For more than 20 years, California Consulting has worked with California communities to identify
competitive funding opportunities and help turn local priorities into funded projects. In 2026, that
work has continued across cities, recreation and park districts, fire organizations, water districts,
and other public agencies, with more than $41.7 million in grant awards secured through the
programs represented in our 2026 municipal awards.
These awards reflect the wide range of priorities facing California communities today—from parks
and open space to public safety, transportation, behavioral health, cybersecurity, wildfire
resilience, water infrastructure, and community development. The awards highlighted below represent a selection of the projects and funding secured for California communities in 2026.
Investing in Parks and Open Space
Parks and recreation continue to be an important area of investment for communities across the
state.
Through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the City of West Sacramento received $4.5
million, while the City of Livingston received $1.9 million and the City of Hawthorne and Jurupa
Area Recreation and Park District each received $1 million.
Additional awards through the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District included
$4 million for the City of Norwalk, $2 million for the City of Artesia, and $500,000 for the City of San
Gabriel. These investments provide communities with resources to improve and expand
recreational opportunities and public spaces.
Strengthening Public Safety and Resilience
Public safety and community resilience are also prominent among this year’s awards. The City of Yucaipa recently received a $1.5 million SAFER Grant, adding to several other awards secured for the city in 2026, including funding for emergency medical services and fire prevention.
Other public safety investments include a $1.1 million HUD Lead Reduction award for the City of
Bell and a $1 million Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety award for the City of Nevada City.
The City of Cathedral City received $4.5 million through the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety
Grant Program, while the City of Firebaugh received $996,587 through the same program.
Communities are also investing in preparedness and resilience. The City of Grass Valley received
$720,000 through the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience program, while
the City of Carson received $219,417 through the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
Building Better Infrastructure and Transportation Systems
Grant funding is also helping communities plan for the future. Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants awarded funding to the City of Industry, City of Albany, City of Grass Valley, and City of Waterford, with awards ranging from approximately $221,000 to nearly $399,000.
Additional transportation and infrastructure awards include funding through Caltrans’ Clean
California programs, the Los Angeles Metro Open Streets and Slow Streets program, and the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program.
The City of Industry received $500,000 through WaterSMART, while the City of Bell received
$126,669 through Metro’s Open Streets and Slow Streets Cycle 6.
Supporting Community Health and Housing
California communities are also using grant funding to address important health and housing
needs.
The City of Berkeley received $6.95 million through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure
Program, one of the largest municipal awards highlighted in the 2026 list.
Housing-related investments have also supported local priorities, including funding through
programs such as Permanent Local Housing Allocation and other housing and community
development programs.
Community health investments also extend beyond municipal government. Bi-Bett received a five
year SAMHSA grant for over $1.7 million supporting residential treatment and recovery services for
pregnant and postpartum women and their young children. The program will expand access to
family-centered treatment and address barriers such as transportation and access to care across
Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
Turning Opportunities Into Community Investment
For local government leaders and municipal staff, competitive grant funding can provide an
important source of support for projects that might otherwise take years to fund. But finding the
right opportunity is only the first step. Successful applications require a clear understanding of
program requirements, strong project development, careful coordination, and a compelling
presentation of community needs.
California Consulting has spent more than two decades helping California public agencies navigate
that process and pursue funding aligned with their community priorities