CARE’s California Carpet Stewardship Program (CCSP) provides CCSP grant funding to establish, increase, improve and enhance California-generated post‑consumer carpet (PCC) collection, recycling, and utilization in recycled-content product manufacturing.
Grant Cycle 3A Announced
The Capital Improvement Grant Program – Cycle 3A provides funding for capital improvements that will establish, increase, improve and enhance additional California generated post‑consumer carpet (PCC) reuse, recycling and/or utilization of recycled content product manufacturing.CARE has allocated between $1 and $1.5 million total to award to projects throughout Cycle 3A (2018-19). Individual projects may apply for up to $500,000 in Cycle 3A funds. CARE may reissue this grant solicitation after the first round of applications are received, based on available funding and market readiness. The first round of grantees must achieve project completion by the end of 2019. CARE will give preference to projects that can prove project impact by the end of 2019. Cycle 3A priority program applications are due no later than January 18, 2019.
Cycle 3A Solicitation (revised 12/26/18)
Cycle 2 Update
The Program sent award announcements on October 23, 2018 to applicants who applied for Cycle 2 funding under capital improvement/expansion, product testing and micro collection and reuse project categories.
See the list of Cycle 2 awardees here.
Please email Abbie Beane, grants administrator, if you wish to be placed on the list to receive future grant program notices.
Cycle 2 Capital Improvement and Product Testing Grants solicitations were announced in November 2017. Cycle 2M Micro Grants Program for Collections/Reuse is accepting applications.
A Cycle 1A/B Pilot was announced in late 2015 and included Capital Improvements (1A) and Product Testing (1B) grants.
Cycle 1A/B Grant Case Studies describe the benefits and challenges of grant-funded projects:
CARE Grantee Case Study: CLEAR
CARE Grantee Case Study: GHD, Inc.
CARE Grantee Case Study: Safepath Products
CARE Grantee Case Study: Sierra Mat & Rubber
CARE also had a pilot Recycled-Content Procurement grants cycle (1C.) This Cycle was open to California public entities and their contractors.
In 2017 CARE offered Cycle 1M Micro Grants for Collections/Reuse Programs. (see below)
CARE hopes to establish permanent grant funding cycles each year, depending on approved funding and CCSP goals.
Each grant application is screened, evaluated and scored by an independent Technical Committee of experts. Funding of proposed projects is contingent upon applicant acceptance and execution of a grant agreement.
Please email Abbie Beane, grants administrator, if you wish to be placed on the list to receive future grant program notices.
Join Email List for Grant Updates
Cycle 2
Applications for Cycle 2A/B grants (descriptions below) are due February 28, 2018. See below for Cycle 2M Micro Grant information.
While CARE will conduct the evaluation and determination of grant recipients, final approval and disbursement of funds can only occur AFTER a new Plan is approved by CalRecycle.
An informational webinar on the application process for Cycle 2 was held on December 6, 2017. View the presentation:
Cycle 2A: Capital Improvement Grants
Projects must increase the quantity (pounds) of California generated post-consumer carpet reused, recycled and/or utilized in the manufacturing of Tier 2 recycled products during 2018.
$2 million is allocated for Cycle 2A (2018/2019) Capital Improvement Grants, subject to available funding, with maximum grant awards of $500,000 for each grant awarded. Eligible projects include:
- Capital investment; infrastructure; equipment; construction, renovation or expansion of reuse, recycling or manufacturing facilities which manage or utilize California-generated post-consumer carpet.
- Projects aimed at establishing or increasing the use of recycled output fiber, PC4 backing material, carpet carcass, commercial broadloom, or other material or component of the post-consumer carpet waste stream with potential benefit to the broad carpet recycling marketplace.
Cycle 2A Capital Improvement Grants Solicitation
Grant Cycle 2AB Questions and Answers
Cycle 2A Capital Improvement Grant Procedures and Requirements
Cycle 2AB Terms and Conditions
Cycle 2B: Product Testing Grants
Cycle 2B will 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.
