Explore the Coast Overnight
🏛 Coastal Conservancy (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Nov 1, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for property owners addressing petroleum underground storage tank (UST) contamination in California. Only the current property owner is eligible to apply. The site must have an unauthorized petroleum release from a UST that requires characterization, assessment, or cleanup. Activities include preliminary site assessment, soil/groundwater investigation, corrective action planning, UST removal, product removal, and soil excavation up to 500 cubic yards.
Geographic scope is limited to California. Applicants must demonstrate that any required corrective action plan is complete and approved by the regulatory agency before receiving a cleanup grant, though they may apply before completion.
The program funds both investigation and cleanup phases. Sites do not need to be designated brownfields.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The Conservancy’s Explore the Coast Overnight Program was created to expand more opportunities for all Californians to stay overnight at the coast, particularly individuals and youth from low and middle-income households, communities of color, at-risk or underserved populations, and others that face barriers to accessing the coast. The goals of the Explore the Coast Overnight Program include: Helping improve existing, and develop new lower-cost coastal accommodations; Ensuring that new or renovated coastal accommodation projects are available to all Californians, in particular low and middle-income Californians and organizations that serve under-resourced communities; Supporting innovative pilot projects; Creating and preserving a variety of lower-cost coastal accommodations; and Maintaining and increasing the stock of lower-cost coastal accommodations along the California coast. The Conservancy provides grant funds for the planning, design, permitting, and/or construction of lower-cost coastal accommodation projects that advance the goals and priorities of the Explore the Coast Overnight Program.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Proof of current property ownership
- Environmental site assessment or existing environmental reports
- UST release documentation or preliminary site assessment
- Corrective action plan (if requesting cleanup funds)
- Project budget and cost estimates
- Regulatory agency correspondence or approval letters
Program contact
- 📧 grants@scc.ca.gov
- 📞 1-510-286-1015
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 | 6 | 4 | 67% |
| 2021-2022 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 2022-2023 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 2023-2024 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 2024-2025 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 2025-2026 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
Source: California Grants Portal
FAQ
Who is eligible for this grant?
Only the current property owner of a site with an unauthorized petroleum UST release. The site must be in California.
What activities does this grant fund?
Investigation activities include preliminary site assessment and soil/groundwater investigation. Cleanup includes UST removal, product removal, soil excavation up to 500 cubic yards, and implementation of approved corrective action plans.
Do I need a corrective action plan before applying?
For cleanup grants, yes—the plan must be complete and approved by the regulatory agency. You may apply for a cleanup grant before plan completion, but cannot receive funds until it's approved.
Is this a competitive grant or rolling funding?
This program operates on a rolling deadline. Availability depends on the $1 million annual funding pool.
What is the typical award amount?
Award size varies based on project scope and contamination severity. The program has $1 million total annual funding.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Verify current property ownership early. Only current owners can apply; ownership changes can delay or disqualify applications.
- Gather existing site data before applying. Environmental reports, UST records, and regulatory correspondence will strengthen your request.
- Budget realistically for investigation costs. Phase I/II environmental assessments are often the largest expense in early applications.
- Coordinate with the regulatory agency before submitting a cleanup grant request. Approval timelines for corrective action plans vary significantly.
- Document the petroleum release thoroughly. Clear evidence of an unauthorized UST release is essential to demonstrate eligibility.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting a cleanup grant request before corrective action plan approval. Not establishing current property ownership documentation upfront. Underestimating investigation costs or requesting excavation beyond 500 cubic yards.
Similar grants
- ROLLING Orphan Site Cleanup Fund — State Water Resources Control Board (California)
- ROLLING Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund — State Water Resources Control Board (California)
- ROLLING Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund — State Water Resources Control Board (California)
- ROLLING Replacing, Removing, or Upgrading Underground Storage Tanks Grant — State Water Resources Control Board (California)
- ROLLING Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Grant — Department of Public Health (California)