, require narrative descriptions of:
o Status of CEQA, site control, permits, operations and maintenance plan, project designs, and other requirements to implement the projects, and o Current access or plan for access to water supply and wastewater infrastructure • Signed Collaborative Governance Agreement worksheet describing Lead and Co-Applicant roles and responsibilities in the Collaborative Governance Structure OR a signed Collaborative Governance for Tribes worksheet
• Descriptive work plans with clear timelines, discrete tasks, and deliverables • Budget broken down by task that addresses the following:
o Accounts for additional staff to be hired, employee benefits and salary adjustments, and professional development opportunities within the grant term. o Contingency (optional for Project Development Grants) o Indirect costs up to 15%
 See Section 8.1 for additional flexibility details for California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits
Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirements are due by the application due date. Pre-Development Requirements will be developed during the nine-month Pre-Development Phase. Refer to the Implementation Grant Phases in Section 6.7 for more information.

Application Requirements
In addition to the above, the following application components are required for Implementation Grant applications:
• Other Climate Innovation proposals for pre-approval, if applicable (Early application component - will have a due date prior to the application due date). Refer to Strategy 13 for more information.
• Pre-Proposal (Early application component - will have a due date prior to the application due date):
o Climate Bond screening questions
o Applicant eligibility
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o Community vision
o Project Area eligibility
o Brief status of project feasibility
o Brief status of Collaborative Governance Structure Worksheet o Brief description of prior community engagement
o Brief description of how the Pre-Proposal addresses each of the following:
 Each Transformative Element
 Existing water supply and wastewater infrastructure or plans to obtain and maintain them
 Regional connectivity
 High-Speed Rail (if applicable)
• Final Application:
o Detailed final versions of the Pre-Proposal items from above. o PDF map and geospatial files of the Project Area (See Section 3.3)  If applicable, the map must also include existing and proposed multi-modal connectivity to the High-Speed Rail station area.
o Documentation that demonstrates the Lead Applicant’s financial capacity (See Section 10.7)
o Documentation that demonstrates the Lead Applicant and Co-Applicant’s management capacity (See Section 10.8)
o Signed Collaborative Governance Agreement worksheet describing Lead and Co- Applicant roles and responsibilities in the Collaborative Governance Structure OR a signed Collaborative Governance for Tribes worksheet
o Summary Budget that identifies the total requested grant amount o Leverage funding worksheet
o Additional narrative application questions about:
 Integration of Strategies, Projects, and Transformative Elements  Policy priorities
o For each Project and Transformative Plan (excluding Grant Evaluation, which will be completed during the Pre-Development phase, if awarded):
 Narrative questions
 Descriptive work plan with discrete tasks, deliverables, and estimated timeline
 Descriptions of progress of Pre-Development Requirements o Budgets for Grantee Costs, Projects, and Plans broken down by task that addresses the following:
 Accounts for additional staff to be hired, employee benefits and salary adjustments, and professional development opportunities within the grant term
 Contingency
• Between 5-10% of the Project/Plan budget
 Indirect costs up to 15%
• See Section 8.1 for additional flexibility details for California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits.
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Pre-Development Requirements
• Final Summary Budget
• Detailed work plans and budget for each Project/Plan, including Grant Evaluation • Approval of grant agreement language
• Final Eligibility and Thresholds Documentation:
o Signed Collaborative Governance Agreement
o Final Project Area boundary (PDF, geospatial data file) o Pre-Development Requirements for each Project and Plan, including Strategy- specific requirements described in Appendix B (operations and maintenance plans, final project designs, etc.)
o Commitment of all leverage funding
o Map of existing and/or planned transit connectivity to regional service hubs and major job centers (if applicable)
o Map of High-Speed Rail connectivity and connected affordable and mixed-income housing (if applicable)
o Final selection of air pollution reduction and mitigation policies the Lead Grantee and Partners are committing to addressing through the grant (if applicable)

10.3 Early Application Components 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
These items will have a due date prior to the application due date.

Pre-Proposal🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Pr
e-Proposals are not required for Planning Grants and Project Development Grants.

I
mplementation Grants 🅟🅟
All
potential Implementation Grant applicants must submit a Pre-Proposal. Applicants who do not submit a Pre-Proposal cannot submit a final application. All applicants who submit a Pre- Proposal, regardless of the feedback they receive on it, may submit an application.

Applicants with Project Areas that include predominantly rural areas may request exceptions to the Project Area requirements within their Pre-Proposal.

Other Climate Innovation Strategy Proposals
Other Climate Innovation proposal requests must be submitted in advance of the Pre-Proposal, by a date to be specified in the NOFA. Applicants using this Strategy will submit a narrative response and supporting documentation that demonstrates proof of concept and community engagement efforts that led to the proposal. Staff will publish guidance on how to submit the Other Climate Innovation proposal as a supplemental application resource. 193
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Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Local Data
All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Self-ide
ntified disadvantaged unincorporated communities may provide local data as a method of establishing Project Area eligibility. SGC can pre-approve submissions during the Application Period so that applicants can be sure that their local data submission satisfies the requirements.

See Section 3.3 for more information. Staff will publish final guidance on how to submit local data for pre-approval in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

Tribal Modification Requests
All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Staf
f will publish final guidance on how to submit a Tribal modification request in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). (See Section 2.5)
SGC intends for the TCC Program to be accessible and relevant to Tribes. Some sections of these Guidelines contain greater flexibility for Lead Applicants who are California Native American Tribes or Tribally-owned nonprofits (as defined in Appendix A). These applicants may also request further modifications to certain requirements. Applicants must submit modification requests related to Application Requirements for pre-approval before the application due date.

10.4 Applicant Eligibility 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Each Lead and Co-Applicant must provide a signed Letter of Commitment and describe the full or part-time staff that will be dedicated to the grant in the proposed work plan and budget. For Project Development Grants, Letters of Commitment are not needed from the Lead Applicant or Co-Applicants if they have signed the Collaborative Governance Agreement worksheet.

Planning Grants must have at least one Co-Applicant. Project Development Grants must have at least two Co-Applicants.

There must be at least one public agency partner serving as the Lead or Co-Applicant. For Tribal applicants, the relevant Tribal government(s) or Tribally-owned nonprofit must be a Lead or Co- Applicant. (See Section 3.1: Eligible applicants)
If the Lead Applicant is a public agency, they must submit an adopted resolution that includes an authorization to apply for and accept a TCC award, including the authority to execute all related 194
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documents.11 If the Lead Applicant is a California Native American Tribe, they must submit a letter from a Tribal Chairperson to the same effect of a resolution. If the application is chosen for award, a passed formal resolution will be required before the grant can be executed.

If
a Tribally-owned nonprofit is a Lead or Co-Applicant, and the Project Area contains federally recognized tribal boundaries, and the relevant Tribe(s) is not a Lead or Co-Applicant, the Tribe(s) must provide a Letter of Support.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Each Project and Plan must have a Project/Plan Lead, which may be the Lead Applicant or Co- Applicant. Each Lead and Co-Applicant must demonstrate their support of and commitment to the application by signing the Collaborative Governance Agreement worksheet, with the intention to sign and execute the Collaborative Governance Agreement that complies with Section 3.2, if the application is selected for an award.

There must be at least one public agency partner. There must be at least two Co-Applicants. (See Section 3.1: Eligible Applicants)
If the Lead Applicant is a public agency, they must include an adopted resolution that includes authorization to apply for and accept a TCC award, including the authority to execute all related documents.12
If the Lead Applicant is a California Native American Tribe, they must submit a letter from a Tribal Chairperson to the same effect of a resolution. If the application is chosen for award, a passed formal resolution will be required before the grant can be executed.

If a Tribally-owned nonprofit is a Lead or Co-Applicant, and the Project Area contains federally recognized tribal boundaries, and the relevant Tribe(s) is not a Lead or Co-Applicant, the Tribe(s) must provide a Letter of Support.

11 A lesson learned from previous grant cycles is to include this streamlining measure , which allows the Lead Applicant to execute agreements without the need to return the agreement to the Council or Board for approval. Otherwise, the final grant execution stage can extensively delay the grant term start date. If the authorization to execute the related documents is against the agency’s policy, they may submit just a resolution to apply for and accept a TCC award. They would then need a second resolution before the grant agreement can be executed.
12 A lesson learned from previous grant cycles is to include this streamlining measure , which allows the Lead Applicant to execute agreements without the need to return the agreement to the Council or Board for approval. Otherwise, the final grant execution stage can extensively delay the grant term start date. If the authorization to execute the related documents is against the agency’s policy, they may submit just a resolution to apply for and accept a TCC award. They would then need a second resolution before the grant agreement can be executed.
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Pre-Development Requirement
The work plans and budgets must have more clearly defined commitments, including finalized full or part-time staff hours and budget, and staff to be hired. The work plans and budgets must have clear public agency responsibilities.

10.5 Project Area 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Applicants must submit a map that demonstrates that the proposed Project Area meets the eligibility requirements described in Section 3.3. See Section 2 for information on how these requirements apply to Tribal applicants.

1. Project Area map: Submit a PDF map of the Project Area that clearly identifies the following elements:
a. A Project Area boundary
b. Major streets or landmarks within the Project Area
c. CalEnviroScreen 4.0 top 25% disadvantaged communities census tracts d. Low-income census tracts
e. Disadvantaged unincorporated areas (if applicable)
f. Areas within federally recognized Tribal boundaries (if applicable)

2. Project Area Boundary File: Submit a zip file that contains the .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj or other similar file format that comprises the proposed Project Area geospatial information.

3. Supporting Documentation for disadvantaged unincorporated community designations (if applicable):
a. Verified disadvantaged unincorporated communities status through a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) or local data as described in Section 3.3 All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Application Requirement
The policies above are required for all applicants.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Pre-Development Requirement
During the Pre-Development Phase, applicants may refine the Project Area boundary using the decision-making process outlined in the Collaborative Governance Agreement. The Project Area eligibility requirements still apply. Applicants must submit a map that demonstrates the final Project Area boundary and submit a zip folder of the shapefile or another similar geospatial data file.
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10.6 Prior Community Engagement 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Many applicants use Planning Grants to conduct community engagement. While Planning Grant applications are encouraged to be informed by the community, having community input prior to the grant application is not required.

Applicants must answer narrative questions about how the proposed activities will address their chosen Transformative.

Project Development Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Community Engagement and Climate Adaptation and Resilience are the two required Transformative Elements that Project Development Grants must address. Applicants must have conducted some prior community engagement that informed the project selection and the application. Applicants must answer narrative questions and describe activities planned for the grant term in the work plan.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Applicants must have conducted robust community engagement to inform the project selection and projects proposed in the application. Applicants must answer narrative questions and indicate the community engagement activities planned for the grant term in the work plan.

Pre-Development Requirement
The Plan Lead of the Community Engagement Plan must continue to conduct robust community engagement involving community residents and leaders throughout the Pre-Development Phase and Implementation Phase. Community engagement during these phases is meant to refine the implementation plan for the selected projects and encourage community participation. For example, if the applicant determined that there is a need for electric vehicle charging stations through prior community engagement, the engagement during the Pre-Development Phase would help determine where the chargers should be installed.

The optional Prior Community Engagement Log may be used as a log of previously completed engagement activities. A template will be provided along with the application materials. 197
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10.7 Financial Capacity 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Advance Payment
In addition to the requirements in this section, applicants who are requesting advance payment must submit additional documentation prior to receiving advance payment. (See Section 11.5:

Disbursement and accounting of funds)
Tribal Applicants
California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits are exempt from submitting any financial management information that violates their data sovereignty. An applicant who chooses not to submit any of the documentation described in this section must adequately demonstrate, through other documentation, that they have sufficient management and financial capacity to fulfill their proposed role in the TCC Grant. Application Technical Assistance providers can support the Tribal applicant in identifying and submitting alternative forms of documentation. SGC will determine whether the submitted documentation sufficiently meets this requirement and will work with the Tribal applicant to identify mutually agreeable documentation.

Planning Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Lead Applicants must answer narrative questions related to financial capacity. There is no additional documentation required.

Project Development Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Lead Applicants must submit:
• Current annual organizational budget
• Recent financial statements
• Any audit findings from the last five years
• Most recent Federal Form 990 (nonprofits only)
• IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Determination Letter (nonprofits only) The Lead Applicant must also answer narrative questions related to financial capacity.

Co-Applicants do not need to submit this information.
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Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Lead Applicants must possess the financial capacity to adhere to the reimbursement processes of the TCC Program as defined by the Collaborative Governance Agreement. See Section 11.5 for details about the reimbursement process.

Application Requirement
Lead Applicants must submit:
• Current annual organizational budget
• Recent financial statements
• Any audit findings from the last five years
• Most recent Federal Form 990 (nonprofits only)
• IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Determination Letter (nonprofits only) The Lead Applicant must also answer narrative questions related to financial capacity.

Co-Applicants do not need to submit this information.

Pre-Development Requirement
There is no Pre-Development Requirement for financial capacity. All items are due at application.

10.8 Management Capacity 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Lead Applicants must answer narrative questions related to management capacity. There is no additional documentation required.

Project Development Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
The Lead Applicant must demonstrate the ability to oversee, manage, and implement large infrastructure projects by following these requirements.

The Lead Applicant must:
• Submit documentation and a narrative explanation of having successfully completed similar work in California within the last 10 years. This could be in the form of annual reports, project close-out reports, or other similar documents. • Describe the full or part-time staff dedicated to implementation in the work plan and budget.
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• Provide the contact information of one reference who can speak to their quality and timeliness of work.

In addition, the Lead Applicant must address narrative questions on management capacity.

Co-Applicants do not need to submit supporting documentation, but must also answer narrative questions.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
It is essential for the Lead and Co-Applicants to have previous experience overseeing, managing, and implementing projects such as transportation, affordable housing, and green infrastructure projects. The Lead and Co-Applicants also must collectively possess the capacity to implement the partner coordination, community outreach, evaluation, and reporting on components critical to the grant.

Application Requirement
Both the Lead and Co-Applicants must:
• Submit documentation and a narrative explanation of having successfully completed similar work in California within the last 10 years for the Project, Plan, or grant component they are proposing to lead. This could be in the form of annual reports, project close-out reports, or other similar documents.
• Describe the full or part-time staff that will be dedicated to the grant. o Based on the experiences of previous TCC grantees, the Lead Applicant should allocate at least two full-time staff dedicated to managing the TCC grant. Co- Applicants should allocate sufficient capacity to grant administration and coordination depending on the size and complexity of the project. • Provide the contact information of one reference who can speak to their quality and timeliness of work.

Pre-Development Requirement
There is no Pre-Development Requirement for management capacity. All items are at application.