Funding for the Cycle 2B (2018/2019) grant program is $1,000,000, subject to available funding, with maximum grant awards of $200,000. 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 PCC material
Cycle 2B Product Testing Grants Solicitation
Cycle 2B Product Testing Grants Procedures and Requirements
Cycle 2AB Terms and Conditions
Grant Cycle 2AB Questions and Answers
Cycle 2M: Micro Grants Program for Collection/Reuse
The purpose of the Micro Grants Program for Collection/Reuse is to promote the additional collection and reuse of California post-consumer carpet (PCC). Cycle 2M 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.
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a continuous basis through 2019.
CARE Grant Cycle 2M Micro solicitation
Cycle 2M Questions and Answers
Cycle 2M Procedures and Requirements
Cycle 1A/B Pilot Programs
The Cycle 1A Solicitation sought proposals from eligible applicants to establish new facilities or expand existing capacity and throughput; funds were also available to support Cycle 1B projects for product testing and research and development, in line with CCSP goals. Notices were finalized after input from stakeholders.
In May 2016, the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) and the California Carpet Stewardship Program awarded approximately $2 million in accepted grant funding for six capital improvements and three product testing projects that utilize California-generated PCC. Of the funds available, 85% was awarded to California-based projects. The proposed funding will support millions of pounds of additional California-generated recycled carpet output and the creation of dozens of new California jobs.
The grant awards support existing PCC processors, new California facilities, and companies experienced in processing other recycled materials.
In awarding these grants, CARE has selected a diverse range of projects focused on testing and/or producing a number of recycled products from post-consumer carpet including fiber, pellets, carpet derived aggregate, and civil engineering and molded product applications. The range of projects also focuses on recycling various carpet fiber and backing types from both broadloom and carpet tiles, such as nylon 6, nylon 66, polypropylene, calcium carbonate and polyester.
See the full list of Cycle 1A/B awardees here.
Responses to questions from potential applicants were accepted through December 8, 2015; responses are published here: Grant Cycle 1A1B Q&A.pdf.
See blog on awardee accomplishments in 2016 here.
Cycle 1C Pilot Program
CARE’s Pilot Cycle 1C Recycled-Content Procurement Grant program was designed to promote the development of long-term, sustainable and diversified markets for products produced from California post-consumer carpet (PCC). CARE’s Recycled Carpet Content Product Procurement Grants Cycle (Cycle 1C) is now closed. CARE may reopen this Cycle based on available funds.
The goal of the Cycle 1C grant program is to promote the development of long-term, sustainable and diversified markets for products produced with California-generated post-consumer carpet. Eligible applicants are public agencies and public agency contractors, which may request up to $50,000 for products containing California-generated post-consumer carpet. Approved products include certain types of carpet pad, insulation, commercial mats and road signage. See CARE Grant Cycle 1C Procurement Solicitation for details.
Cycle 1C Application Documents
CARE Grant Cycle 1C Procurement Solicitation (updated October 2016)
Cycle 1C Pre-Qualified Products Info Sheet
Grant Cycle 1C Questions/Comments & Answers
At a webinar on June 14, 2016, CARE presented the draft solicitation for the pilot program; view the presentation here.
Cycle 1M Micro Grants for Collections/Reuse Programs
In April 2017 CARE approved a new grant cycle: Cycle 1M Micro Grants for Collections/Reuse Programs. A total of $50,000 was made available for both public and private entities; CARE drop-off sites, Collector Sorter Entrepreneurs and Processors are encouraged to apply. See CARE Grant Cycle 1M Micro FINAL solicitation for full eligibility requirements.
Funds were awarded for infrastructure projects and/or purchase of equipment that supports the operational logistics of properly collecting and/or reusing California post-consumer carpet under a new or established program. Cycle 1M funds may be used for projects such as equipment and/or infrastructure for implementation of new, or improvements to existing, collection and reuse programs. Projects which specify additional pounds of PCC collected or reused as a result of grant funding are preferred. The maximum grant award is $10,000.
Projects must be completed by the end of 2017.
Cycle 1M Case Studies: Florin Perkins and Napa Recycling
Cycle 1M Questions and Answers
Comments may be emailed to Grants Manager Abbie Beane.
View a presentation on Cycle 1M: