Program
Resources
Applications Due
Applicants interested in receiving an inducement for adopting policies that further specific CalRecycle and environmental goals must submit a copy of the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices (EPPP) Policy by the secondary due date, October 20, 2026.
Funding Source
Maximum Award
Award Details
The maximum available for a Tribal grant award is $750,000. The maximum for individual grant awards is $375,000. If applying for a regional application, the maximum grant award can not be greater than $525,000. The Lead or a Non-Lead Participant is limited to a maximum grant award of $375,000.
Funding varies by project type:
- Hot-Mix Project(s): Grant awards are calculated at a base rate of $15 or $30 ($30 or $60 for Tribal Entities) per ton of rubberized hot-mix material proposed, depending on the applicant’s county, and are adjusted depending on the number of previous rubberized pavement grants. See Available Funds section for specific categories and reimbursement rates.
- Chip Seal Project(s): Grant awards are $0.50 or $1.00 ($1.00 or $2.00 for Tribal Entities) per square yard of rubberized chip seal material proposed, depending on the applicant’s county.
Eligibility
- Local Governments: cities, counties, and cities and counties
- Other local governmental agencies, including regional park districts, special districts, and Joint Powers Authorities (JPA) where all JPA members are also otherwise eligible applicants.
- Qualifying Tribal Entities:
- A “Qualifying Tribal Entity” is defined as an Indian tribe, band, nation or other organized group or community, residing within the borders of California, which:
- Is recognized for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of the status of its members as Indians; or
- Can establish that it is a government entity, and which meets the criteria of the grant program.
- A “Qualifying Tribal Entity” is defined as an Indian tribe, band, nation or other organized group or community, residing within the borders of California, which:
- State agencies, including offices, departments, bureaus, and boards.
- State agencies are only eligible for projects for Class 1 bikeways, greenways, and disability access at parks – see Projects for specific limitations.
Eligible Activities
Because of the amount of paving material used, local government and Qualifying Tribal applicants may combine projects for Class 1 bikeways, greenways, and disability access at parks with eligible roadway projects in order to satisfy Program minimums.
An application may include rubberized pavement (hot-mix and chip seal) projects for roadways, Class 1 bikeways, greenways, and disability access at parks. A greenway is a travel corridor for pedestrians, bicycles, non-motorized vehicle transportation, recreation, or a combination thereof, located along natural landscape features, such as an urban watercourse.
State agencies are eligible only for projects for Class 1 bikeways, greenways, and disability access at parks.
All projects are subject to the following requirements:
- The grantee will construct one or more Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC) HotMix or Rubberized Chip Seal (RCS) project(s) at the location(s) specified in the approved grant application, unless otherwise approved by the Grant Manager.
- Only California-generated waste tires that are processed in California shall be used in the crumb rubber portion of the project(s). Recycled end-of-life crumb rubber that meets all specifications and standards can be used, as appropriate with prior written permission from the Grant Manager.
- The project(s) must be located in California.
- Projects must be owned and maintained by the applicant and accessible to the general public.
- Reimbursement will not exceed the amount stated on the Grant Agreement Cover Sheet (CalRecycle 110). • Construction of the rubberized pavement portion of any project must commence on or after the date indicated in the Notice to Proceed and be completed by April 1, 2029.
- The binder material must contain a minimum of 300 pounds (equivalent to 15 percent by weight) of the tire-derived crumb rubber per ton of rubberized binder. The binder may be either asphalt rubber/field blend or terminal blend.
Additionally, the following are project requirements specific to the project type indicated:
- Hot-Mix Project: Project(s) must use a minimum of 2,000 tons of rubberized hot-mix material (1,000 tons for Tribal Entities).
- Chip Seal Project: Project(s) must use a minimum area of 40,000 square yards of rubberized chip seal material (20,000 square yards for Tribal Entities).
Duration
Notable Requirements
No matching required. Only California-generated waste tires that are processed in California shall be used in the crumb rubber portion of the project(s). Projects must be owned and maintained by the applicant and accessible to the general public. CalRecycle requires all applicants to have or develop, adopt, and implement an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices (EPPP) Policy for their organizations. Applicants must have an EPPP Policy in place prior to submitting their application and certify to this fact on the Detail tab in the application. If applicants do not have an EPPP Policy in place prior to submitting their application, they must certify to the fact that a Policy will be adopted by the secondary due date on the Detail tab in the application.
Preferences
CalRecycle staff will review the applications for completeness and eligibility. Staff will use the following process to prioritize funding recommendations for eligible applicants:
- Applicants with a median household income less than 80% of the statewide median household income and whose grant request seeks a majority of funding (greater than 50%) for a greenway shall be given priority funding.
- Applicants applying as a Qualifying Tribal Entity.
- Applicants applying as a “first-time” grantee.
- Applicants applying in a regional application.
- Applications categorized as RAC-1 projects will be funded before any RAC-2 projects.
- If applicant has satisfied the inducement requirements described on the Inducement for Furthering Specific CalRecycle and Environmental Goals Section, the applicant will: a. Be ranked/elevated one “grant category” above the RAC category for which they would otherwise qualify, and/or; b. Have priority funding within the Chip Seal category.
- Applicants (and participating jurisdictions if a regional application) that were awarded any rubberized asphalt concrete grants in the previous three fiscal years, but either withdrew a grant or used less than 50 percent of a grant award, will only be considered after all other eligible applicants are recommended for award.
How to Apply
Complete and submit the application through CalRecycle’s Grants Management System (GMS). Applicants must also submit required authorization documents and meet any remaining requirements, such as adopting an EPPP Policy, by the October 20, 2026 secondary due date.