Replacing, Removing, or Upgrading Underground Storage Tanks Loan
🏛 State Water Resources Control Board (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Nov 1, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for California charter schools seeking to build new facilities or rehabilitate existing school district facilities. Eligible applicants are charter schools throughout California that meet financial soundness requirements established by the California School Finance Authority. The program provides a hybrid funding model: 50% grant and 50% low-cost loan for construction or renovation projects. CSFA must certify financial soundness before funds are awarded.
Applicants must demonstrate capacity to repay the loan portion. Projects must be for permanent, new school facilities or rehabilitation of existing school district facilities. The program is jointly administered by CSFA and OPSC, both of which will review applications.
Geographic scope is statewide California. Funding is available on a rolling basis as long as pool funds remain.
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Program description
Replacing, Removing, or Upgrading Underground Storage Tanks (RUST) loans are available to assist small business underground storage tank (UST) owners and operators in financing up to 100 percent of the costs necessary to upgrade, remove, or replace project tanks, including corrective actions, to meet applicable local, state, or federal standards, including, but not limited to, any design, construction, monitoring, operation, or maintenance requirements adopted pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 25284.1, 25292.05, 25292.4, or 41954. Loan Terms Low-interest loans are available for between $10,000 and $750,000, for a term of 10 or 20 years. • Ten-year loans are secured by the Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statement on business assets. • Twenty-year loans are secured by a deed of trust on real estate with adequate equity. • A loan fee of 2 percent must be paid at final loan closing. • Please contact the State Water Board or your local Financial Development Corporation for the current interest rate. Eligibility Requirements Loan applicants must be a UST owner and/or operator and meet all of the following requirements: • The loan applicant is a small business that employs fewer than 500 full-time and part-time employees, is independently owned and operated, and is not dominant in its field of operation; • The loan applicant’s principal office and its officers must be domiciled in California; • All of the tanks owned and operated by the loan applicant are subject to compliance with Health and Safety Code chapter 6.7 and the regulation adopted pursuant to that chapter; • The loan applicant must provide financial and legal documents necessary to demonstrate the ability to repay the loan and availability of adequate collateral to secure the loan; and Revised 8/2020 • The loan applicant must have complied, or will comply, with the financial responsibility requirements specified in Health and Safety Code section 25299.31 and the regulations adopted pursuant to this section. This is not a reimbursement program. Work cannot begin until you have an agreement executed by the State Water Board.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Financial statements and documentation
- Detailed project plans and scope description
- Construction budget and cost estimates
- Proof of financial soundness review by CSFA
- School governance and board documentation
- Loan repayment capacity analysis
Program contact
- 📧 RUST@waterboards.ca.gov
- 📞 1-916-341-5765
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | — | — | — |
| 2022-2023 | 20 | 20 | 100% |
| 2021-2022 | 23 | — | 0% |
| 2023-2024 | 10 | 10 | 100% |
| 2024-2025 | 20 | 20 | 100% |
| 2025-2026 | 17 | 12 | 71% |
Source: California Grants Portal
FAQ
Who can apply for CSFP?
California charter schools can apply. Your school must meet financial soundness requirements verified by the California School Finance Authority.
What is the funding structure?
CSFP provides 50% grant and 50% low-cost loan for each project. The loan portion must be repaid.
What types of projects are eligible?
Construction of new permanent school facilities or rehabilitation of existing school district facilities for charter schools.
Is there a deadline?
CSFP operates on a rolling basis. Funds are available until the $1.4 billion pool is exhausted.
Do I need to provide matching funds?
No cost-sharing is required. The program splits funding between grant and loan.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Ensure your charter school has strong financial documentation before applying. CSFA will review financial soundness carefully.
- Start the financial review process early since CSFA certification is required before funding.
- Have detailed project plans and construction timelines ready. The application will need specifics on scope and costs.
- Work with OPSC and CSFA staff early to understand current funding priorities and timelines.
- Document your school's capacity to manage the loan repayment obligation alongside the grant portion.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Missing or incomplete financial documentation leading to CSFA soundness denial. Underestimating project costs or timelines, which delays certification. Submitting vague project descriptions without detailed construction plans or budgets.
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