California voters passed the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) on June 5, 2018. Proposition 68 authorized the Legislature to appropriate $18.5 million to the California Natural Resources Agency (the “State”) for competitive grants for multibenefit green infrastructure investments in or benefiting disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged communities. This resulted in the Green Infrastructure (GI) Grant Program. It is the intent of the people of California that projects funded by Proposition 68, including the GI Grant Program, result in public benefits addressing the most critical statewide needs and priorities for public funding.

All projects must achieve measurable benefits by a) acquiring, creating, enhancing or expanding community parks and green spaces, or b) use natural systems, or systems that mimic natural systems to achieve multiple benefits to create sustainable and vibrant communities.

Eligible applicants include local agencies, nonprofit organizations, non-governmental land conservation organizations, federally recognized Native American tribes, or non-federally recognized California Native American tribes listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.