10.9 Collaborative Governance 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Refer to Section 3.2 for full details of what is required in the Collaborative Governance Structure and Collaborative Governance Agreement. Section 3.2 also contains information applicable to Tribal applicants.

Planning Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Planning Grant applicants must describe the processes the Lead and Co-Applicants will use to collaborate and make decisions throughout the grant term through narrative questions. Letters of 200
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Commitment from all Co-Applicants are required with the application. An application with a Project Area that crosses jurisdictional boundaries must have the support of a relevant public agency for each portion of the Project Area, demonstrated by a Letter of Support.

Project Development and Implementation Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Applicants must submit a worksheet that addresses all the requirements of the Collaborative Governance Agreement as listed in Section 3.2. TCC will provide this worksheet.

All Lead and Co-Applicants will need to sign the worksheet. The signatories for each organization should be individuals who will have the authority to sign the final Collaborative Governance Agreement (such as an Executive Director or City Manager).

During the Post-Award Consultation Process, applicants will turn the worksheet into a final Collaborative Governance Agreement. SGC must approve the final Collaborative Governance Agreement before it is executed. Any major decisions made before the execution of the final Collaborative Governance Agreement will be governed by the terms of the worksheet submitted at the time of application.

An application with a Project Area that crosses jurisdictional boundaries must have the support of a relevant public agency for each portion of the Project Area. All public agencies who have jurisdiction over part of the Project Area but are not Lead Applicants or Co-Applicants must submit Letters of Support.

Tribal Applicants
A Lead Applicant who is a California Native American Tribe or a Tribally-owned nonprofit applying without any Co-Applicants should instead complete a Collaborative Governance for Tribes worksheet.

10.10 Work Plan and Budget 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Applicants must submit a detailed work plan and budget. The work plan must have descriptions of each task, clear timelines, and deliverables. The budget must detail all costs by task and line item.

The budget shall address the following when applicable:
• All staff that would be dedicated to the grant, including future hires, employee benefits, promotions, and salary adjustments throughout the grant term, and professional development opportunities
• Travel expenses directly tied to the grant activities • Office supplies and equipment expenses (e.g laptops)
• Participant compensation
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• Peer-to-peer learning opportunities
• Optional contingency up to 10% of the total budget
• Indirect costs up to 15%
o See Section 8.1 for additional flexibility details for California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits.

These work plans and budgets will be refined after award. Please see Appendix E-1 for information on the Post-Award Process and Policies.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Applicants will submit a single summary budget, and for each Project and Transformative Plan, a detailed work plan and budget allocations for the Pre-Development Phase, and a high-level work plan and budget allocations for each task for the Implementation Phase. These do not need to be fully finalized but must not exceed the cost caps outlined in Section 8.3. • Summary budget that identifies the total requested grant amount. • Work plans and budgets for each Project and Plan (except for Grant Evaluation) that include:
o Narrative description of each task
o Distinct activities during the Pre-Development Phase
o Distinct activities during the Implementation Phase
o Estimated timeline to completion
Applicants should consider including the following when designing the budgets:
• One task designated explicitly for all personnel time required for grant administration, project management, invoicing, reporting, and engaging with third-party program evaluation
• A budget that accounts for additional staff that may be hired in the future, promotions, employee benefits and salary adjustments throughout the grant term, and professional development opportunities
• Travel expenses that are directly tied to the grant activities • Equipment expenses
• Participant compensation
• Contingency (5-10% required) for each Project and Plan budget • Indirect costs up to 15%
o See Section 8.1 for additional flexibility details for California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits.

Applicants must set aside 3% of the total TCC budget for Grant Evaluation, but they do not need to submit a Grant Evaluation work plan or budget during the Application Period. They also do not need to select an Evaluation Partner. All other Transformative Plans must follow the requirements above.
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Pre-Development Requirement
During the Pre-Development Phase, Lead Grantees and Partners will work with TCC staff and the TA provider to refine and provide additional details to their work plan and budgets, project schedules, and budget details. This includes the following where applicable:
• Detailed budgets with expenses itemized (quantity and cost per unit):
o Per personnel, a labor rate that may include benefits and leave (unit in hours or FTE) o Grant-required travel (unit in miles)
o Other direct costs, such as subcontractors, project designs, permitting, materials, and supplies
o Meeting expenses such as translation and interpretation services, space rental, and audio and visual rental
o Participant compensation, such as stipends or trainee wages o Expenses to hire a training provider or facilitator
o Equipment
• Project schedules with anticipated completion timelines at the month-level. • Work plans including tasks and subtasks.
o Detailed description of the subtasks
o Indicate the entity responsible for completing the subtask • Deliverables and milestones that are:
o Clear, specific, and relate directly to the subtask
o Quantified where relevant
o Identify what type of supporting documentation will fulfill deliverables Applicants must provide quotes for the purchase of any electronics and equipment above $5,000 and for subcontractors above $100,000.

For the Grant Evaluation Plan, the Lead Grantee and Partners will identify an Evaluation Partner and develop a work plan and budget.

After all tasks and subtasks are reviewed and approved, TCC staff will convert the detailed application materials into a simplified scope of work (timeline, budget, and deliverables) for Exhibit B of the grant agreement. Please see Appendix E-2 for information on the Post-Award Process and Policies.

10.11 Additional Requirements for Specific Strategies
– Implementation Grants Only 🅟🅟
Each Strategy has additional Application and Pre-Development Requirements. This includes project maps, project designs, and other granular details. Please see Appendix B for these requirements.

10.12 Leverage Funding 🅟🅟
See Section 7.7 for detailed information on leverage funding. Tribal applicants are not required to provide leverage funding.
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Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Leverage funding is not required for Planning Grants or Project Development Grants.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Implementation Grants require leverage funding. Leverage funding requirements vary:
• Applicants who qualify for the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community Funding Goal as described in Section 9.4 must leverage additional funding sources that equal a minimum of 25% of the total requested grant funds.
• Applicants who qualify for the Tribal Funding Goal (those who have a Lead Applicant that is a California Native American Tribe or a Tribally-owned nonprofit, as defined in Appendix A) do not have to provide any leverage funding. See more information at the end of this section.
• All other applicants must secure additional funding equal to at least 50% of the total requested grant amount.

Leverage funding does not need to be formally committed by the application due date, but applicants must identify potential sources and submit a leverage funding worksheet. Along with the worksheet, leverage funding should be included in Project/Plan work plans and budgets.

Stand-alone leverage projects must be documented with their own work plan and budget.

Applicants who have committed leverage funds at application should provide supporting documents for each secured funding source to be favorably considered when scoring.

Pre-Development Requirement
Applicants must secure the full leverage amount and provide supporting documentation before the Implementation Phase. If the Lead Grantee and Partners cannot meet the leverage funding requirement before the Implementation Phase, SGC will decide what to do on a case-by-case basis.

10.13 Site Control 🅟🅟🅟🅟
“Site Control” means the Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant has control of property through one or more of the following:

1. Fee title

2. A leasehold or other interest in the property with provisions that enable the interest-holder to make improvements on and encumber the property provided that the terms and conditions of any proposed lease shall permit, prior to grant funding, compliance with all program requirements
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3. An option contract or legally enforceable Letter of Commitment from the property owner to sell or lease the property, which shall extend through the anticipated date of the Program award

4. An executed disposition and development agreement, right of way, or irrevocable offer of dedication to a Public Agency

5. An executed encroachment permit for construction of improvements or facilities within the public right-of-way or on public land

6. An executed agreement with a public agency that gives the applicant exclusive rights to negotiate with the agency for the acquisition of the site; provided that the major terms of the acquisition have been agreed to by all parties

7. A land sales contract or enforceable agreement for acquisition of the property

8. Other forms of site control that give SGC assurance (equivalent to 1-7 above) that the applicant will be able to complete the Project in a timely manner and in accordance with all the requirements of the TCC Program
Planning Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
There are no eligible Planning Grant activities that require site control.

Project Development Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Site control is required for any infrastructure projects, including water supply and wastewater infrastructure and pilot projects. The Lead Applicant must demonstrate site control.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Please see Appendix B for the Strategy-specific Application and Pre-Development Requirements.

Application Requirement
Applicants that want to establish facilities or expand existing facilities on property not owned by a Lead or Co-Applicant must demonstrate site control as defined above. For all properties owned by the Lead or Co-Applicant, the Lead or Co-Applicant must provide a letter committing the property to its proposed use.

For Projects with multiple project sites that will be secured within the grant term,13 site control will be secured during implementation (e.g. for tree planting, solar installation, or other distributed

13 Examples of projects with multiple project sites that will be secured within the grant term: tree planting (Urban Greening and Green Infrastructure Strategy), single-family solar installations (Solar Installation and Decarbonized Energy Strategy), and electric vehicle charging site installation (Car Sharing and Mobility

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projects). At application, applicants must describe their process for working with property owners to secure site control agreements.

Pre-Development Requirement
If the Lead Grantee or Partners are unable to demonstrate site control, the Project may be deemed infeasible. For Projects with multiple project sites that will be secured within the grant term, Lead Grantees and Partners will finalize their process for working with property owners to secure site control agreements.

10.14 California Environmental Quality Act 🅟🅟🅟🅟
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Before submitting an Application, Lead Applicants and Co-Applicants should consult with the public agency or agencies that have permitting authority over the projects in the application to determine what is required to comply with CEQA.

The Lead Applicant and/or Co-Applicants must demonstrate and provide documentation showing that the project is CEQA compliant or report on the project’s CEQA status. They must demonstrate that any pending environmental review will be completed by the end of the first year of the grant term.

CEQA Documentation
The Lead and Co-Applicants must submit the following documentation for projects that are categorically exempt, statutorily exempt, or are not considered a project under CEQA:
• A CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE) that has been approved by the appropriate body pursuant to their obligations under CEQA or
• Documentation that the project is CEQA compliant or does not require CEQA, including but not limited to:
o A resolution adopted by the legislative body (e.g., City Council, Board of Supervisors) confirming a project’s exemption. If a resolution or similar mechanism is not available or does not exist, meeting minutes documenting the legislative body’s consideration and approval of the project’s CEQA compliance may be submitted.
o A signed letter or similar document from the head administrator of the approving entity (e.g., Planning Director)
A file-stamped Notice of Determination is required for all other projects.

Enhancement Strategy). These projects are instead required to describe their site control plan at application.
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Statutes of Limitation
SGC will notify Lead Grantees that they may begin work on a project once all Pre-Development Requirements have been met, including CEQA completion. However, projects are still subject to statutes of limitation for legal challenges, which vary depending on the type of CEQA filing and whether a CEQA filing occurs (Public Resources Code, § 21167):
• Filing a Notice of Determination: 30 days
• Filing a Notice of Exemption: 35 days
• No filing: 180 days
Lead Grantees and Partners must notify SGC when the statutes of limitations have lapsed for each project, and if any legal challenges arise. If a legal challenge is brought against a project, SGC has the authority to issue a Stop Work Order, per Section 11.7 of the Guidelines.

Tribal Applicants
SGC, Tribal applicants, and Application Technical Assistance providers will determine CEQA requirements on a project-by-project basis in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Tribal applicants should submit the CEQA documentation described above. If proposed projects are within federally recognized Tribal boundaries, this should be noted in application materials. It is not the intention of SGC to impose any additional requirements on Tribal applicants beyond what is required by existing laws and regulations.

Planning Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
There are no eligible activities under Planning Grants that would require CEQA.

Project Development Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
CEQA documentation is required for any infrastructure projects, including water supply and wastewater infrastructure projects and pilot projects. The Lead Applicant must submit CEQA documentation.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Please see Appendix B for the Strategy-specific CEQA requirements.

Application Requirement
For most Strategies, CEQA documentation is not required at the time of application, but the Lead and Co-Applicants must identify the CEQA requirements and describe the timeline for obtaining CEQA documentation during the Pre-Development Phase to demonstrate project feasibility. For 207
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Strategies or Projects with a capital improvement component, CEQA document will be required at application. See Appendix B for specific requirements.

Pre-Development Requirement
CEQA documentation is required before the Implementation Phase can begin. If the Lead Grantee and Partners cannot obtain CEQA documentation, the Project may be deemed infeasible.

10.15 Permits 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants 🅟🅟
There are no eligible activities under Planning Grants that would require permits.

Project Development Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Permits are required for any infrastructure projects, including water supply and wastewater infrastructure, and pilot projects. Applicants must identify all timelines to obtain the required permits or a notice of exemption.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Please see Appendix B for the Strategy-specific permit requirements.

Application Requirement
Applicants must identify all permits required to implement the Projects and the timelines for obtaining them or a notice of exemption.

Pre-Development Requirement
Relevant permits must be obtained before the implementation can begin. For example, if permits for construction are required, but the Lead Grantee or Partner would not be doing construction right away in the Implementation Phase, then this is not considered a relevant permit at the time. It would be OK to not have that permit yet as long as the applicant has identified the permit, when it is needed, and a plan and timeline for obtaining it. If the Lead Grantee or Partner cannot obtain permits, the project may be deemed infeasible.
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10.16 Operations and Maintenance Plans 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants 🅟🅟
There are no eligible Planning Grant activities that require operations and maintenance plans.

Planning Grants are unlikely to have components of the grant that extend beyond the TCC grant term.

Project Development Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
For Project Development Grants that include the construction of infrastructure, applicants must submit an operations and maintenance plan. This includes identifying and coordinating with the appropriate responsible parties.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Application Requirement
Applicants must identify the party responsible and funding source for the long-term operations, maintenance, and ownership of all of the components of the grant that will extend beyond the TCC grant term. This includes facilities, vehicles, urban greening, infrastructure, transportation improvements, community resilience centers, etc. Applicants must attest to being accountable for securing and coordinating with the entity who is responsible for long-term operations, maintenance, and ownership of each component in their application.

Full operations and maintenance plans are not required at application. If an applicant has this information ready, providing it could help improve an applicant’s score in Project Feasibility.

Pre-Development Requirement
All Projects will need to provide documentation of a clear and full plan for long-term operations and maintenance.

If a Project does provide documentation of the long-term operations and maintenance plan, the Project may be deemed infeasible.

10.17 Long-term Use and Ownership 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
The following section outlines the long-term governing principles for ownership of Project equipment, vehicles, or infrastructure funded by the TCC grant.

Equipment
The Lead Grantee, Partner, or Subcontractor must be the sole owner on the title of any equipment purchased or built with funds that are reimbursable as a direct cost of the TCC Project, as 209
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determined by SGC. During the Implementation Phase, equipment must be dedicated to the described use in the same proportion and scope as was in the grant agreement, unless SGC agrees otherwise in writing. On completion or early termination of the grant agreement, the State will either require that the equipment be returned or authorize the continued use of such equipment at the Project Area; in making that determination, the State will consider the useful life of the equipment, and the Lead Grantee may be required to refund the State for the fair market value of equipment that continues to have a usable life, but is no longer required for Project implementation. The Lead Grantee will be required to maintain an inventory record for each piece of non-expendable equipment purchased or built with funds provided under the terms of a grant agreement.

