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Community Investments Office
Learn about the Air District’s Community Investments Office's plan to direct funding to communities that are most impacted by air pollution.
Local Community Benefits Fund – New Updates and Resources Now Available
The Air District’s Community Investments Office is pleased to share new updates on the Local Community Benefits Fund (LCBF) for Benicia, Richmond, and surrounding communities. This new program reinvests penalty funds back into communities impacted by air quality violations, supporting local projects that improve public health, reduce pollution, and promote a just transition.
Webinar Recording Now Available
The October 29, 2025 webinar recording is now available on the Air District’s YouTube channel. Watch the full presentation to learn more about the funding process, timeline, and available resources.
Watch the Recording: Local Community Benefits Fund Webinar (10/29/25)
Updated Program Materials
View the Draft Local Community Investment Fund Guidelines and Calls for Projects for Benicia and Richmond, along with the new FAQ. These materials include eligibility details, funding framework, and translated versions in Spanish and Traditional Chinese.
- Draft Local Community Investment Fund Guidelines
- Call for Projects – Benicia
- Call for Projects – Richmond
- Local Community Investment Fund Guidelines – FAQ
Office Hours
We’re now offering virtual office hours to provide one-on-one support and answer questions about the LCBF.
Local Community Investment Fund Grant Program for Benicia and Richmond
Public Comment on Draft Guidelines
The Community Investments Office seeks feedback on the Draft Guidelines for the Local Community Benefits Fund for Benicia and Richmond and surrounding areas between October 27, 2025 through November 25, 2025 (5:00 PM). Please send all public comments to communityinvestments@baaqmd.gov.
Community Investments Office Timeline
- Guidelines Public Draft Release: October 27, 2025
- Public Comment Period: October 27, 2025 – November 25, 2025 at 5 PM
- Public Webinar on Draft Guidelines: October 29, 2025; 5:30-7 PM
- Grant Application Opens: February 2026
- Grant Application Deadline: May 2026
Meetings and Events
Survey Results
Between March and July 2025, the Community Investments Office held a survey for the entire Bay Area, asking how to direct funding from enforcement actions to grant projects that benefit communities impacted by air pollution. Thank you to everyone who shared input. The results are now available. Your feedback is shaping the program’s priorities and approach.
About the Community Investments Office
In 2024, the Air District Board of Directors approved the Community Benefits Penalty Funds Policy to create an opportunity to direct significant resources back into the communities where air quality violations occurred. This penalty funds policy and related settlement funds have generated over $124 million for local and regional projects. The Air District is working on developing new approaches that actively engage affected communities in fund distribution, ensuring that community needs are prioritized.
The Community Investments Office will oversee the reinvestment of penalty funds into the impacted communities, ensuring that these resources are used to support local projects such as pollution mitigation efforts, community health programs, and the development of green spaces. The goal is to improve environmental quality and public health in areas that have been disproportionately impacted by air pollution.
Learn more about these funds:
Stay Informed
To ensure that the investments are aligned with community needs, staff will actively engage with local leaders, community-based organizations, businesses, and residents. This collaborative approach will involve regular consultations, public meetings, and transparent decision-making processes, ensuring community members have a direct input on how funds are allocated.
Sign up to receive updates on the latest Community Investments Office activities via email notifications.
Penalty Assessments
For more information about agreements to resolve notices of violation, visit the Air District's Penalties and Settlements web page.
Last Updated: 11/12/2025