Grants

CARE’s California Carpet Stewardship Program provides grant funding to establish, increase, improve and enhance California-generated post‑consumer carpet (PCC) collection, recycling, and utilization in recycled-content product manufacturing.

Please email Abbie Beane, grants administrator, if you wish to be placed on the list to receive future grant program notices.

On this page:

Current Grant Cycles
Forms for Grant Recipients
Grant Case Studies
FAQs – Questions & Answers
Awardees

Current Grant Cycles

Capital Improvement Grants

The Capital Improvement Grant Program provides funding for capital improvements that will establish, increase, improve and enhance additional California-generated post-consumer carpet (PCC) collection, reuse, recycling and/or utilization of recycled content product manufacturing

Cycle 6A of the capital grants program is open to California-based public and private businesses, nonprofits and local agencies.

CARE has allocated $750,000 total to award to California-based projects throughout Cycle 6A (2022-24). Individual projects may apply for up to $500,000 in Cycle 6A funds. CARE may reissue this grant solicitation after the first round of applications are received, based on available funding and market readiness. Grantees must achieve project completion by September 30, 2024. CARE will give preference to projects that can prove project impact in the first half of 2023 and have a proven track record of operational growth and success.

Cycle 6A Capital Improvement Grant Solicitation

Cycle 6A Application Form

Cycle 6A Procedures and Requirements

Cycle 6A Terms and Conditions

Capital Grants Security Agreement

Product Testing Grants

Product Testing Grants support product testing, research and development, and similar market development activities to improve and enhance post‑consumer carpet (PCC) recycling and utilization of recycled content product manufacturing.

Assistance may include, but is not limited to, the following projects:

Investigating the use of California-generated PCC material to manufacture established products that do not currently use recycled post-consumer carpet material (i.e. feedstock conversion).
Testing and/or certifying new or reformulated products containing California-generated PCC material.
Feasibility and/or pilot project studies on potential new uses of California PCC material.

Email CARE to be alerted when the next grant round opens.

Micro Grants for Collection/Reuse Cycle 5M

The purpose of the Micro Grants Program for Collection/Reuse – Cycle 5M is to promote the additional collection and reuse of California post-consumer carpet (PCC). The definition of “additional” under this program is PCC that was previously sent to landfill, alternative daily cover, waste-to-energy, kiln or used for carpet-as-alternative-fuel. Cycle 4M funds will be awarded for the infrastructure projects and/or purchase of equipment that supports the operational logistics of properly collecting and/or reusing California PCC under a new or established program.

$100,000 is funded for Cycle 5M (2022/23) Micro Grants Program for Collection/Reuse. Maximum grant awards for Cycle 4M will be limited to $15,000 for each grant awarded under this Program.

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a continuous basis through 2022. Grantees must achieve project completion by December 31, 2023, or within one year of the project’s Notice to Proceed, whichever comes first. See the Solicitation below for complete details on eligibility, requirements and schedule:

Cycle 5M Micro Grant Solicitation

Cycle 5M Micro Grant Application Form (link)

CARE Micro Grant Budget Template (download)

Cycle 5M Grants Procedures and Requirements

Cycle 5M Grant Terms and Conditions

Cycle 5M Application Template (if applicant does not wish to use online application form)
Current Grant Cycles

Collection Strategies/Small Infrastructure Award Pilot Program

CARE newest grant program aims to increase the convenience and amount of post-consumer carpet collection. The New Collection Strategies/Small Infrastructure Award Pilot Program will provide funding for new initiatives and strategies that will increase, improve and enhance the collection of California-generated post-‑consumer carpet (PCC) or introduce strategies to significantly increase current PCC collection from locations not currently recycling with CARE or CARE partners. The precise focus of this Program is subject to adjustment by CARE, consistent with the overall goals of the Program. Program applications are due no later than March 31, 2022.

CARE has allocated $150,000 to award to the top 3 to 6 projects chosen for funding by March 31, 2022. Maximum award is $50,000 and awardees must achieve project completion by June 30, 2023.

Collection Strategies/Small Infrastructure Award Pilot Program Solicitation

CARE New Collection Strategies 2022 Questions & Answers (March 4, 2022)