Vehicles
For any vehicles acquired with funds that are reimbursable as a direct cost of the TCC Project, the Lead Grantee, Project/Plan Lead, or Subcontractor, as applicable, must be the sole owner on title.

Vehicles acquired, including, but not limited to, bicycles, cars, buses, vans, rail passenger equipment, must be maintained in a state of good repair and dedicated to the described use within the grant term and to public transportation use for their full useful life.

Infrastructure
For any rights of way, real and personal property, leases, improvements, and infrastructure funded as a reimbursable direct cost of the TCC Project, the Lead Grantee, Project/Plan Lead, or an appropriate public agency or subcontractor, as applicable, must be the sole owner of the title or leasehold. Each site acquired or improved upon with TCC funding must be maintained in a state of good repair and remain permanently dedicated to the described use for its full useful life.

If the ownership or use of equipment, vehicles, or infrastructure changes to a use not in accordance with the TCC Guidelines or grant agreement, the Lead Grantee may be required to reimburse the State in a manner determined by SGC.

10.18 Interviews 🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Interviews are not required for Planning or Project Development Grant applicants.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
After application review and scoring, top-scoring applicants will be invited to a required interview.

The interview replaces the site visit used in earlier rounds and gives applicants the opportunity to share key elements of their Vision, Strategies and Projects, and community partnerships that may not have been fully captured in their written application. Interview scores will be combined along with the written application scores to help determine final ranking.

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Interview Scheduling, Format, and Scoring
Interview Scheduling
• Interviews will be scheduled for the top-scoring applicants who meet all threshold criteria. • The Lead Applicant will be contacted to coordinate availability, and TCC staff will provide a calendar invitation in advance.
• The Lead Applicant will receive all interview questions, including any application-specific questions, at least 72 hours before their scheduled interview.

Interview Format
• The interview will be conducted through an online format, such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
• Total time: Approximately 45-60 minutes.
o First 10–20 minutes: Applicant has the option to present. The Lead and Co- Applicants may use slides, but they are not required. The presentation will not be scored. The Lead and Co-Applicants will not be penalized if they choose not to provide a presentation.
o Next 20–40 minutes: Review panel will ask five questions (four standard questions for all applicants and one question specific to the application). • The interview will be conversational and focused on substance, not formality. • TCC staff and interagency review panelists will participate as interviewers. Interpreter support will be available by request.
• The Lead Applicant must include at least one representative. Co-Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. Contractors and consultants may not attend.

Interview Scoring and Evaluation
• The interview will be scored out of 10 points, which will be added to the total score. • There are five categories, each worth up to 2 points. (See Section 9.7: Scoring criteria)

10.19 Program Policy Priorities 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Consistency with Existing Local Land Use and Transportation Plans 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
All applications must be consistent with relevant local or regional plans such as:
• General plans
• Local hazard mitigation plans
• Climate action plans
• Tribally-led and created plans
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• Zoning
• Building intensity and density requirements
• Design guidelines
• Other applicable plans, goals, policies, designations, and programs Planning Grant applications may also include efforts to revise land use plans consistent with the jurisdiction’s goals and policies.

P
lanning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
A
pplication Requirement
Applicants must provide a letter signed by the local jurisdiction’s Planning and Public Works Departments, or equivalents, to verify that the application is consistent with all of the items listed above.

I
mplementation Grants 🅟🅟
A
pplication Requirement
Applicants must provide a letter signed by the local jurisdiction’s Planning and Public Works Departments, or equivalents, to verify that the application is consistent with all of the items listed above. Additionally, this letter should certify that the Planning and Public Works Department will work with the applicant during the Pre-Development Phase to make sure the final application is still consistent.

Pre-Development Requirement
The Lead Grantee must have a final letter signed by the jurisdiction’s Planning and Public Works Departments verifying that the final TCC Projects are consistent with existing local land use and transportation plans.

High-Speed Rail Connectivity – Implementation Grants Only 🅟🅟 This section only applies to applicants from cities with planned High-Speed Rail stations along the initial “Silicon Valley to Central Valley Line.” The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2018 Business Plan describes the plan to complete construction of the initial “Silicon Valley to Central Valley Line” from San Francisco to Bakersfield and begin providing passenger service by 2027. To leverage the State’s investment in High-Speed Rail and support its successful implementation, and ensure that economic benefits, job opportunities, and environmental improvements result to neighborhoods immediately surrounding the High-Speed Rail station area, applicants from cities with planned High-Speed Rail stations along the initial “Silicon Valley to Central Valley Line” must assure that the TCC Project Area includes the following in its application:
• Multimodal connectivity to the High-Speed Rail station area, including pedestrian, active transportation, and complete streets improvements that encourage dense mixed-use development within the station area
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• Affordable and mixed-income housing (if proposed) is connected and accessible to the High-Speed Rail station area
• Support community engagement on station area design and implementation P
lanning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
H
igh-Speed Rail connectivity requirements do not apply to and are not required for Planning Grants and Project Development Grants. However, if Planning and Project Development applicants eventually want to apply for an Implementation Grant in future rounds, they should be aware of what the High-Speed Rail connectivity requirements are. Preparing for these requirements is an eligible activity in their Planning or Project Development application.

I
mplementation Grants 🅟🅟
A
pplication Requirement
Applicants must submit a map of existing and proposed multi-modal connectivity to the High- Speed Rail station area. If affordable and mixed-income housing is proposed, applicants must demonstrate on the map that it is connected and accessible to the High-Speed Rail station area.

The Community Engagement Plan must also include tasks on supporting station area design and implementation. They must also answer narrative questions on how these elements will connect to the High-Speed Rail.

Pre-Development Requirement
Applicants must submit a final Project Area map that demonstrates multi-modal connectivity to the High-Speed Rail station area and the location of affordable and mixed-income housing that is connected and accessible to the High-Speed Rail station area via active transportation, complete streets, or transit.

The Community Engagement Plan must describe how it will support engagement on High-Speed Rail station area design and implementation.

Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructure, and Transit Connectivity - Implementation Grants Only 🅟🅟
Applicants must demonstrate that residents in the proposed TCC Project Area have existing access or have developed plans and secured funding to implement:
• Water supply and wastewater infrastructure, with long-term operations and maintenance plans, in compliance with State Water Board clean drinking water standards. • Transit connectivity to regional service hubs and major job centers through affordable, clean transportation projects.

SGC recognizes that the lack of this infrastructure is an existing barrier in many disadvantaged communities. Applicants can request up to 10% (25% for California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits) of requested TCC funds to support projects connecting residents to water supply and wastewater infrastructure (new or remedial connections). For disadvantaged 213
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unincorporated communities, requests for more than 10% will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For Tribal and disadvantaged unincorporated community applicants, requests for non- water/wastewater infrastructure will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Application Requirement
Applicants must answer narrative questions on the Project Area’s existing access to water supply and wastewater infrastructure and long-term operations and maintenance plans, or a developed plan to obtain and maintain water supply and wastewater infrastructure.

Applicants must also answer narrative questions on the existing or proposed transit connectivity to regional service hubs and major job centers.

Pre-Development Requirement
Applicants must submit any additional verification or final plans that TCC staff and TA providers deem necessary.

Air Pollution Reduction and Mitigation - Implementation Grants Only 🅟🅟 The TCC Program will incentivize Implementation Grant applications that propose actions or include existing meaningful efforts to reduce localized point sources of pollution in their TCC Project Areas and jurisdictions. TCC’s air pollution priority emphasizes reducing particulate matter emissions and toxic air contaminants due to their disproportionate health impacts in disadvantaged communities.

Examples of policies and programs that reduce or mitigate sources of pollution include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Enforcement programs ensuring compliance with point-source emission limits. • Programs with clear implementation actions related to reducing pollution from existing heavy industries.
• Land use restrictions associated with separating polluting land uses from sensitive receptors.

For these policies to be eligible, each policy must include clear implementation actions and timelines, or dedicated activities related to the passage of such policies or programs. A list of qualifying Air Pollution Reduction and Mitigation policies and programs are listed in Appendix F.

Application Requirement
Applicants who are seeking these incentive points must answer narrative questions about their existing and proposed air pollution prevention and mitigation policies and programs.

Pre-Development Requirement
Applicants who were awarded incentive points must finalize air pollution reduction and mitigation policies and programs they are committing to address through the grant and develop concrete implementation plans.
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Prohousing Policies - Implementation Grants Only 🅟🅟
The TCC program will provide maximum points for applications located in jurisdictions awarded Prohousing Designation by the Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) by the TCC application due date.14 Partial points are available to applicants whose Project Areas are in jurisdictions that have applied for Prohousing designation by the TCC application due date and are awaiting designation from HCD.

The Prohousing policy incentive will not apply to applications located within federally recognized Tribal boundaries. These applications will receive maximum points in this category.

Application Requirement
Applicants must answer narrative questions regarding their Prohousing policies.

Pre-Development Requirement
Applicants who were awarded partial incentive points must provide SGC with evidence of the final Prohousing designation.

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Section 11. Grant Administration and
Program Expectations
Summary of Section 11:

This section contains a brief description of the grant administration responsibilities and expectations for the TCC Program.
• Grant terms are two to six years, depending on grant type. • Awarded applicants will go through a Post-Award Consultation Process before executing a grant agreement.
• Advance payment may be available in certain circumstances. • Lead Grantees and Partners must comply with reporting and monitoring requirements. • Lead Grantees and Partners must comply with other requirements, including those related to Prevailing Wage, publicity, and audit and record retention.

For additional information, refer to Appendix I – Sample grant agreement.

11.1 Grant Terms 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning and Project Development grant terms are two years, with the option to extend an additional year on a case-by-case basis.

Implementation Grant terms are six years:
• Up to nine-month Pre-Development Phase
• Approximately three-month administrative transition from the Pre-Development Phase to the Implementation Phase
• Four-year Implementation Phase
• One-year Evaluation Phase when outcomes will be monitored, and grant close-out activities will conclude

11.2 Lead Grantee, Partners, and Subcontractors
🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
The grant agreement will only be executed between SGC and the Lead Applicant. SGC will not enter any contractual relationship with any Co-Applicants or subcontractors.

Once the grant has been awarded, the Lead Applicant will be referred to as the “Lead Grantee” and Co-Applicants will be referred to as “Partners.” SGC strongly recommends the Lead Grantee enter contractual and legally binding subagreements with each Partner. These subagreements, along with the Collaborative Governance Agreement, will help govern the relationship between the Lead Grantee and Partners.
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11.3 Strategic Growth Council and Department of
Conservation 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
The TCC Program is administered by the Strategic Growth Council in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC). Grant agreements will be executed between the Lead Grantee and SGC, but Lead Grantees will work closely with DOC during grant implementation.

11.4 Post-Award Consultation Process 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Applicants selected for award will be required to participate in a Post-Award Consultation Process (PAC Process) prior to finalizing the grant agreement, which outlines the grant terms. During the PAC Process, the State will assist the awardee in refining the grant agreement and all accompanying attachments to comply with administrative, statutory, and TCC Program requirements. Awardees will be required to meet with TCC staff and provide all required documentation related to Pre-Development Requirements, work plans, budgets, and other requested documentation during that time. Failure to complete the review and to sign the grant agreement may result in SGC rescinding the grant award. Appendix E details the process from receiving the award to having a fully executed grant agreement with a detailed work plan and budget.

For Planning Grants and Project Development Grants, the Lead Grantee and Partners will only participate in the Post-Award Consultation Process and will not participate in a Pre-Development Phase.

For Implementation Grants, the Lead Grantee and Partners will participate in the Post-Award Consultation Process phase and the Pre-Development Phase. The Pre-Development phase will last up to nine months. Please see Section 6.7 for information on these phases.

11.5 Disbursement and Accounting of Funds 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
All Grant Types 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
• Lead Grantees and Partners cannot request advance payment or reimbursement for any costs that were incurred or any work that was completed before the grant was executed. • Tribes will not be required to sign a Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity to receive payments on a reimbursement basis from SGC through the TCC Program.

Advance Payment
State legislation authorizes SGC to provide certain Lead Grantees advance payments of TCC grant awards. As of September 2025, only Tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofits are authorized by law to receive advance payment through TCC. SGC may provide advance payments to other organizations if they become eligible. SGC may approve advance payments under this grant at its sole discretion. All requests for advance payments shall be submitted to SGC in writing (Advance 217
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Pay Request Form to be provided), along with complete documentation of the Lead Grantee’s eligibility for advance payments in accordance with Government Code sections 11019.1 and 11019.3. Any material changes to the request form must be reported to SGC within 30 days. All advance payments and the amount of any advance payment are subject to SGC’s policies and discretion and satisfactory submittal of information through the Advance Pay Request Form. Any qualifying entity receiving advance payment will be required to demonstrate the ability to meet statutory requirements regulating the provision of advance payment.

All Native American Tribes eligible for TCC may also be eligible for advance pay. A Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity may be required to receive advance payment.

Disbursement Process
Disbursement of funds will occur in accordance with the terms outlined in the grant agreement and applicable state laws, including the California Prompt Payment Act. Lead Grantees must submit complete and accurate invoices or reimbursement requests, along with any required supporting documentation, to initiate payment. Upon receipt of a properly submitted and undisputed invoice, the State will process payment within 45 calendar days via check, in compliance with the California Prompt Payment Act. Payment delays may occur if invoices are incomplete, disputed, or submitted outside of agreed-upon reporting schedules. Interest penalties may apply for late payments as specified under the Prompt Payment Act. SGC encourages Lead Grantees and Partners to maintain clear documentation and adhere to all reporting and invoicing requirements to ensure timely disbursement.

Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
• Lead Grantees may request reimbursement from SGC on a quarterly basis (every three months).
• SGC will retain the last 5% of the grant funds, to be paid once the State has determined that the grant terms have been fulfilled.

For reimbursement payments, Partners (Co-Applicants during the Application Period) must invoice the Lead Grantee (Lead Applicant during the Application Period) before the Lead Grantee submits an invoice to SGC. The Lead Grantee will be responsible for compiling all invoices, supporting documentation, and reporting materials for themselves and their Partners into a single package.

Once SGC approves the package for payment, funds will be disbursed to the Lead Grantee. The Lead Grantee is responsible for disbursing payment to their Partners.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
• Lead Grantees may request reimbursement from SGC on a bimonthly basis (every two months).
• SGC will retain the last 5% of each Project and Plan budget, to be paid once the State has determined that the grant terms have been fulfilled.

