May 26, 2026
Community Development
DATE: May 26, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Community Development Director
Tamara Walker, Deputy Director of Community Services-
Employment and Training
Samantha Carr, Environmental Manager
Beatriz Guerrero Auna, Transformative Climate
Communities (TCC) Project Coordinator
Subject:
Submit Applications for Bay Area Air Quality Management District Grant Programs
FINANCIAL IMPACT: City staff are proposing to submit multiple Bay Area Air Quality Management District REPAIR (Reinvesting
Penalties for Air Improvement and Resilience) program
grants as a Lead Applicant for one Catalyst Grant (up to $15 million) and one Opportunity Grant (up to $5 million), and as a Co-Applicant on two additional Opportunity
Grant proposals (up to $5 million each).
These are competitive grant opportunities and no funding is guaranteed at this stage. There is no immediate impact on the General Fund associated with submitting these
applications. If awarded, grant funds would support
eligible project costs.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Community Development Department is
collaborating with Public Works and Economic
Development Departments and over 15 organizations to
apply for multiple BAAQMD REPAIR program grants.
This grant programs funds projects designed to reduce
air pollution or mitigate its impacts, improve public health outcomes, and build economic resilience for a just
AGENDA
REPORT
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transition away from the harmful effects of a fossil fuel- based economy.
City staff is seeking City Council authorization to submit these multiple applications and authorize the City
manager to execute the grant agreement and other
agreements necessary to carry out the projects funded.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to AUTHORIZE the submission of
multiple applications for Bay Area Air Quality
Management District (BAAQMD) Reinvesting Penalties
for Air Improvement and Resilience (REPAIR) Program
grants and AUTHORIZE the city manager or their
designee to adjust project budgets, scopes, and
allocations as needed for application completeness and, if awarded, to execute agreements with BAAQMD and
co-applicants to implement projects receiving grant funds – Community Development (Lina Velasco/Beatriz
Guerrero 510-620-5450).
DISCUSSION:
BAAQMD Bay REPAIR Grant Program Overview
The Bay Reinvesting Penalties for Air Improvement and Resilience (REPAIR) Local Community Benefits Fund provides grant funding derived from Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Community Benefits Penalty Funds and other enforcement actions. The program supports projects that address air pollution, public health, and economic resilience, particularly in communities disproportionately impacted by environmental burdens.
Bay REPAIR Program Goals
The program is designed to:
Reduce air pollution and mitigate associated health impacts Improve public health outcomes
Build economic resilience to support a just transition away from fossil fuel dependence
Advance integrated, community-centered projects
Strengthen community-led and collaborative solutions
Bay REPAIR Grant Types and Funding Levels
1. Seed Grants: $100,000–$200,000 for small-scale projects led by nonprofit organizations only.
2. Opportunity Grants: $500,000–$5 million for multi-stakeholder collaborations, supporting one or more projects. Led by nonprofit organizations, unions, school districts, California Native American Tribes, or local government agencies.
3. Catalyst Grants: $10–$15 million for large-scale, multi-project collaborative initiatives. Led by nonprofit organizations, unions, school districts, California
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Native American Tribes, or local government agencies.
Both Opportunity and Catalyst Grants require partnerships between a Lead Applicant and one or more Co-Applicants. Each applicant can only be a Lead Applicant for one application per grant type.
Bay REPAIR Eligible Strategies and Project Types
All funded projects require alignment with at least one of the following strategies:
Reduce air pollution and improve health outcomes
Build economic resilience for a just transition
Eligible project types include, but are not limited to:
Indoor air quality improvements
Energy efficiency upgrades
Air pollution monitoring
Emissions reduction and exposure mitigation strategies Public health initiatives
Just transition and workforce development efforts
Timeline
January 29, 2026: Applications opened
May 29, 2026: General application deadline
Summer–Fall 2026: Air District Board review and funding recommendations Late 2026–2027: Grant agreements executed and project implementation begins
City Applications Background
Since early November 2025, over 35 meetings have been hosted with City Departments and with non-profits, businesses, and residents, to share information about the Bay REPAIR program, brainstorm about potential projects, and develop specific projects, as well as their narratives, budgets, and measurable outcomes.
On December 9, 2025 and December 16, 2025, two meetings were hosted by City of Richmond with staff and organizations who were interested in putting together applications to identify aligned interests and coordinating potential applications.
Organizations who were interested in partnering with the City, submitted their project description and potential funding requests through a form that was shared by the City through emails and meetings.
The City received 25 project requests for consideration under the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Reinvesting Penalties for Air Improvement and Resilience (REPAIR) Program. Based on program eligibility requirements, funding limitations, and application constraints, 15 projects were selected for inclusion in proposed grant applications. The City is currently participating in four prospective REPAIR grant applications, including one Catalyst Grant application and one Opportunity Grant application as Lead Applicant, and two additional applications as a
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Co-Applicant.
City staff attended a networking session for Richmond and surrounding communities on March 16, 2025, organized by the Air District and met other organizations that were looking for potential partnerships, one of them becoming the Opportunity Grant partnership led by the non-profit Cool the Earth as Lead Applicant.
Proposed Application Summaries
1. Catalyst Grant: Richmond Rising Together
Total funding request (maximum): $15 million
Approximate City of Richmond requested funding: ~$7.2 million Lead Applicant: City of Richmond
Co-Applicants: GRID Alternatives (GRID), Groundwork Richmond, LifeLong Medical Care, MCE, Rich City Rides, Richmond Community Foundation, Richmond Trees, Rising Juntos, RYSE, Inc, The Black Neighborhood, The Watershed Project, STEAM the Streets, UC Berkeley, Center for Global Healthy Cities.
