加州公路公共资金资源指南

California High-Road PublicFunding Resources Guide This guide provides an overview of economic and workforce development publicfunding resources in California. It is designed to support potential applicantsin two key areas: identifying relevant funding and integrating “high-road”strategies that prioritize community and worker benefits. Though the informationin this guide is applicable to a wide range of activities, we focus on fundingand strategies most relevant to projects involving clean energy, manufacturing,climate change, and workforce training. This guide is intended for businesses andother entities applying for public funds, and is part of our broader support, whichincludes high-roadtechnical assistanceservices. The state of California spends billions of dollars each year on programs designed to supportthe growth of its economy and workforce. State agencies offer grants, loans, tax credits, andother types of public investment that target a wide range of activities, including large-scaleinfrastructure projects, manufacturing facility build-outs, worker training programs, and more.Applicants for these funds may include businesses and public agencies, as well as their partnersin workforce training and education entities, community-based organizations, and othercollaborators. Each funding program has its own unique set of objectives and requirements, but thereare commonalities as well. Many larger-scale programs require applicants to demonstrateengagement with and support from community and labor stakeholders, and to includeconcrete public benefits beyond private profits in project outcomes. In California, policymakersand state agency officials have emphasized the importance of a high-road approach toCalifornia’s economic and workforce investments—prioritizing environmental sustainability, jobquality, and equity along with economic viability. In some cases, high-road program elementstake the form of specificworkforce standards(such asprevailing wage requirementsorskilledand trained workforce requirements) or agreements with community and labor organizations(e.g.,project labor agreementsorcommunity benefits agreements). Projects that include laborand community partnerships can help ensure high-road outcomes for projects while fosteringthe local support that encourages success. The UC Berkeley Labor Center provides no-costtechnical assistanceto facilitate high-roadlabor and community partnerships in California and other states. Our services supportemployers and others in navigating the landscape of available funding, understanding thegoals or requirements for labor and community engagement, and fostering relationship-build-ing among potential community and labor partners—which can make or break a project. Thisguide provides information about what types of funding are available, where to search forfunding opportunities, and best practices for pursuing high-road strategies. Common types of public funding Competitive grants Competitive grants are awarded under a process where applicants submit project proposals,which are evaluated and scored against funding criteria. Awards are negotiated for thetop-ranked proposals. No repayment is required. Non-competitive grants Non-competitive grants are typically awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to applicantsmeeting a set of criteria. They are often aimed at state or local governments, and grants maybe recurring or one-time awards. No repayment is required. Non-competitive grants mayincludeformula grants,block grants, or specific categorical grants. Public loans and loan guarantees For these investments, a public entity either directly provides capital (public loan) or assumessome of the repayment risk for a private lender (loan guarantee). In both cases, recipientstypically receive more favorable loan terms—such as lower interest rates, longer repaymenthorizons, or higher credit access—than they would applying to a private lender on their own.Repayment is required. Tax credits Tax credit programs reduce the amount owed by taxpayers who meet the eligibilityrequirements of the program. Tax credits can be either refundable or non-refundable.Refundable tax credits allow the taxpayer to get a refund if their tax liability goes below zeroafter applying the credit. Non-refundable credits only limit tax liability but the taxpayer doesnot get an additional refund if their tax liability falls below zero. Rebates Rebates are partial refunds to a business or individual consumer; they are financial incentives orsubsidies for purchasing a specific product or service. Where to search for funding Databases, search engines, and many other resources are available to help applicants identifypotential sources of funding, and understand program eligibility and requirements, applicationprocesses, and deadlines. Below we highlight resources that are most relevant for clean energy,climate, manufacturing, and workforce activities, focusing on California programs but