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an invoice to SGC. The Lead Grantee will be responsible for compiling all invoices, supporting documentation, and reporting materials for themselves and the Partners into a single package.

Once SGC approves the package for payment, funds will be disbursed to the Lead Grantee. The Lead Grantee is responsible for disbursing payment to their Partners.

11.6 Reporting Requirements 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟
Lead Grantees and Partners are responsible for the following reporting:

Progress Reports
• Lead Grantees and Partners must submit a joint Quarterly Progress Report with each invoice to track the work completed during the reporting period, including tracking of expended advance payment funds and interest earned, as applicable. • Advance payment recipients will submit a Spending Plan prior to receipt and an Expenditure Report following the complete expenditure of an advance payment that includes a summary of work completed.
• Lead Grantees and Partners must submit a joint Final Report on the overall status of the grant, including lessons learned, barriers, and success stories.

TCC staff will input information from these reports into two systems for collecting and reporting program and project data to meet bond requirements and other statutory requirements: the Agency Bonds Consolidated Reporting System (ABCRS) and the Resources Agency Project Tracking and Reporting (RAPTR) System.

Lead Grantees and Partners may need to comply with additional reporting requirements to comply with Climate Bond requirements.

Implementation Grants 🅟🅟
Lead Grantees and Partners are responsible for four categories of reporting:
• Progress Reports
• Budget Reports
• Grant Evaluation
• Implementation Phase Reports
Progress Reports
• Lead Grantees and Partners must submit a joint Bimonthly Progress Report with each invoice and/or budget report to track the work and deliverables completed during the reporting period, including tracking of expended advance payment funds and interest earned, as applicable.
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• Lead Grantees and Partners must submit a joint Annual Progress Reports to report on the overall status of the grant. They will include high-level questions not captured in the bimonthly updates.

Budget Reports
• Lead Grantees and Partners will report expenditures of leveraged funds annually (once per year) and at the end of the grant term.
• Lead Grantees and Partners will report an inventory of purchased equipment annually (once per year) and at the end of the grant term.
• Lead Grantees and Partners will revise detailed work plans and budgets, including tracking of expended advance payment funds, on a regular basis, typically alongside grant agreement modifications or amendments. These documents will contain more detail than the grant agreement and will be used as administrative tracking tools between the Lead Grantee, Partners, and SGC.
• Advance pay recipients will submit a Spending Plan prior to receipt and an Expenditure Report following the complete expenditure of an advance payment that includes a summary of work completed.

Grant Evaluation
• Lead Grantees and Partners must comply with the stages of Grant Evaluation, as described in Section 7.2 Grant Evaluation.

Implementation Phase Reports
• Project/Plan Leads will submit Project Completion Reports as each Project and Plan completes all deliverables in its work plan.
• Lead Grantees and Partners will submit a joint Final Report at the end of the grant term.

TCC staff will input information from these reports into two systems for collecting and reporting program and project data to meet bond requirements and other statutory requirements: the Agency Bonds Consolidated Reporting System (ABCRS) and the Resources Agency Project Tracking and Reporting (RAPTR) System.

Lead Grantees and Partners may need to comply with additional reporting requirements to comply with Climate Bond requirements.

11.7 Check-ins and Monitoring 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
TCC staff will monitor progress throughout the grant term through invoicing and reporting, evaluation, and regular check-ins with Lead Grantees (twice a month for Implementation Grants and monthly for Project Development and Planning Grants). Throughout the grant term, Partners should promptly elevate challenges, anticipated delays, or other issues that may affect the success of the grant to the Lead Grantee. Lead Grantees should promptly elevate these issues to TCC staff.
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Each Partner will meet at least twice a year with TCC staff and the Lead Grantee to provide a detailed update on their progress. TCC staff and Partners may request additional meetings outside of this schedule.

The goal of these meetings is to actively explore opportunities and areas where Partners can thrive with additional support. During these discussions, Partners will share their progress, celebrate successes, tackle challenges, and express their needs in a collaborative environment. TCC staff, the Lead Grantee, and the Partner will strategize, adjust, find a resolution, and take appropriate action.

Performance 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
To ensure the Lead Grantee is on track, regular performance evaluations and progress assessments will be necessary to monitor compliance with the grant agreement and identify areas requiring improvement.

SGC has sole discretion to determine if the Lead Grantee is performing in accordance with the grant agreement. Non-performance issues can include but are not limited to:
misuse of funding for ineligible expenses; failure to comply with Guidelines or requirements; inability to meet performance requirements or scheduled milestones; failure to complete or failure to make a good faith effort to complete the awarded TCC Project as a whole or any components; and/or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant agreement. • SGC will notify the Lead Grantee, in writing, if non-performance is determined, and will provide instructions and a timeline to rectify all cases of non-performance. • The Lead Grantee must respond to a determination of non-performance within thirty (30) days either by a) acting on corrective actions and notifying SGC of actions taken, or b) disputing SGC’s findings in writing.
• SGC, without waiver of other rights or remedies, may require the Lead Grantee to re- perform any actions defined in this grant agreement if determined not to have been performed in accordance with the grant agreement. SGC may withhold any payments due to the Lead Grantee until the Lead Grantee brings the grant or any component of the grant back into full compliance. Costs and expenses for these actions shall be borne by the applicable Lead Grantee, Partner, or Subcontractor.
• SGC has the right to issue a Stop Work Order for any component of the grant and suspend payments to the Lead Grantee. If applicable, SGC reserves the right to issue a Stop Work Order if there is a breach in the leverage funding commitments that put components of the Project at risk of not being completed.
• Both SGC and the Lead Grantee have the right to terminate the grant agreement throughout the grant term upon thirty (30) calendar days of written notice. The written notice must specify the reason for early termination and may permit SGC or the Lead Grantee to rectify any deficiencies prior to the termination date.

11.8 Prevailing Wage Requirements 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
TCC-funded projects may be subject to State Prevailing Wage Requirements, pursuant to Section 1700 of the California Labor Code. The California Labor Code requires payment of locally prevailing wages to workers and laborers on state government contracts more than $1,000 for 221
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public works projects. A “public work” is the construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, or maintenance work done under contract and paid for in whole or in part out of public funds. The definition applies to private contracts when certain conditions exist. The Lead Grantee can identify additional stipulations and exceptions under Cal. Labor Code § 1720 et seq.

The Lead Grantee must ensure the following on public works activities under this grant agreement:
• Prevailing Wages are paid.
• The Project budget and invoices for labor reflect Prevailing Wage requirements, or if exempt, provide the applicable exemption to SGC with the Project budget. • The Project complies with all other requirements of Prevailing Wage law, including, but not limited to, keeping accurate payroll records, and complying with all working hour requirements and apprenticeship obligations.

The Lead Grantee shall ensure that its Partners and Subcontractors, if any, also comply with Prevailing Wage requirements. The Lead Grantee shall ensure that all agreements with its Partners and Subcontractors to perform work related to this Project contain the above terms regarding payment of prevailing wages on public works projects.

The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) is the primary resource for consultation on the requirements of California's prevailing wage law.
• The Lead Grantee can identify the rates for prevailing wage on the DIR website (See http://www.dir.ca.gov)
... The Lead Grantee may contact DIR for a list of covered trades and the applicable prevailing wage.
• If the Lead Grantee is unsure whether the TCC Project or individual Projects receiving this award is a “public work” as defined in the California Labor Code, it may wish to seek a timely determination from the DIR or an appropriate court.

If the Lead Grantee has questions about this contractual requirement, recordkeeping, apprenticeship, or other significant requirements of California Prevailing Wage law, it is recommended the Lead Grantee consult DIR and/or a qualified labor attorney.

11.9 Publicity Requirements 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
TCC Lead Grantees and Partners are encouraged to use SGC and the Department of Conservation (DOC) names and/or logos for all publications, websites, signage, invitations, and other media- related and public-outreach products related to the TCC grant. Lead Grantees and Partners are required to adhere to the Climate Bond publicity requirements outlined in the grant agreement, as detailed in the TCC Publicity Guidelines attachment.

11.10 Audit and Record Retention 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
All records, physical and electronic, must be adequately protected from loss, damage, or destruction for possible audit(s). The Lead Grantee agrees that the State or designated representative will have the right during normal business hours to review and to copy any records and supporting documentation pertaining to the performance of the grant agreement and interview any employees who might reasonably have information related to such records. 222
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Further, the Lead Grantee agrees to include a similar right of the State to audit records and interview staff of any Partners and Subcontractors related to performance of the grant agreement. • The Lead Grantee, Partners, and Subcontractors must maintain copies of project records four (4) years after all terms of the grant agreement are fulfilled, unless a longer period of records retention is stipulated.
• The State retains the right to conduct an audit each year within the grant term and up to four (4) years after all terms under the grant agreement are fulfilled. • The State may require recovery of payment from the Lead Grantee, issue a Stop Work Order, or terminate the grant agreement, as warranted, based on an audit finding, or any other remedies available in law or equity.

The Lead Grantee agrees to include a similar right of the State to audit records and interview staff of any subcontract related to performance of this grant agreement. 223
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Section 12. Technical Assistance
Summary of Section 12:

Technical assistance (TA) will be available to eligible applicants to support the following grant phases:
• Application
• Pre-Development Phase
• Implementation Phase
• Evaluation Phase
SGC will prioritize applicants to all grant types from Tribal communities and disadvantaged unincorporated communities to receive Technical Assistance.

12.1 Application Technical Assistance 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟
To support the development of competitive applications, SGC will offer Application Technical Assistance from third-party technical assistance providers to eligible applicants for TCC Implementation, Project Development, and Planning Grants. Receiving Application Technical Assistance does not guarantee that an applicant will be awarded a grant.

SGC will prioritize Lead Applicants that are California Native American Tribes or Tribally-owned nonprofits or applicants whose Project Areas are in disadvantaged unincorporated communities for Technical Assistance for all grant types. Application Technical Assistance services may be available to additional applicants depending on funding availability and third-party technical assistance provider capacity. SGC will make decisions on a case-by-case basis. SGC encourages all applicants interested in receiving Application Technical Assistance to submit the Technical Assistance Request Form.

Unfortunately, third-party Technical Assistance is not currently available for all applicants.

Application Technical Assistance may be available for additional applicants on a case-by-case basis based on third-party technical assistance provider capacity. SGC staff will provide general Application Technical Assistance to all applicants by offering application webinars and distributing supportive materials as needed which could include recorded videos, samples, or other written materials. Applicants may apply for Technical Assistance using the Technical Assistance Request 224
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Form. All applicants, regardless of Application Technical Assistance eligibility status, may submit questions regarding guidelines and application materials to program staff at [email protected].

Application Technical Assistance activities may include, but are not limited to:
• Direct application development assistance, including review of responses and application coordination
• Financial analysis and budget development
• Identification of Project Area, integration of Projects, and cost estimates • Assessment of project feasibility
• Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping assistance The information you provide to technical assistance providers will not influence your application’s competitiveness. Only your application score will influence the award selection.

12.2 Pre-Development Phase Technical Assistance 🅟🅟
During the Pre-Development Phase, SGC will provide Pre-Development Technical Assistance to Implementation Grant Lead Grantees and Partners through TCC staff and a third-party technical assistance provider. Pre-Development Technical Assistance is designed to support Lead Grantees and Partners as you work towards meeting all Pre-Development Requirements.

Technical assistance providers will provide support and guidance in the following areas:
• Setting up grant management systems and procedures
• Refining detailed work plans and budgets for all Projects and Plans • Meeting all other Pre-Development Requirements (See Section 10)

12.3 Implementation Technical Assistance 🅟🅟
Representatives of SGC, DOC, and other state entities will provide Implementation Technical Assistance and other support throughout the implementation of your TCC grant award.

Depending on available funding, SGC may fund third-party technical assistance for Implementation Grantees and will prioritize Tribal Lead Grantees who receive Implementation Grants.

Additional support conducted by SGC may include but is not limited to:
• Assistance in attracting and leveraging additional financing • Assistance in implementing Projects and Transformative Plans • Assistance strengthening organizational capacity to integrate implementation efforts

12.4 Evaluation Technical Assistance 🅟🅟
Applicants awarded Implementation Grants are required to allocate 3% of the awarded grant funds to be put toward hiring of a pre-qualified, third-party Evaluation Partner to assist with grant evaluation throughout grant implementation. Please see Section 7.2 for more information on Grant Evaluation.
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During the Post-Award Consultation Process and Pre-Development Phase, you will select your Evaluation Partner. The Evaluation Partner will enter into direct grant agreement with SGC.

Evaluation Partners will support Lead Grantees and Partners with tracking and documenting the Project’s progress and impact through the following:
• Development of a Site-Specific Evaluation Plan to assess the holistic impacts of the Project
• Development of an Indicator Tracking Plan to assess the specific indicators for each Project
• Development of reporting tools and a technical assistance plan to support Lead Grantee and Partners with gathering and reporting of data
• Assistance with processing of data and delivering required annual reports to SGC • Participation in evaluation activities such as focus groups, surveys, and interviews • Case studies to communicate TCC stories with the public and external partners • Process Evaluation Memos providing feedback on the TCC program design and implementation process
• Presentation of evaluation findings
• Reports on TCC Projects
Reporting is required during key stages of the grant cycle:
• Annually or biannually during the Implementation Phase • Final Report during Evaluation Phase
TCC staff will provide final guidance for the required deliverables and timeline for Round 6 after awards are made.

