About the Youth Community Access Grant Program
The Youth Community Access (YCA) Grant Program supports youth access to natural or cultural resources with a focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities. The program is funded by the Youth, Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account (YEPEITA), created by Proposition 64. Two competitive grant cycles have resulted in funding 134 projects totaling approximately $32.6 million. Previous awarded projects can be found here for Round 1 awarded projects and Round 2 awarded projects. Programs such as the Youth Community Access grant program help advance Outdoors for All, CNRA’s initiative that is expanding parks and outdoors spaces in communities that need them the most, supporting programs to connect people who lack access, fostering a sense of belonging for all Californians in the outdoors, and much more. To learn more about the Outdoors for All initiative, please visit https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Outdoors-for-All.
The third round of funding will be awarded in September 2025. No new applications are being accepted. The next solicitation for proposals is anticipated to be posted in Summer of 2026.
For Round 3 applicants advancing to Step 3
The YCA Grant Guidelines have been amended to modify the requirements relating to vehicle acquisition and tracking staff time for salaried employees. The amendment provides more detail about project eligibility costs and updated instructions for project proposals advancing to Step 3 of the competitive process. Project eligibility requirements remain unchanged. The information in the amendment replaces and supersedes any conflicting information provided in the original June 2024 guidelines. The original guidelines remain in effect for all other topics. Applicants advancing to Step 3 must submit required documents to RAPTR, linked below.
The amended June 2024 guidelines can be accessed here.
Step 3: Required Documentation Templates
Step 3 Submittal Checklist (Revised)
Government Agency Taxpayer ID Form
Scope of Work (Revised) - A sample can be found in the amended June 2024 Guidelines
Cost Estimate (Revised) - A sample can be found in the amended June 2024 Guidelines
Resources Agency Project Tracking and Reporting (RAPTR) System
For technical assistance with RAPTR, please email the help desk Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm at raptr@resources.ca.gov.
YCA Technical Assistance Workshop Recording
QUESTIONS?
For more information, sign up for the Bonds & Grants LISTERV, call 916-653-2812 or email us at bondsandgrants@resources.ca.gov.