Project Description
Richmond Rising Together is a comprehensive, community-driven initiative that integrates clean mobility, energy resilience, solar and energy efficient housing improvements, public health, workforce development to reduce air pollution and improve health outcomes in frontline communities. Through a coordinated, multi- partner approach, the project advances a just transition by combining infrastructure investments with community-based programming, data collection, and inclusive engagement strategies. The initiative prioritizes environmental justice by directing resources to residents disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate vulnerabilities, while building long-term community capacity and economic resilience.
Key components include (Attachment 1):
Collaborative Tree Planting
Total Transit Access Pilot Program
Richmond Moves continued operations
Resilient Homes Roof Repairs
Mobile Energy Storage System.
MLK Resilient Community Center construction documents Asthma Health Promoters Expansion.
Youth Fellows Program continuation.
Advanced Energy Homes.
RYSE Resilience Center Programming.
Environmental Data Fellowship.
Richmond ACT - Community-led Assessment
Media Campaign & Engagement by STEAM the Streets
Evaluation by UC Berkeley, Center for Global Healthy Cities.
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2. Opportunity Grant: CONNECT Parchester
Co-Applicants: City of Richmond, Meritage Homes, and Parchester Village Neighborhood Council
Lead Applicant: City of Richmond
Total Funding request (maximum): $5 million
Approximate City of Richmond requested funding: ~$3.75 million
Project description.
The proposed project will design and construct a multi-use path (bicycle and pedestrian) along Giant Highway, connecting the Parchester Village neighborhood from Griffin Drive to Point Pinole Regional Park. This project will advance environmental justice (EJ) priorities by improving safe, active transportation access for a historically underserved community with limited mobility options and existing infrastructure gaps. Parchester Village, originally developed as one of the first neighborhoods in California to provide homeownership opportunities to African American residents, continues to face legacy challenges including underinvestment in infrastructure, limited transit access, and environmental burdens. The project will provide a safe, accessible, and low-emission transportation corridor that reduces reliance on vehicle travel, improves air quality, and enhances public health outcomes. By connecting residents directly to regional open space, shoreline trails, and recreational amenities, the project supports increased physical activity and equitable access to natural resources. The proposed improvements will also address existing gaps in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure along Giant Highway, where current conditions limit safe travel options despite proximity to major regional assets.
3. Opportunity Grant: Richmond Resilience Works
Co-Applicants: City of Richmond, RPAL, GRID Alternatives, MCE, Net Electric Lead Applicant: To be determined
Total Funding request (maximum): $5 million
Approximate City of Richmond requested funding: ~$3,000,000
Project Description
Richmond Resilience Works is a community-based workforce, clean energy, and environmental justice initiative led by the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL), in partnership with the City of Richmond Employment and Training Department’s RichmondBUILD/YouthBUILD, MCE, Net Electric, GRID Alternatives, local contractors, and other community partners. The project will create paid training, transitional employment, and career pathways for underserved and vulnerable populations while expanding access to solar energy and clean energy improvements for low-income households, seniors, individuals with disabilities, nonprofit organizations, and environmentally burdened communities throughout Richmond focused on solar readiness, healthy homes improvements, basic weatherization, and pre-electrification preparation activities that help remove barriers preventing
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residents from accessing existing solar and clean energy programs.
4. Opportunity Grant: Healthy Communities, Clean Transportation Initiative
Co-Applicants: City of Richmond, MCE
Lead Applicant: Cool the Earth
Total Funding request (maximum): $2 million - $3 million Approximate City of Richmond requested funding: ~$360,000
Project Description
The City of Richmond will serve as Co-Applicant in partnership with Cool the Earth (Lead Applicant) for the REPAIR Opportunity Grant with Healthy Communities, Clean Transportation Initiative, a two-year program to expand equitable Electric Vehicle (EV) access, install low-cost residential charging at multifamily housing, and improve the reliability of publicly owned EV charging infrastructure in Richmond. City of Richmond’s role will focus on municipal authority, community trust building, institutional access, administrative capacity, and ownership of public charging assets. Technical site assessments for charger installations will be performed by MCE and its program administrator, CLEAResult; property owner outreach and enrollment, resident EV education, and incentive navigation will be led by Cool the Earth and other local organizations.
Final project scopes and budgets may be refined prior to submission based on partner coordination and technical assistance provided by the Air District. City staff is seeking City Council authorization to submit the above-mentioned applications and to authorize the City Manager or their designee to make such adjustments to ensure competitive and complete applications (Attachment 2).
CONCLUSION:
The proposed Bay REPAIR grant applications represent a significant opportunity to bring substantial external investment and additional resources into the City of Richmond to advance environmental justice, public health, clean transportation, climate resilience, and economic opportunity initiatives. If awarded, these grants would leverage regional funding to support critical infrastructure improvements, expand community-based programs and partnerships, strengthen workforce development efforts, and enhance services for residents disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate-related challenges. Participation in these collaborative applications will also position the City to build long-term capacity, deepen partnerships with community organizations and regional agencies, and accelerate implementation of priority projects that would otherwise require significant local funding resources.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Catalyst Grant project descriptions
Attachment 2 – Resolution