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Section 13. List of Appendices
Appendix A – Terms and definitions ....................................................................................... 147 Appendix B – TCC-funded Projects by Strategy 🅟🅟 .................................................................. 157 Eligible Application Requirements ..................................................................................... 157 Strategy 1: Equitable Housing and Neighborhood Development ......................................... 158 Strategy 2: Land Acquisition for Neighborhood Stabilization ............................................... 164 Strategy 3: Transit Access and Mobility Strategy ................................................................ 168 Strategy 3.1: Active Transportation .................................................................................... 169 Strategy 3.2: Transit and Rail Access ................................................................................. 172 Strategy 3.3: Car Sharing and Mobility Enhancement ......................................................... 176 Strategy 4: Solar Installation, Energy Efficiency, and Appliance Electrification .................... 178 Strategy 5: Water Efficiency and Resiliency ........................................................................ 185 Strategy 6: Recycling, Composting, and Waste Reduction .................................................. 189 Strategy 7: Urban Greening and Green Infrastructure ......................................................... 192 Strategy 8: Health Equity and Well-Being ........................................................................... 195 Strategy 9: Indoor Air Quality ............................................................................................. 199 Strategy 10: Community Microgrids ................................................................................... 203 Strategy 11: Brownfield Redevelopment ............................................................................ 206 Strategy 12: Community Resilience Centers ..................................................................... 211 Strategy 13: Other Climate Innovation ............................................................................... 215 Appendix C – Transformative Elements 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟 ....................................................................... 217 Appendix C-1: Community Engagement Plan Examples ..................................................... 217 Appendix C-2: Displacement Avoidance Plan Examples ..................................................... 219 Appendix C-3: Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities Plan Examples and Resources ........................................................................................................................ 223 Appendix C-4: Climate Adaptation and Resilience Examples.............................................. 224 Appendix D – Collaborative Governance Structure 🅟🅟🅟🅟 .......................................................... 226 Governance and conflict resolution ................................................................................... 226 Representation ................................................................................................................. 226 Appendix E-1 – Post-Award Process and policies – Planning Grants and Project Development Grants 🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟🅟 ........................................................................................................................ 228 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 228 227
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A
ppendix E-2 – Post-Award Process and policies – Implementation Grants 🅟🅟 ........................
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Summary .......................................................................................................................... 232 Appendix F – Air pollution reduction and mitigation ............................................................... 239 Policies and programs to reduce or mitigate local air pollution ........................................... 239 Appendix H – Frequently asked questions ............................................................................. 244 Appendix I – Sample grant agreement ................................................................................... 247

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Appendix A – Terms and Definitions
Applicant(s)
Lead Applicants and Co-Applicants are collectively referred to as “applicants.” See definitions for “Lead Applicant” and “Co-Applicant.”
Application
A submittal comprised of responses and supporting documents to apply for an Implementation, Project Development, or Planning Grant.

Application Requirement
Application Requirements are items that are due by the application due date. This is different from Pre-Development Requirements, which are items that are not due by the application due date but must be completed during the nine-month Pre-Development Phase, and before the grant is implemented. See “Pre-Development Requirement.”
Awarded
The Strategic Growth Council has voted to make an award to an applicant and commits funding to the proposed project(s).

California Air Resources Board (CARB)
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) was established by the California Legislature in 1967 to attain and maintain healthy air quality, conduct research into the causes of and solutions to air pollution, and implement measures to reduce air pollution caused by motor vehicles - the major cause of air pollution in the State. CARB provides funding guidance to state agencies that implement California Climate Investment programs, such as the TCC Program.

California Climate Investments (CCI)
Programs funded through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund using auction proceeds from the Cap-and-Trade Program and administered by state agencies in transportation, energy, natural resources, and waste sectors. These programs fund projects that provide greenhouse gas reductions and other important co-benefits to California, including benefits to residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households.

California Native American Tribe
A “California Native American Tribe” is a federally recognized Native American Tribe or a non- federally recognized Native American Tribe listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission on February 19, 2026).

California Strategic Growth Council (SGC)
California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) administers the TCC Program. SGC was established by Senate Bill 732 (Steinberg, Statutes of 2007, Chapter 729) and is charged with four main tasks to encourage the development of sustainable communities. These tasks include the following:
• Identify and review activities and funding programs of member state agencies that may be coordinated to improve air and water quality, improve natural resource protection, increase the availability of affordable housing, improve transportation, meet the goals of 229
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the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, encourage sustainable land use planning, and revitalize urban and community centers in a sustainable manner. • Recommend policies and investment strategies and priorities to the Governor, the Legislature, and to appropriate state agencies to encourage the development of sustainable communities.
• Provide, fund, and distribute data and information to local governments, and regional agencies that will assist in planning and developing sustainable communities. • Award and manage grants and loans to support the planning and development of sustainable communities.

Climate Adaptation
Adaptation to climate change refers to adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.
15 Climate Bond
In November 2024, California voters passed Proposition 4, a $10 billion General Obligation Bond called the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. It is also commonly known as the “Climate Bond.” This bond will provide funding to support TCC’s Round 6 work through projects that “provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits, and improve the resilience of priority populations.” Climate Resilience
Resilience as it relates to climate change is the capacity of any entity – an individual, a community, an organization, or a natural system – to prepare for disruptions, to recover from shocks and stresses, and to adapt and grow from a disruptive experience.16 Co-Applicant
An entity other than the Lead Applicant that enters into a partnership with other organizations for the purpose of applying for a TCC grant. Once awarded, referred to as a “Partner.” Collaborative Governance Agreement
A Collaborative Governance Agreement is an agreement between two or more parties that is not legally binding and outlines the responsibilities of each of the parties to the agreement. This is required of all members of the Collaborative Governance Structure. Applicants whose Project Area crosses municipal boundaries, federally recognized Tribal territory boundaries, or similarly relevant jurisdictional boundaries must include additional requirements in the Collaborative Governance Agreement.

15 Glossary of Climate Change Terms. Office of Air and Radiation/Office of Atmospheric Programs/Climate Change Division. September 9, 2013
16 Rodin, Judith. 2014. The Resilience Dividend: Being Strong in a World Where Things Go Wrong.

Philadelphia: Perseus Books Group
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Community-based Organization (CBO)
A public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that is representative of a community or significant segments of a community and provides educational or related services to individuals in the community.17
Community-serving facility
A community-serving facility is defined as a physical location designed to serve residents of the Project Area for cultural or community activities or for the provision of community services.

Examples of community-serving facility include but are not limited to the following facilities:

Multifamily Housing, Senior Housing, Community Centers, Resource Centers, Community Food Access Centers, Cooling or Heating Centers, Medical/Health Centers, Fire Stations, Food Banks, Libraries, Community Colleges.

Examples of Non-Qualifying Facilities: Airports, Industrial Uses, Commercial Uses.

Community Engagement
The process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the well-being of those people.18
Corporate entity
A corporate entity is a business or organization recognized by law as having a separate legal existence from its owners or members. This means it can enter into contracts, own property, sue or be sued, and conduct business in its own name. Essentially, it's a legal "person" created by law, distinct from the individuals who own or run it.

Direct Costs
Costs directly tied to the implementation of the TCC grant, including, but not limited to: personnel costs, subcontracts, equipment costs, travel expenses, etc.

Disadvantaged Communities
Designation of census tracts and physical locations used to identify the areas most affected by pollution and the people most vulnerable to its effects, based on geographic, socioeconomic, public health, and environmental hazards criteria. The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) historically bases designations on analyses conducted by the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen) but can also exercise discretion in developing other criteria and methods.

Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community/Area
An unincorporated area that meets one or more of the criteria in these Guidelines as “disadvantaged.” Criteria may include pollution burden, socioeconomic burden, and population and land use density factors used to define the bounds of a community.

17 U.S.C. § 9101(6).
18 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, June 2011. Principles of Community Engagement. 231
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Displacement
Residential displacement is considered to be occurring when households are forced to move from, or are prevented from moving into, a Project Area which was previously accessible to them due to conditions that:
• Are beyond the reasonable ability of households to control or prevent (e.g., rent increases) • Occur despite households having met all previously imposed conditions of occupancy • Make continued occupancy by households impossible, hazardous, or unaffordable Displacement can result from gentrification when neighborhoods become financially out of reach for people or can occur at earlier stages through disinvestment, increasing vacancies and facilitating demographic turnover.
19 Displacement manifests itself in many forms, from physical (i.e., evictions or service disruption) to economic (i.e., very high and/or frequent rent increases and sharp increases in housing costs relative to comparable neighborhoods).

Enforceable Funding Commitments
A funding requirement for affordable housing project. Please see Appendix B, Strategy 1 and the AHSC Round 9 Guidelines for more information.

Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) The State’s comprehensive planning agency charged to accelerate innovation and implementation of various intersectional initiatives that support California For All.

Grant Agreement
Arrangement between the State and Lead Grantee specifying the payment of funds to be used for grants by the State for the performance of specific TCC Program Objectives within a specific grant term by the Lead Grantee.

Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include, but are not limited to, water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O3), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)
Fund established via SB 1018 to receive the State’s portion of proceeds from the quarterly Cap- and-Trade auctions.

High Road Jobs/Trainings/Partnerships
“High road” is a term used to reflect California’s vision for workforce development that is grounded in economic equity, job quality, and climate resilience principles. The high road

19 Adapted from Grier and Grier (1978) and Marcuse (1986) and included in the Urban Displacement Project found at urbandisplacement.org.
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framework is an initiative of the California Workforce Development Board:
https://cwdb.ca.gulaov/initiatives/.

High Quality Jobs
Job quality varies across industry, occupation, and region. Indicators of high-quality jobs include:
decent wages (family-sustaining jobs with prevailing wage or entry-level work with clearly defined routes to advancement into higher-wage jobs), benefits (like paid sick leave and vacation), adequate hours and predictable schedules, access to training, occupational health and safety, worker representation or right to organize, and no employer or subcontractor record of wage theft or other violations of labor law.

Implementation Grant
Funding for neighborhood-level development and infrastructure applications, which include multiple, coordinated greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects that provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits.

Indicators
Quantitative measures, including project-related metrics that show changes in conditions over a period of time.

Indirect Costs
Expenses of doing business that are of a general nature. These costs are not directly tied to the grant but are necessary for the general operation of the organization. Examples of indirect costs may include but are not limited to: personnel costs associated with administrative, supervisory, legal, and executive staff; personnel costs associated with support units, including clerical support, housekeeping, etc.; operating expenses and equipment costs not included as part of direct project costs (functions such as accounting, budgeting, audits, business services, information technology, janitorial, rent, utilities, supplies, etc.); and tuition/fee remission for qualifying personnel to the extent that such costs are provided for by University policy. This definition supersedes any definition of indirect costs provided by other Climate Bond programs.

In-Kind Goods and Services
Non-cash donations from governmental or private sources, and include volunteer labor, materials, and services.

Lead Applicant
An entity that enters a partnership with other organizations for the purpose of applying for a TCC grant and has been designated as the lead organization for the partnership.

Lead Grantee
Designated Lead Applicant that has an agreement for grant funding with the State.

Letters of Commitment
A Letter of Commitment identifies proposed responsibilities for an organization or body and commits the organization or body to executing those responsibilities if awarded. 233
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Letters of Support
A Letter of Support is a letter from any organization that will be involved in or impacted by the proposed grant activities. This letter states that the entity is aware and supportive of the application and would like to see the project funded.

Nonprofit Organizations
Any nonprofit corporation qualified to do business in California, and qualified pursuant to subdivision (c)(3) under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Participatory Budgeting (PB)
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic approach to public spending that meaningfully and deeply engages people in government and the community. During PB, community members democratically decide how to spend part of a public budget, enabling them to make the fiscal decisions that affect their lives and the health of their communities. In the process, the community identifies priority needs and develops a range of alternatives to address those needs.

PB is especially appropriate in low-income communities and communities of color that have been traditionally disenfranchised from decision making processes.

Partner
Entities other than the Lead Grantee that enter into a partnership with the Lead Grantee and other organizations for the purpose of implementing TCC grant activities. Referred to as “Co-Applicants” during the application stage.

Planning Grant
Funding for planning activities that implement local and regional land use plans and foster the development of sustainable communities.

Post-Award Consultation Process (PAC Process)
Prior to execution of the grant agreement, the period during which terms and conditions of the grant agreement are determined and finalized.

Pre-Development Requirement
Pre-Development Requirements are items that are not due by the application due date but must be completed during the nine-month Pre-Development Phase, and before the grant is implemented. This is different from an Application Requirement, which are items due by the application due date. See “Application Requirement.”
Private shareholder corporation
A business entity organized in corporate structure as defined by California Corporate Code Section 100-2319, where the ownership, represented by shares of stock, is sold, in the form of stock, to raise funds or capital and the agents and officers of the corporation have a fiduciary duty to maximize profits for the shareholders.

Program Objectives
Program Objectives are statements that describe the desired outcomes of the program. The TCC Program includes the following Program Objectives: greenhouse gas reduction, public and environmental benefits, and economic opportunity and shared prosperity. 234
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Project Area
Refers to the boundary for Planning, Project Development, and Implementation Grants.

Project Development Grant
Funding for pre-development activities and water supply and wastewater infrastructure that support communities to meet their climate and community resilience goals; grants support activities that prepare communities for future resilience funding.

Projects
An attribute that defines the purpose of a Project as reflected in an application or scope of work.

Projects proposed must include one or more TCC fundable activities. See Appendix B for TCC fundable activities.

Project/Plan Lead
The Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant responsible for leading the implementation of a specific Project or Plan.

Public Agency
A local or regional agency, such as a county, city, city and county, municipal corporation, district, metropolitan planning organization, joint powers authority, regional transportation planning agency, council of government, school district, political subdivision, duly constituted governing body of an Indian reservation or rancheria, Tribally-designated housing entity, or any board, commission or agency thereof, other local public agency, or entities that are legislative bodies of a local agency pursuant to Section 54952 of the California Government Code.

Rural Area
Any non-metropolitan area or area not designated as urban by the U.S. Census Bureau that typically has low population density, limited access to healthcare facilities, economic opportunities, healthy foods, or mobility options, and greater instances of food insecurity.

For the Equitable Housing and Neighborhood Development and Community Resilience Centers Strategies, “rural area” is as defined by the CA Health & Safety Code § 50199.21, which includes areas that satisfy any of the following criteria:
(1) The area is eligible for financing under a multifamily housing program pursuant to Section 3560.1(a)(a) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations as it read on January 1, 2023, or successor program, of the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. (2) The area is located in a nonmetropolitan area as defined in Section 50090. (3) The area is any of the following:
(A) an incorporated city having a population of 40,000 or fewer as identified in the most recent Report E-1 published by the Demographic Research Unit of the Department of Finance, provided that the area is not located within a census block designated as an urban area by the United States Census Bureau in the most recent decennial census. (B) An unincorporated area that adjoins a city having a population of 40,000 or fewer, provided that the adjoining unincorporated area is not located within a census block designated as an urban area by the United States Census Bureau in the most recent decennial census. 235
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(C) An unincorporated area that does not adjoin a city and is not located within a census block designated as an urban area by the United States Census Bureau in the most recent decennial census.

The department shall assist in determinations of eligibility pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) upon request. With respect to areas eligible under paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a), the committee may rely upon the recommendations made by the department. Any inconsistencies between areas eligible under subdivision (a) shall be resolved in favor of considering the area a rural area. Eligible and ineligible areas need not be established by regulation.

