Community Air Protection Program - AB617

Information updated February 9, 2024

In 2017, Governor Brown signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 617 (Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017) which directed the California Air Resources Board (CARB), in conjunction with air districts to establish the Community Air Protection Program (CAP). AB 617 provides a new community-focused action framework to improve air quality and reduce exposure to criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants in the communities most impacted by air pollution. 

Projects will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis and must comply with the Community Air Protection Incentives 2019 Guidelines, the California Climate Investment Guidelines and the Carl Moyer Program Guidelines. More information is provided in the Emission Reduction Program Overview.

More information on the grant program and grant applications for eligible project types are provided in the links below. 

Year 7 Schedule of Solicitation

The schedule of solicitation is outlined below, and projects will be considered on an ongoing basis until funding is fully allocated. Total project funding for Year 7 is $760,094.

Year 6 Schedule of Solicitation

The schedule of solicitation is outlined below, and projects will be considered on an ongoing basis until funding is fully allocated. Total project funding for Year 6 is $796,487.

Year 5 Schedule of Solicitation

Total project funding for year 5 is $867,814.

Map of Priority Populations eligible for higher incentive funding.

Community Outreach for the CAP Program Year 6-7

The CAP Program emphasizes the importance of implementing outreach to low-income communities. On April 15, 2023, staff hosted a booth in Nipomo at the Dana Adobe Cultural Center which featured arts, nature, culture and music in an AB-1550 community and included several residents from the disadvantaged communities in Santa Maria. This event brought together children and families from throughout the county. We brought information on our various air pollution reduction programs, grant incentive programs, and surveys to inform us what type of projects the community prioritizes for cleaner air. APCD’s CAP staff engaged with residents, who were primarily from AB-1550 populations of Nipomo Mesa and Oceano, to better understand what types of projects they felt would reduce particulate matter in their community. This targeted outreach to our lowest income, most diverse populations in the county were extremely valuable and we received over 100 responses from people we do not usually hear from.

In late April, SLO APCD hosted a booth for Earth Day at Laguna Lake Park for community members to raise awareness and demonstrate ways to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Over 2,000 people attended this event and APCD staff asked the public what they feel pollutes the most in the community and what projects they want to see in their community. Recommended projects included electric school and transit buses, near-zero emission waste haulers, agriculture equipment replacement, electric vehicle charging stations and alternative fueling stations. Staff created a survey to better understand the needs and concerns of low-income community members. Two questions were asked, and residents had to indicate their concerns or priorities.