Cleanup Loans and Environmental Assistance to Neighborhoods (CLEAN) Program
🏛 Department of Toxic Substances Control (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Jul 10, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for small business owners and operators of underground storage tanks (USTs) in California who need financing to upgrade, remove, or replace tanks.
Applicants must be California-domiciled small businesses with fewer than 500 employees that are independently owned and operated. All tanks must be subject to compliance with Health and Safety Code chapter 6.7. Applicants must demonstrate ability to repay and provide adequate collateral.
Loans range from $10,000 to $750,000 with 10 or 20-year terms. Work cannot start until a loan agreement is executed. This is not a reimbursement program.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
DTSC’s CLEAN Loan Program provides loans for property owners, developers, community groups, and local governments to investigate, cleanup and redevelop abandoned and underutilized urban properties. Loan used for the cleanup or removal of hazardous materials where redevelopment is likely to have a beneficial impact on the property values, economic viability, and quality of life of a community. Per Health and Safety Code § 80370, applicant must not have any: Felony convictions or misdemeanors involving the regulation of hazardous materials; Felony convictions or misdemeanors involving moral turpitude, including, but not limited to, the crimes of fraud, bribery, falsification of records, perjury, forgery, conspiracy, profiteering, or money laundering; or Violations of any administrative order or agreement issued by or entered into with any federal, state, or local agency that requires response action at a site. Once the Loan agreement has been executed, a check will be made out to the applicant. The applicant must be able to provide the DTSC with eligible costs and corresponding receipts. Period of Performance: Dependent on remediation/redevelopment. The loan repayment period begins upon certification or completion of the response action or two (2) years after disbursement of the loan funds, whichever comes first. The repayment period is up to seven (7) years.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Financial statements and proof of ability to repay
- Legal documents demonstrating collateral availability
- UST compliance documentation
- Evidence of financial responsibility per Health and Safety Code section 25299.31
- Business ownership and structure documentation
Program contact
- 📧 Maryam.Tasnif-Abbasi@dtsc.ca.gov
- 📞 1-714-484-5489
Funding track record
Past applications & awards under this program (California Grants Portal) — how competitive it is.
By fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Applications | Awarded | Award rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | — | — | — |
| 2022-2023 | — | — | — |
| 2020-2021 | — | — | — |
| 2021-2022 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 2024-2025 | — | — | — |
| 2025-2026 | — | — | — |
Source: California Grants Portal
FAQ
Who can apply for a RUST loan?
Small business UST owners/operators with fewer than 500 employees, domiciled in California. All tanks must be subject to California Health and Safety Code chapter 6.7 compliance.
What can the loan cover?
Costs to upgrade, remove, or replace USTs, including design, construction, monitoring, and maintenance to meet state/federal standards.
What are the loan terms?
Loans range from $10,000 to $750,000 for 10 or 20 years. A 2% loan fee applies at closing. Interest rates vary.
What collateral is required?
10-year loans need a Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statement on business assets. 20-year loans need a deed of trust on real estate with adequate equity.
Can work start before loan approval?
No. Work cannot begin until the State Water Board executes a loan agreement with you.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Gather financial statements and proof of ability to repay before applying. Lenders will review these thoroughly.
- Identify and value the collateral you'll use to secure the loan before submitting your application.
- Contact the State Water Board or a local Financial Development Corporation early. They can advise on current interest rates and loan terms.
- Ensure all tanks meet Health and Safety Code chapter 6.7 requirements before applying. Compliance documentation strengthens your application.
- Plan your project timeline carefully. Remember that work cannot start until you have an executed loan agreement.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants start work before receiving an executed loan agreement from the State Water Board. Applications lack adequate financial documentation or collateral valuation to support loan approval. Applicants misunderstand that this is a loan program, not a grant or reimbursement program.
Similar grants
- ROLLING Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Planning — State Water Resources Control Board (California)
- ROLLING Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Construction — State Water Resources Control Board (California)
- ROLLING The Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience Program (SAFER) — State Water Resources Control Board (California)
- ROLLING Replacing, Removing, or Upgrading Underground Storage Tanks Grant — State Water Resources Control Board (California)
- ROLLING Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund — State Water Resources Control Board (California)