Small Business
In order for a small business to be eligible for certification, the small business must meet the following requirements: be independently owned and operated; not be dominant in its field of operations; have its principal office located in California; have the owners (or officers, if a corporation) domiciled in California; and including affiliates, be either:
• A business with 100 or fewer employees; with average annual gross receipts of $15 million or less, over the last three tax years.
• A manufacturer* with 100 or fewer employees, or
• A microbusiness - A small business will automatically be designated as a microbusiness if gross annual receipts are less than $3,500,000, or the small business is a manufacturer with 25 or fewer employees.
*For Small Business Certification purposes, a manufacturer is a business that is both of the following: primarily engaged in the chemical or mechanical transformation of raw materials or processed substances into new products, and classified between Codes 31 to 339999, inclusive, of the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Manual, published by the United States Census Bureau, 2007 edition.

State
Refers to the California Air Resources Board, the Strategic Growth Council, the Department of Conservation, and any other state agency, and/or their representatives.

Strategies
A plan of action or policy intended to achieve a particular outcome. Applicants must propose one or more Projects for each selected Strategy.

Technical Assistance (TA)
Aid and support provided to applicants, including Application Technical Assistance and Implementation Technical Assistance.

Transformative Elements
Additional elements required for Implementation Grants to be considered for TCC funding.

Transformative Elements include:
• Community Engagement
• Displacement Avoidance
• Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities
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• Grant Evaluation
• Climate Adaptation and Resilience
• Leverage Funding
Tribal Applicants
Applicants whose Lead Applicant is a California Native American Tribe or Tribally-owned nonprofit are referred to as “Tribal applicants” throughout the Guidelines.

Tribally-owned Nonprofit
A California Native American Tribally-owned nonprofit (also referred to as a Tribally-owned nonprofit) refers to an organization exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code 501 (c)(3) (26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)), nonprofit organization incorporated under Tribal law, California nonprofit public benefit corporation (Corp. Code, § 5110 et seq.), or an equivalent entity that has a majority Tribal-led board, is operated by a Tribe, and advances the Tribe’s goals and priorities. This term does not include nonprofit organizations owned or controlled by individuals who are Native American or individual member(s) of a California Native American Tribe when the organization is not associated with a California Native American Tribe.

Urban Area
A densely developed and settled area with residential, commercial, and non-residential urban land uses.

Very Low- and Low- Income Households
Households earning less than 80 percent (80%) of Area Median Income (AMI). The U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets income limits that determine eligibility for assisted housing programs. Income limits can be accessed at:
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html.

Vision Statement
A statement developed by applicants that articulates how all of the Projects proposed in the overall TCC application will be coordinated and integrated to achieve all three of the TCC Program Objectives
Vulnerable Communities/ Populations
Vulnerable communities or vulnerable populations are a subgroup population within a region or community that faces a disproportionally heightened risk or increased sensitivity to the impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts. Vulnerable populations often also face environmental, public health and economic burdens. Such people include but are not limited to: women; racial or ethnic groups; low-income individuals and families; individuals who are incarcerated or have been incarcerated; individuals with disabilities; individuals with mental health conditions; children; youth and young adults; seniors; immigrants and refugees; individuals who are limited English proficient (LEP); and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQQ) communities; or combinations of these populations. (CA Health and Safety Code Section 131019.5) 237
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Water supply and wastewater infrastructure
Implementation Grant applicants can request up to 10% (25% for California Native American Tribes and Tribally-owned nonprofits) of requested TCC funds to support projects connecting residents to water supply and wastewater infrastructure (new or remedial connections). For disadvantaged unincorporated communities, requests for more than 10% will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For Tribal and disadvantaged unincorporated community applicants, requests for non-water/wastewater infrastructure will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Project Development Grant applicants can request grants to fund these items in their entirety.

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Appendix B – TCC-funded Projects by
Strategy 🅟🅟
This appendix is only applicable to Implementation Grants. Planning Grants and Project Development Grants do not require TCC Strategies and Projects.

Summary: The first section of Appendix B describes the Implementation Grant application and implementation strategy requirements applicable to all projects. The remainder of Appendix B outlines the eligible project types and activities, eligible costs, and requirements for each Strategy.

There may be additional requirements outlined in the TCC Implementation Grant Agreement. (See Appendix I sample grant agreement)
Eligible Application Requirements
Applicants must select a combination of at least three Projects from at least three Strategies. At least one Project must directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and all Projects must directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions or contribute directly to meaningful public health benefits.

Applicants may propose projects that combine fundable elements from multiple Strategies. Such projects will be referred to as Multi-Strategy Projects and must demonstrate substantive use of multiple distinct Strategies within a clearly defined site. Multi-Strategy Projects will have one Project/Plan Lead, with the option to add other organizations as Partners.

All projects must meet the Application and Pre-Development Requirements outlined in Section 10 Application Requirements to demonstrate the Project can be feasibly implemented within the grant term. Application and Pre-Development Requirements include California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documentation, site control, permits, project maps and designs, project schedules, operations and maintenance plans, and other Strategy-specific requirements.

Application and Pre-Development Requirements must be completed prior to beginning project implementation. Projects will be carefully vetted during the application review to ensure the feasibility of each project. Additional documents may be requested from applicants in advance of the Round 6 awards.
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Strategy 1: Equitable Housing and Neighborhood
Development
TCC will fund the development of affordable housing and related transit infrastructure and programs, according to Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC) requirements. Below are the general requirements, eligible project types and fundable activities, applicant requirements, eligible project costs, Application and Pre-Development Requirements, and Strategy-specific requirements for Strategy 1.

General Requirements
If an application includes a Project under this Strategy, the project must conform to the required thresholds of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program as outlined in the AHSC Round 10 Guidelines (See https://sgc.ca.gov/grant-programs/ahsc/). A summary of AHSC guidelines is included below. The AHSC Round 10 Guidelines document contains further details and will be the authority in the event of any discrepancies in threshold requirements. Applicants must meet minimum AHSC thresholds requirements to have an eligible Project. TCC-funded AHSC Projects are funded by a grant, not a loan.

However, please note that although the TCC Program will use AHSC’s threshold requirements, TCC will not use the AHSC point scoring system to determine project eligibility or competitiveness.

TCC will review and score housing projects in accordance with the application review and scoring process set forth in the TCC Round 6 Guidelines (Section 9.7). Housing projects proposed under a TCC application will be evaluated according to their alignment with the TCC Program and Objectives. In addition, TCC does not have a cap on the housing project award amount for this Strategy, and applicants may decide how to propose a TCC housing project within the context of their community and larger TCC application.

TCC projects under the Equitable Housing and Neighborhood Development Strategy must conform to one of the following eligible housing Project Area types:
• Transit Oriented Development Project Area
o Must be served by High Quality Transit
• Integrated Connectivity Project Area
o Must not be served by High Quality Transit
• Rural Innovation Project Areas
o Must not be served by High Quality Transit
o Must be located within a Rural Area
Proposed Affordable Housing projects should at a minimum include one of the following vehicle miles traveled (VMT)-reducing components to fulfill AHSC’s threshold of reducing GHG emissions through fewer VMT:
• New or expanded transit services (bus, train, ferry, shuttle, or vanpool) • Increased transit ridership
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• New pedestrian walkways, infrastructure, or streetscape improvements that improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, or transit riders, but do not increase capacity for private vehicles
• New, expanded, or enhanced bikeways (Class I, II, or IV) • New or expanded bike or zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) share • Pedestrian and bicycle safety, school crossing guard training, or related education programs
Proposed transit and active transportation capital projects under the Equitable Housing and Neighborhood Development Strategy are required to be accessible to residents of the proposed housing development and be connected to other proposed or existing transit or active transportation systems. This transportation project should be included in the Equitable Housing and Neighborhood Development Strategy. If it meets the requirements of TCC Strategy 3: Transit Access and Mobility, it can also count toward the requirement to have Projects from three different Strategies.

Applicant Requirements
Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant must include one of the following:
• City or county
• Public housing authority
• Redevelopment successor agency
• Transit agency or transit operator
• Regional transportation planning agency
• Local transportation commission
• Congestion management agency
• Joint powers authority
• University and Community College District
• School district
• Facilities district
• Developer
• Program operator
• Tribal entity (Tribe or a Tribally-Designated Housing Entity)20 o
Applicants must demonstrate experience by providing evidence of at least two completed projects that are similar in scope and size to each proposed AHSC capital project, where the applicant was the developer in the past 10 years. If an applicant relies upon the experience of its Principal to

20 For AHSC projects an Indian Tribe as defined under USC Section 4103(13)(B) of Title 25 ; or a Tribally- Designated Housing Entity under 25 USC 4103(22), or listed in the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Federal Acknowledgement Petitioner List, pursuant to CFR Section 83.1 or Title 25; or Indian Tribe located in California that is on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission for t he purpose of consultation pursuant to GC Section 65352.3. Eligible Tribal projects are outlined in the AHSC Guidelines, Appendix B. Tribal Eligibility.
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meet the applicant experience requirements, documentation of the Principal’s experience is required as set forth in the application, in addition to the recent project evidence.

Application Requirements
Proposed projects must meet Application Requirements according to the AHSC Guidelines at the time of TCC Application.

Environmental Review
At the time of application, completion of all necessary environmental compliance (including the California Environmental Quality Act and if applicable, the National Environmental Policy Act) and project approvals related to the Equitable Housing and Neighborhood Development project are required. All applicable time periods for filing appeals or lawsuits must have lapsed within 30 days of the application due date with lawsuits or appeals filed. However, non-housing components of a project are not required to certify completion and demonstration of approval of environmental clearances (NEPA or CEQA) until prior to the initial disbursement of grant funds. Applicants are not required to complete any necessary environmental clearances prompted exclusively by rental and/or operating subsidies prior to the application due date.

Site Control
Applicants must demonstrate site control at application. The eligible applicant serving as the developer of a particular component of the project must demonstrate and maintain site control through the award date.

Site control may be demonstrated with one of the following documents:
• Fee title
• A leasehold interest on the property with provisions that enable the lessee to make improvements on and encumber the property provided that the terms and conditions of any proposed lease shall permit, prior to grant funding, compliance with all AHSC Program requirements. Where site control will be satisfied by a long-term ground lease, HCD will require the execution and recordation of HCD’s form lease rider, which shall be entered into by and among the ground lessor, the ground lessee, HCD, and any other applicable parties. In all cases, the lease rider shall be recorded against the fee interest in the project property.
• An enforceable option to purchase or lease, which shall extend through the anticipated date of the Program award as specified in the NOFA
• An executed disposition and development agreement, right of way, or irrevocable offer of dedication to a Public Agency
• An executed encroachment permit for construction of improvements or facilities within the public right of way or on public land
• An executed agreement with a public agency that gives the applicant exclusive rights to negotiate with the agency for the acquisition of the site; provided that the major terms of the acquisition have been agreed to by all parties
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• Other forms of site control that give the State equivalent to any of the above-listed indicators of site-control demonstrating assurance that the applicant or developer will be able to complete the Project and all housing designated in the application in a timely manner and in accordance with all the requirements of the Program. For capital projects where site control is in the name of another entity, the applicant shall provide documentation, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), (e.g., a purchase and sale agreement, an option, a leasehold interest/option, a disposition and development agreement, an exclusive right to negotiate with a public agency for the acquisition of the site), which clearly demonstrates that the applicant has some form of right to acquire or lease the project property.
• For capital projects developed in Indian Country, the following exceptions apply:
o Where site control is a ground lease, the lease agreement between the Tribal entity and the project owner is for a period of at least 50 years o An attorney’s opinion regarding chain of title and current title status is acceptable in lieu of a title report
Enforceable Funding Commitments
Enforceable Funding Commitments are defined as a letter or other document evidencing, to the satisfaction of the AHSC Program and the California Department of Housing and Community Development, a commitment of funds or a reservation of funds by a project funding source for construction or permanent financing, including, but not limited to, the following:
• Private financing from a lender other than a mortgage broker, the applicant, or an entity with an identity of interest with the applicant, unless the applicant is a lending institution actively and regularly engaged in residential lending
• Deferred-payment financing, residual receipts payment financing, grants, and subsidies from public agencies
• Funds awarded by another Department program. Proof of award must be issued prior to final rating and ranking of the Program application.
• Funds conditionally reserved under the following programs shall be accepted as funding commitments: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Supportive Housing Program (SHP), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), and the California Department of Mental Health’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Program. • A land donation in fee for no other consideration that is supported by an appraisal or purchase/sale agreement (“Land Donation”) or a local fee waiver (See https://sgc.ca.gov/grant-programs/ahsc/), resulting in quantifiable cost savings for the Project where those fees are not otherwise required by federal or state law (“Local Fee Waiver”) shall be considered a funding commitment. The value of the Land Donation will be the greater of either the original purchase price or the current appraised value as supported by an independent third-party appraisal prepared by a Member Appraisal Institute-qualified appraiser within one year of the application due date. A funding commitment in the form of a local fee waiver must be supported by written documentation 243
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from the local Public Agency. A below market lease that meets the requirements of UMR section 8316 would be considered a land donation ($1 per year). • Owner equity contributions or developer funds. Such contributions or funds shall not be subsequently substituted with a different funding source or forgone if committed in the application, except that a substitution may be made for up to 50 percent of deferred developer fee. HCD may require the applicant to evidence the availability of the proposed amount of owner equity or developer funds.
• For homeownership Affordable Housing Developments only: construction loans which will be repaid with revenue from the sale of homes to low- or moderate-income homebuyers, funds for transportation projects which are programmed for allocation and expenditure in the applicable capital improvement plan consistent with the terms and timeframes of the grant agreement.

Financial Feasibility
• Market study
• Project pro-forma
• Multi-year pro-forma
• Sources and uses statement
• Operating budget
Other Required Documentation Demonstrating that the Project:
• Is consistent with State Relocation Assistance Law
• Has been granted all necessary discretionary land use approvals, excluding design review • Is consistent with State and Federal Fair Housing requirements including duties to affirmatively further fair housing
• Supports the implementation of the applicable Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS), as confirmed by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), or equivalent sustainable planning document in non-MPO regions, demonstrating a per capita reduction in VMT and GHG
• Is consistent with state planning priorities
• Applicant and/or project is not party to or subject of a lawsuit • Is consistent with local public works department, or other responsible local agency requirements
• Application contains an estimated project milestone schedule • Construction has not yet commenced
• Contains Housing Element that is in substantial compliance by the date of award recommendation, as demonstrated by a letter from HCD
Pre-Development Requirements
Other requirements required before the end of the Pre-Development Phase include, but are not limited to the following:
• Documentation of completed CEQA and NEPA, if applicable on all non-housing components
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• Documentation of completed environmental compliance such as those prompted by rental and/or operating subsidies
• All proposed Affordable Housing Developments located in a jurisdiction that has fare- based transit must provide at least one (1) transit pass or card to each Restricted Unit for at least 3 years. If the transit agency does not provide passes with unlimited rides, the card or pass should have a minimum value of 40 average commute length rides a month as determined by the transit agency. These passes or cards may be paid for with TCC funding. • Demonstrate housing will be smoke free by providing a smoke free housing lease addendum
• Incorporate more than one TCC Urban Greening element with dedicated maintenance for at least two years and must propose at least $200,000 in reasonable direct Urban Greening costs
• Include adequate lighting in accordance with local, state, or federal design standards and requirements for all publicly accessible components
• Must be served by qualifying transit, as outlined in AHSC’s program guidelines • Must not result in a net loss or conversion of agricultural or other working lands, or natural resource lands for other uses
• If project is in a State Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) critically overdrafted area (medium or high priority groundwater basin), applicant must verify water availability, confirm project’s alignment with the local Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) and evaluate new water hookup prohibitions or requirements. • Must meet the underwriting standards in HCD Uniform Multifamily Regulations and Multifamily Housing Program Guidelines
• Must not result in a net loss of affordable housing units and sustainable transportation infrastructure or transportation related amenities
• Demonstrate costs are infeasible without TCC Program funds, and other committed funds are not being supplanted by TCC Program funds
• Outreach and education on reducing potential health impacts of air pollution must be provided to residents of Affordable Housing Developments.

