2023-24 Rubberized Pavement Grant Program in California

The Rubberized Pavement Grant Program is designed to promote markets for recycled-content surfacing products derived from only California-generated waste tires.

Donor Name: California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

State: California

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 09/13/2023

Size of the Grant: $500,000

Details:

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) administers a program to provide opportunities to divert waste tires from landfill disposal, prevent illegal tire dumping, and promote markets for recycled-content tire products. It is aimed at encouraging first-time or limited users of rubberized pavement in two project types – Rubberized Asphalt Concrete Hot-Mix (Hot-Mix) and Rubberized Chip Seal (Chip Seal).

Funding Information

$5,084,439 available for 2023-24
$250,000 maximum for Individual Application. If applying for a regional application, the maximum grant award shall not be greater than $350,000. The Lead or a Non-Lead Participant is limited to no more than $250,000 of the grant award. $500,000 is the maximum available for a tribal grant award.
One or more projects can be combined into a single grant.
The funding of project(s) is based on the amount of rubberized pavement material proposed and number of previous CalRecycle RAC/Pavement grants received.
The award amount is based on a particular reimbursement rate depending on geographic area, the project type and category.
- Hot-Mix Project: For Individual Application, grant awards are based on variable rate of $4-$10 ($8-$20 for Tribal Entities) or $8-$20 ($16-$40 for Tribal Entities) per ton of RAC hot-mix material proposed, depending on grant category. This variable rate doubles for Tribal Applications. For Regional Application, grant award is based on a $10 or $20 per ton of RAC hot-mix, regardless of grant category.
- Chip Seal Project: Grant awards are based on a flat rate of 50 cents ($1 for Tribal Entities) or $1 ($2 for Tribal Entities) per square yard of chip seal material proposed, regardless whether the applicant is an Individual or a Regional Application. This rate doubles for Tribal Applications.

Eligible Projects

An application may include rubberized pavement (hot-mix and chip seal) projects for roadways, Class 1 bikeways (as defined in Streets and Highway Code section 890.4(a)), 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) Hot-Mix or Rubberized Chip Seal 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.
- The project(s) must be located in California.
- Projects must be owned and maintained by the applicant and accessible to the public.
- Reimbursement will not exceed the amount stated on the Grant Agreement Cover Sheet.
- Construction of the RAC portion of any project must commence on or after the date indicated in the Notice to Proceed and be completed by April 1, 2026.
- 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 RAC hot-mix (1,000 tons for Tribal Entities).
- Chip Seal Project: Project(s) must use a minimum area of 40,000 square yards of chip seal material (20,000 square yards for Tribal Entities).
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 Pavement Grant Program minimums.

Eligibility Criteria

California Labor Code section 1782 prohibits a charter city from receiving state funding or financial assistance for construction projects if that charter city does not comply with Labor Code sections 1770-1782. If any applicants or participating entities are charter cities or Joint Powers Authorities that include charter cities, the lead participating entity must certify on the Detail tab of the application that Labor Code section 1782 does not prohibit any included charter city from receiving state funds for the project described in this application. If it is determined after award that an applicant or participating entity is a charter city prohibited from receiving state funds for this grant project, the grant will be terminated and any disbursed grant funds shall be returned to CalRecycle.
Local Governments (cities, counties, and cities and counties) as defined in Public Resources Code section 48617.
Other local governmental agencies (including regional park districts, special districts, and Joint Powers Authorities [where all JPA members are also otherwise eligible applicants]).
Qualifying Tribal Entities.
- A Qualifying Tribal Entity is defined as a 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 because of the status of its members as Native Americans; or
  - can establish that it is a government entity and which meets the criteria of the grant program.
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.
Applicants (and participating jurisdiction if a regional application) may not apply for and receive grants in consecutive fiscal years (i.e., if you received a grant using FY 2022-23 funds, you are not eligible to apply in FY 2023-24). The following only pertains to individual applications, not regional applications.
If you have received six previous grants under the Targeted Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC) Incentive Grant Program and/or the RAC Use Grant Program, and/or Pavement grants for hot-mix projects, you are no longer eligible to receive grants for hot-mix projects but may be eligible for grants to fund chip seal projects. If you have received six previous grants under the Chip Seal Grant Program and/or Pavement grants for chip seal projects, you are no longer eligible to receive grants for chip seal projects, but you may still be eligible for grants to fund hot-mix projects. If you have reached the limit of six for each type of grant projects, you are no longer eligible to receive Pavement grants from CalRecycle.
Regional Application
- Local governments may join together in a regional grant application in which two or more eligible entities join together to implement the grant. A Lead Participant (Lead) must be designated to act on behalf of all participating Non-Lead Participant(s). The Lead is the applicant, and if awarded, will be the grantee responsible for the performance of the grant and all required documentation. CalRecycle will direct all official correspondence and grant payments to the Lead. An entity may not submit an individual application if that entity is also a participant of a regional application.