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Strategy 2: Land Acquisition for Neighborhood
Stabilization
TCC will fund land acquisition for affordable housing and other community-serving facility (defined in Appendix A). Below are the general requirements, eligible project types and fundable activities, applicant requirements, Application and Pre-Development Requirements, and project specific requirements for Strategy 2.

General Requirements
The total amount requested for land and property acquisition may not exceed ten percent (10%) of total awarded TCC funds. Acquired land for housing shall be deed or covenant restricted for developing affordable housing/mixed-use affordable housing, and community-serving facility must provide a letter of commitment establishing the proposed community-serving facility land use.

Applicants are required to purchase or lease the land and ensure development of the land within the grant term, otherwise the State will need to be reimbursed for the investment.

See Section 8.1 Eligible costs for more information on land acquisition requirements.

Eligible Project Activities
Project Type: Land Acquisition
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• Land and property acquisition
• Fees associated with acquisition, such as:
o Legal fees
o Escrow fees and transfer taxes
o Other fees associated with land acquisition
• Land lease rent prepayment (rent paid in advance for the year or years of the lease agreement)
• Financing costs, including:
o Predevelopment interest/holding cost (interest accumulated from a loan for land acquisition costs)
 Other costs may include insurance, security, property management o Bank loan fees
• Obtaining a ground lease, deed of trust, deed restriction, or covenant • Site clearance and environmental remediation
• Environmental impact reports and assessments
Project Type: Community Land Trusts
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
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• Development of administrative infrastructure for Community Land Trusts (CLT) (e.g., capacity, leadership, and partnership development within the first two years of the grant term)
• Rehabilitation, construction, and permanent financing assistance (if sufficient funds have been secured for proposed site acquisition)
• Costs associated with CLT conversion to resident ownership • Equity and wealth building programs for residents
Project Type: Outreach and Implementation
TCC activities include but are not limited to:
• Community engagement for project planning post-land acquisition • Land holding costs
• Direct costs of the land acquisition and stewardship program, including staff and benefits Eligible Project Costs
Eligible costs include, but are not limited to:
• Land acquisition that will result in affordable housing or a community facility on the acquired land
• Fees associated with land acquisition, including:
o Legal fees
o Escrow fees and transfer taxes
o Building permit fees
o Impact fees
o Other fees
o Environmental impact reports and assessments
• Financing costs, including:
o Pre-development interest/holding cost (interest accumulated from a loan for development costs)
o Loan fees
o Rehabilitation, construction costs, and permanent financing assistance (if sufficient funds have been secured for site acquisition) • Costs associated with obtaining a ground lease, deed of trust, deed restriction or covenant • Outreach and implementation
• Community Land Trust administrative capacity building Applicant Requirements
Lead Applicant or Co-Applicant must include one of the following:
• Cooperative housing agencies or corporations
• Limited partnerships or limited liability companies where all the general partners are eligible
• California Native American Tribes
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• Tribally-owned nonprofits
• Joint powers authorities
• Public Housing Authorities
• Redevelopment Successor Agencies
• Community Land Trust with demonstrated record (incorporated with the State and in good standing)
• Local public agency
• Nonprofit organization
• School districts
• Community college districts
Application Requirements
The following are required at the time of Application:
• Letter of commitment from the seller to sell the property, which shall extend through the anticipated date of the Program award
• Identify CEQA requirements and timeline to obtain compliance • Permits identified or attestation that agency is self-permitting • Draft scope of work and budget
• Evidence of land value for requested acquisition, such as an appraisal • If the site is not secured:
o Describe the possible sites that have been identified o Describe the steps to complete the Preliminary Scoping Plan requirement during the Pre-Development Phase
o Describe the steps to complete the Preliminary Title Report requirement during the Pre-Development Phase
o Description of the permitted land use for each potential site and steps to obtain the zoning documentation requirement during the Pre-Development Phase • If the site is acquired:
o Zoning documentation to demonstrate that the proposed use is consistent with the permitted land use
o Preliminary scoping plan for purchasing potential properties within the Project Area that includes the affordability mix and targeted population. Preliminary scoping plan should include a community engagement plan for development on the acquired land, justify the requested funds through a pro forma (project financing model) or similar document, and demonstrate that all development phases on the requested land can be completed within the grant term. o Preliminary title report including parcel numbers, acreage, and willing seller information (entity type, name, and size; e.g., private property owner, developer, government agency, nonprofit, etc.), and whether the is property subject to any right of way or easement
• Community Land Trust projects must include a feasibility study that assesses all development phases including the plan to build administrative capacity, an evaluation 248
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of the proposed site use, and project development and stewardship plan. Phases of Development include:
o Phase 1: Feasibility
o Phase 2: Land Acquisition (if applicable)
o Phase 3: Rehabilitation, Construction, and Permanent Financing (as applicable) o Phase 4: Conversion to Resident Ownership, Rental Housing, or Community- serving Facility
o Phase 5: Long-Term Stewardship
• Letter of commitment that demonstrates a commitment to establish a restriction on land use for the proposed community-serving facility during the Pre-Development Phase
• Plan for acquiring deed restrictions for developing very low, low, and/or moderate- income affordable housing
• Letter of support for acquisition of the property for affordable housing or community- serving facility purposes from the appropriate local government entity, if the Co- Applicant is not the relevant local government entity
• If project is in a State Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) critically overdrafted area (medium or high priority groundwater basin), applicant must verify water availability, confirm projects alignment with the local Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) and evaluate new water hookup prohibitions or requirements
Pre-Development Requirements
The following are required before the end of the Pre-Development Phase:
• Final scope of work and budget
• CEQA Notice of Determination, Notice of Exemption, or documentation of compliance • Final scoping plan with completed community engagement and the development plan with schematic design and pro forma (project financing model) for the requested land acquisition
• Final title report if not provided at application
• Zoning documentation if not provided at application
• A recorded instrument (e.g., a deed of trust) or documentation of a deed restriction that reverts the real property interest to a participating local government in the case of discontinued operation to protect the community-serving use element. • Final approved appraisal of land value
• Permits obtained (or notice of exemption)
• Operations and maintenance plan
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Strategy 3: Transit Access and Mobility Strategy
TCC will fund three categories of projects under Strategy 3: active transportation, transit and rail access, and car sharing and mobility enhancement projects. Applicants may choose any combination of or all the transit access and mobility Strategies as part of their application. Each sub-strategy of Strategy 3 will count towards the requirement of three unique Strategies. For example, if an applicant chooses Strategy 3.1 and 3.2, this will count for two of the required three Strategies.

Each section below lists the eligible project types and fundable activities, applicant requirements, eligible project costs, and Application and Pre-Development Requirements for each transit Strategy:
• 3.1: Active Transportation
• 3.2: Transit and Rail Access
• 3.3: Car Sharing and Mobility Enhancement

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Strategy 3.1: Active Transportation
Eligible Project Activities
Project Type: Construction of New, Expanded, or Enhanced Bikeways (Class I, Class II, or Class IV)
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• New, expanded, or enhanced context sensitive bikeways (Class I, Class II, or Class IV).. 21 • Bikeway upgrades from Class II to Class IV
• Non-motorized urban trails that provide safe routes for travel between residences, workplaces, commercial centers, and schools
• Bicycle carrying structures on public transit
Project Type: Construction of New, Expanded, or Enhanced Pedestrian Facilities Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• New walkways that improve mobility/access of pedestrians. • Non-capacity increasing streetscape improvements, including, but not limited to:
o Lighting installation
o Installation of signage and way-finding markers
o Other related amenities for pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders • Installation of new/improved pedestrian crossings, over-crossings, and/or accessible signals.
• Benches or “street furniture”
• Traffic calming infrastructure, including, but not limited to:
o Curb extensions
o Roundabouts
o Median islands / road diets
o Lane narrowing projects
Project Type: Purchase of Bicycles and/or Purchase and Installation of Infrastructure in Support of New or Expanded Bike Share
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• New, expanded, or pilot bike share or bike library program • Publicly accessible bicycle parking
• Bicycle repair kiosks
• Bicycle carrying structures on public transit

21 Functional classification, travel forecasts, levels of service, purpose and transportation need, environment, safety, place audit are among the factors that defines context sensitive bikeways. 251
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Eligible Project Costs
Eligible costs include but are not limited to:
• Capital improvements that result in the improvement or addition of infrastructure that encourages mode-shift by enhancing pedestrian or bicycle network • Capital improvements that are publicly accessible and provide publicly accessible supportive amenities to cyclists, pedestrian, and transit riders • Other capital project costs (including utility relocation) required as a condition of local approval for the capital project, as approved by the State • Those costs typically associated with 1) program creation, or 2) expansion of existing programs to serve new populations or offer new program service and implementation • Operational costs
• Program costs associated with education, outreach and training for active transportation or transit ridership
• Costs associated with bike sharing (including electric bicycles):
o Bicycle purchase costs
o Locking station purchase and installation costs
o Helmets for bicycle sharing participants
o Safety course costs
o Insurance costs
o Maintenance costs
Ineligible Costs
• All costs associated with automobile or motorcycle parking (excluding electric vehicle charging infrastructure that may be located at a parking spot) • Right-of-way acquisition costs
Applicant Requirements
Lead or Co-Applicant must include one of the following:
• Local, regional or state agencies
• Transit agencies
• Natural resource or public land agencies
• Public schools or school districts
• California Native American Tribes
• Tribally-owned nonprofits
• Private or nonprofit organizations
• Other entities with oversight of transportation or recreation trails Application Requirements
The following are required at the time of application:
• Site control
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• CEQA:
o Capital infrastructure projects: Notice of Exemption, Notice of Determination, or documentation of compliance
o Small infrastructure projects where Notice of Exemption can be routinely obtained during project implementation (e.g. bike parking, new bus shelters, etc.):
 Identify CEQA requirements and timeline to obtain compliance • Permits identified or attestation that agency is self-permitting • Draft scope of work and budget
• Project design for capital improvement projects (15%-30%) including a cross-section for bicycle and pedestrian improvements
• Project map that shows transit routes and major activity centers in the Project Area Pre-Development Requirements
The following are required before the end of the Pre-Development Phase:
• CEQA Notice of Exemption, if applicable
• Final scope of work and budget
• Permits obtained (or notice of exemption)
• Program implementation policies and roll-out plan for bicycle sharing, library, and repairs • Operations and maintenance plan
• 100% Design Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PSE) 253
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Strategy 3.2: Transit and Rail Access
Eligible Project Activities
Project Type: New or Expanded Service
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• New, enhanced, expanded, or pilot transit service through:
o Bus or rail service, intercity commuter service, or water-borne transit (ferry) o Operation of alternative transportation services
o Microtransit
• Construction of facilities in support of new, expanded, or enhanced transit service Project Type: Technology Conversion for Transit Service Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• Purchase or lease of zero-emission transit vehicles
• Purchase, construction, and/or installation of infrastructure, equipment, or facilities to support zero-emission transit vehicles
Project Type: Fuel or Energy Reductions
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• Purchase, construction, and/or installation of solar panels for transit facilities in support of new expanded/enhanced transit service
• Implementation of system or efficiency improvements that result in fuel reductions from existing transit services, including projects that reduce transit VMT and idling Project Type: Increased Ridership
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• Distribution of public transportation vouchers for free or reduced transit fares or other mobility subsidies
• Improvements that result in increased ridership for existing routes, including project elements that increase service levels, reliability, or decrease travel time, such as:
o Multimodal integration implementation, such as:
 Integrated ticketing/scheduling systems and related capital investments (California Integrated Travel Project – dot.ca.gov/cal-itp)  Enabling/enhancing shared-use corridors without net air pollution increases
 Related planning efforts focused on integrated service without requiring major capital investment
o Bus rapid transit or rail service and other bus and ferry transit investments  Vanpool, shuttle, or microtransit services operated as public transit 254
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• Improvements to existing rail service effectiveness with a focus on improved operating agreement, schedules, and capital investments that increase rider experience • Purchase and construction of active transportation facilities that connect to stops/stations and encourage transit ridership
Eligible Project Costs
Eligible costs include but are not limited to:
• Construction and equipment cost for enhancing access and rider experience • Operational expenditures that increase transit mode share or transit access, including public safety improvements
• Other capital project costs required as a condition of local approval for the capital project, as approved by the State
• New or expanded programs to provide education, outreach, or training to encourage active transportation, transit ridership, or mode share
• Equipment acquisition, fueling, maintenance, and other costs to operate new, enhanced, or expanded transit service or facilities
• Expenditures related to the purchase of zero-emission vehicles for public transit, including buses, vans, or shuttles, and the installation of the necessary equipment and infrastructure to operate and support zero emission vehicles • Data collection costs such as vehicle telematics and administration of traveler surveys • Expenses related to operator salaries and wages (note: on-going operational costs beyond the grant term are ineligible)
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Ineligible Costs
• All costs associated with automobile or motorcycle parking (excluding electric vehicle charging infrastructure that may be located at a parking spot) • Right-of-way acquisition costs
Applicant Requirements
Lead or Co-Applicant must include one of the following:
• Public agencies, including construction authorities, transportation authorities, with operational or planning responsibility for transit, rail or ferry services • Joint powers authorities
• Cities
• Counties
• Transportation planning agencies
• Transit operators
• California Native American Tribes
• Tribally-owned nonprofits
• For profit companies that specialize in transit and rail access Application Requirements
The following will be required at the time of application:
• Site control
• CEQA:
o Capital infrastructure projects: Notice of Exemption, Notice of Determination, or documentation of compliance
o Small infrastructure projects where Notice of Exemption can be routinely obtained during project implementation (e.g. bike parking, new bus shelters, etc.):
 Identification of CEQA requirements and timeline to obtain Notice of Exemption
• Permits identified or attestation that agency is self-permitting • Draft scope of work and budget
• Documentation of the project’s coordination with other transit services and plans • Project map showing transit routes and major activity centers in the Project Area • Project design for capital improvement projects (15%-30%) • Letters of support from:
• Local or regional agency or agencies
• A Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO’s) indication of whether the project is consistent with an adopted Sustainable Communities Strategy, or in non-MPO regions, a regional plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
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Pre-Development Requirements
The following will be required before the end of the Pre-Development Phase:
• CEQA Notice of Exemption, if applicable
• Agreements with key partners that will be responsible for implementing the project (e.g., agreement with rail operators)
• Final scope of work and budget
• Procurement schedule
• Projections for the project’s effect on ridership due to new routes or expanded services • Permits obtained (or notice of exemption)
• 100% Design Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PSE), if applicable • Operations and maintenance plan

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Strategy 3.3: Car Sharing and Mobility Enhancement
TCC will fund the purchase or lease of zero-emission vehicles and the purchase and installation of support facilities and infrastructure for the zero-emission technology for the purpose of expanding or enhancing mobility options for the entire Project Area.

Eligible Project Activities
Project Type: Purchase or Lease of Zero-emission Vehicle Technology Types to be Used for Car Sharing, Vanpooling, Ride-sharing, Microtransit, and Other Mobility Options Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• Purchase, construction, and/or installation of infrastructure, equipment, or facilities to support zero-emission technology vehicles. Advanced technologies may include but are not limited to:
o Battery electric vehicles
o Fuel cell electric vehicles
o Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
o Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) – Level 2 or Level 3 o Electric bicycles – Class 1 or Class 2
• Education about the car scrap and replacement incentives program for new or used plug- in hybrid or zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) replacement.

Project Type: New, Expanded, or Pilot Car Sharing, Microtransit, or Vanpooling Service Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• Distribution of universal transportation fares or mobility wallets that provide transportation services and reduce VMT
• Operations and operations improvements
Eligible Project Costs
Eligible costs include but are not limited to:
• Operational costs: details of allowable operational costs/structures will depend on the proposed shared mobility model
• Community outreach and education, including preparation of materials, travel, printing, mailing, education classes, and other expenses directly tied to outreach and education • Vehicle acquisition (purchase or lease) costs
o May be purchased or leased (2-year minimum lease period) o May be new or used
o Must be a four-passenger vehicle or more
• EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) purchase and installation costs • Vehicle and EVSE maintenance costs
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• Reservation system development and on-going maintenance costs during the grant term. • Fare media (physical and digital/virtual)
• Costs typically associated with 1) program creation, or 2) expansion of existing programs to serve new populations or offer new program service and implementation. Eligible costs may include operational costs. Programs may include education, outreach and training.

Ineligible Costs
• Fuel and electricity costs
• Fare subsidies for car sharing (if TCC is funding operations) • Operations for car sharing (if TCC is funding fare subsidies) Applicant Requirements
Lead or Co-Applicants must include at least one of the following:
• Local public agency
• Nonprofit organizations
• California Native American Tribes
• Tribally-owned nonprofits
• For-profit companies that specialize in carsharing and mobility enhancement projects Application Requirements
The following will be required at the time of application:
• Site control
• Identify CEQA requirements and timeline to obtain compliance • Permits identified or attestation that agency is self-permitting • Draft scope of work and budget
• Project design for capital improvement projects (15%-30%) Pre-Development Requirements
The following will be required before the end of the Pre-Development Phase:
• CEQA Notice of Determination, Notice of Exemption, or documentation of compliance • Permits obtained (or notice of exemption)
• Final scope of work and budget
• Project map of proposed mobility sharing service area • Program implementation policies and roll-out plan
• Operations and maintenance plan
• 100% Design Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PSE), if applicable 259
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Strategy 4: Solar Installation, Energy Efficiency, and
Appliance Electrification
TCC will fund the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, energy efficiency retrofits, cool roofs, and replacement of natural gas fueled appliances with all-electric energy efficient equivalents under this Strategy. Eligible locations include qualifying low-income residences and community-serving facility. Below are the eligible project types and fundable activities, applicant requirements, eligible project costs, Application and Pre-Development Requirements, and project- specific requirements for Strategy 4.

Eligible Project Activities
Project Type: Installation of Energy Efficiency Measures and Solar Photovoltaic Systems Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• Battery storage
• Ceiling fans
• Ceiling insulation/insulation upgrades
• Duct repair/replacement
• Efficient fan controller
• Efficient room air conditioners
• Efficient central air conditioners
• Electronically commutated blower motor
• Floor insulation
• HVAC system replacement
• Infiltration reduction measures
• LED lighting
• LED night lights
• Low flow faucets
• Low flow showerheads
• Refrigerant charge w/ coil cleaning
• Refrigerator replacement
• Smart thermostat
• Solar water heating
• Solar PV
• Thermostatic shower valve and showerhead
• Tier 2 power strips
• Vacancy/motion sensor
• Wall insulation, stucco, and wood
• Water heater blanket
• Water heater replacement
• Whole house fan
• Window replacement
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• Cool roofs, utilizing rated roofing products22
Project Type: Replacement of Existing Natural Gas Appliances with Efficient Electric Equivalents
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
• Electric ENERGY STAR® clothes dryers
• Electric heat pump systems
• Electric heat pump water heaters
• Electric induction cooking tops
• Electric ovens
• Electric ranges
• New stove hoods in conjunction with eligible stove retrofits or replacements above Eligible Project Costs
Eligible costs include but are not limited to:
• Direct costs: costs associated with and necessary for the installation of qualified fundable activities under this Strategy, including:
o Labor, materials, permitting, and subcontractors.
o Limited new infrastructure in conjunction with qualified fundable activities under this Strategy, including but not limited to electrical panels and electrical circuits. o Proposed energy efficiency measures beyond what is listed under this Strategy must be in accordance with California Department of Community Services and Development Low-Income Weatherization Program (CSD LIWP) Measure standards, standards used in the California Energy Commission Equitable Building Decarbonization Program, Database of Energy Efficiency Resources (DEER), or other similar State energy efficiency programs and standards as approved by TCC staff.
o Support Costs (e.g., site assessment, project management, training and technical assistance needs, customer education).
• Limited repair costs for projects with solar PV installation: Costs necessary to facilitate the installation of qualified fundable activities in this Strategy are capped at 20% of the total overall TCC-funded project budget. Repair budgets may be increased beyond 20% of the total TCC-funded portion of the project budget only with prior written approval from TCC staff. Repairs for solar PV installation must be cost effective per the Savings to Investment Ratio (SIR) – described below.
o Eligible repair measures may include, but are not limited to:
 Dry rot repair, water heater platform repair, remediation of electrical hazards, construction needed to create physical space for decarbonization

22 Installed roofing products should be rated and labeled for their thermal emittance and solar reflectance properties. The California Energy Commission recognizes the Cool Roof Rating Council for rating products:
https://coolroofs.org/directory/roof.
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measures, repair of roof or envelope leaks/damage, remediation of galvanized pipe, lead paint, asbestos, and/or mold, installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, ventilation, and other work needed to bring property up to code.

Ineligible Costs:
• Installation of new high-efficiency equipment that is not a replacement of low-efficiency equipment.
• Household EV chargers.
• Home repair costs that are not necessary for or part of the installation of a qualified fundable activity listed in this Strategy.

Applicant Requirements
Lead or Co-Applicants must include at least one of the following:
• Local public agencies
• Joint powers authorities
• Nonprofit organizations
• California Native American Tribes
• Tribally-owned nonprofits
• Community-based organizations
Application Requirements
The following are required at the time of application:
• Draft scope of work and budget
• Draft list of installation measures
• Community-serving facility:
o Site Control
o Letter of commitment for community-service use
o Permits identified or attestation that agency is self-permitting o Project design for capital improvement projects (15%-30%) • Lead or Co-Applicant must demonstrate three years of experience administering and performing energy efficiency and solar PV installations in existing housing • Lead or Co-Applicant must be in good standing with all appropriate local and state oversight and licensing authorities
Pre-Development Requirements
The following are required before the end of the Pre-Development Phase:
• Final scope of work and budget
• Final list of installation measures
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• For residential properties: final homeowner installation agreement and homeowner training
• Community-serving facilities:
o 100% Design Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PSE), if applicable o Final property owner agreement
o Permits obtained (or notice of exemption)
o Deed restriction, if applicable
o Property owner training
o Operations and maintenance plan
• Outreach plan
• Implementation plan
• Documentation of site assessments
• Proof of maintaining an active Class B, General Contractor License, issued by the California Contractors License Board throughout the life of the project implementation Strategy-specific Requirements
Cost Effectiveness Requirements for All Solar PV Projects:

The Savings to Investment Ratio (SIR) is a ratio of savings to the costs of an energy investment measure. A SIR ratio above 1 indicates that generated savings will recover the investment. A score less than 1 indicates an uneconomic investment where costs are not recovered; a ratio of 1 indicates an investment’s savings just equal its costs. Solar photovoltaic installation projects must be cost-effective using the following calculation and meet the SIR of 1.

SIR Calculation (calculated by residence or facility):

𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 =
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆
𝐼𝐼𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿
𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 =
(𝐹𝐹𝐿𝐿𝐹𝐹𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿 𝑌𝑌𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝐹𝐹 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘ℎ 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆23 × 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝐶𝐶𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐹𝐹 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿 𝑝𝑝𝐿𝐿𝐹𝐹 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘ℎ × 27.7941 𝑌𝑌𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝐹𝐹𝑆𝑆) [(𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝐹𝐹𝑆𝑆𝐶𝐶𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿 𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿𝐹𝐹 𝑘𝑘𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 ×# 𝑘𝑘𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆 𝐼𝐼𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐿𝐿𝐶𝐶) 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 (𝑇𝑇𝐶𝐶𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝐼𝐼 𝑃𝑃𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿𝐶𝐶𝐿𝐿 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿)+𝑂𝑂𝐿𝐿𝑝𝑝𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝐹𝐹 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆]−𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝐹𝐹𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝐿𝐿𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆𝐶𝐶𝐿𝐿𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 Sizing Considerations for Single Family Solar PV Projects:

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems shall not have an annual electrical output greater than the dwelling’s annual electrical usage. Solar PV systems exceeding annual electrical usage require justification from the solar provider and SGC approval. Household annual electricity consumption calculations and solar PV system sizing should include consideration of increased electricity consumption that could occur due to appliance and building electrification – including electric vehicle (EV) readiness.

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Eligibility Requirements for Non-residential Solar PV Projects:

Eligible non-residential properties:
• Community-serving facility (defined in Appendix A)
• Public community infrastructure, including water supply and wastewater infrastructure, that contributes to the overall safety and health of a community (e.g., lighting or water supply infrastructure).

Proposed projects must meet the following criteria:
• Letters of commitment from site owners describing commitment to utilize installed solar to serve community needs and how energy savings will be used to benefit Project Area residents.

Household Eligibility Requirements for All Residential Projects:

Single family properties:
• For solar PV installation, participants must own the property and must have a household income at or below 80% of the county’s Area Median Income (AMI), or 80% of the State Median Income (SMI), whichever is higher.
• For all other Strategy 4 project types, participants may be either property owners or tenants that have a household income at or below 80% of the county’s Area Median Income (AMI), or 80% of the State Median Income (SMI), whichever is higher. • Income verification will be required.
• TCC recognizes the rights of immigrants to participate in state programs and TCC program- funded activities may not preclude or discriminate on the basis of race or national origin, per Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) guidance.24 • Single-family property owners with tenant participants will be subject to program participation agreements specified in the grant agreement, and include the following elements: rent increase limitations, eviction protections, information for tenants and property owners on rights and responsibilities under the program, and requirements related to project work and temporary displacement.

Multi-family properties:
• Participants must demonstrate that at least 66% of the dwelling units in a building are occupied by households with incomes at or below 80% of the county’s AMI, or 80% of the SMI, whichever is higher.
• For multi-family properties, deed restricted and/or subsidized properties must provide regulatory agreements with a government agency showing compliance with the income eligibility requirements. If there is less than 10 years remaining on the term of this regulatory agreement, the participant will agree to sign an Affordability Covenant provided by the Program stating that they will continue to meet income eligibility requirements to

24 Please see this DFEH fact sheet for more information. https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2020/10/Immigration-Rights-Fact-Sheet_ENG.pdf 264
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equal 10 total years. For market rate properties the participant agrees not to evict or commence any eviction proceeding against any tenant(s) of any qualifying dwelling unit in the building, except for cause and subject to all legal requirements and procedures for any such eviction and/or proceeding. This restriction is in force for a period of not less than 10 years. The owner also agrees that the rents for the qualified low-income dwelling units shall not be increased because of the energy efficiency upgrades and major capital improvements.

Requirements for Appliance Electrification Projects
Appliance electrification projects will alter the existing energy balance of homes towards increased electricity consumption. There is potential for these projects to affect resident utility bills. To ensure residents are aware of potential changes to their utility bills, or to mitigate any such changes, projects involving electrification shall implement at least one of the following measures:

1. Pair the installation of efficient electric equipment with solar PV systems and/or battery storage.

2. Pair the installation of efficient electric equipment with home weatherization measures, such as air sealing and insulation to improve the building’s thermal envelope and maximize the benefits of upgrades.

3. Provide residents with information on operating costs of all newly installed efficient equipment, including the EnergyGuide and/or ENERGY STAR® labels. Project leads shall also provide resident and/or user training on how to operate and maintain new equipment, including the best user practices to optimize performance and maximize customer satisfaction and savings (e.g., setting and controlling a thermostat for a heat pump).

Cost Effectiveness for Energy Efficiency and Appliance Electrification Projects:

1. Required Measures
All building retrofits conducted by the program will, at a minimum, include the following elements:
a) Replace existing gas-fired heating equipment with a heat pump for space heating and cooling or replace an existing gas-fired water heater with a heat pump water heater. b) At the conclusion of the retrofit, at least two of the following four end uses in the building must be electric: space heating, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying. Full building electrification is encouraged but not required.

2. Electrical Upgrades
Upgrades to a building’s electrical system and upsizing of the electrical panel are eligible measures. However, TCC encourages building retrofits that avoid the need for electrical panel upgrades when appropriate. While electrical panel upgrades will be needed in some homes, avoiding unnecessary panel upgrades will allow projects to be completed more quickly and at lower cost. Administrators shall encourage contractors to utilize strategies to avoid unnecessary panel upgrades, such as:
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