Logo courtesy of the California Department of Transportation

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – The California Department of Transportation announced it will distribute $25 million to 90 local projects aimed at removing litter and graffiti while expanding paid job training programs in underserved communities.

The funding comes through the Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway grant program under the Clean California initiative launched in 2021 under Gov. Gavin Newsom. State officials said 100 percent of this year’s funding will go to underserved areas and will support cleanup work on locally owned public rights of way.

Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said the program links public space improvements with workforce development. Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy said the grants are intended to create employment pathways for justice-impacted individuals, people experiencing homelessness, at-risk youth and others facing barriers to work.

Caltrans described the grants as competitive but did not release scoring details or a project-by-project performance framework with the announcement.

Among the largest awards, San Francisco Public Works will receive $580,000 to expand its Tenderloin Clean Workforce Development Program. National City will receive $600,000 for a revitalization and employment pathway initiative. Other allocations include $300,000 for the Clean Selma Second Street and Downtown Arts Corridor Revitalization project in Fresno County, $251,000 for the Trinidad Rancheria Harbor District Beautification and Workforce Development Initiative in Humboldt County and $172,000 for Lancaster’s Community Cleanup and Youth Workforce Development program.

In addition to litter and graffiti removal, the grants will fund public education and anti-litter campaigns. Communities that meet certain standards may be recognized as Clean California Communities, according to the agency.

Since its launch in July 2021, Clean California has removed 3.5 million cubic yards of litter from highways and public spaces statewide, according to Caltrans. The agency equates that amount to more than 150,000 residential garbage trucks. Officials report hosting more than 650 free dump days, collecting more than 15,500 mattresses and 57,000 tires. More than 10,000 volunteers have participated in cleanup events.

Caltrans also reported that 18,267 jobs have been created through the initiative, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation or experiencing housing insecurity. The agency did not specify how many of those positions transitioned into permanent employment or how long workers remained in paid placements.

The latest $25 million allocation continues the state’s approach of pairing environmental cleanup with workforce development. As funding expands, lawmakers and taxpayers may seek clearer data on long-term job placement, recidivism outcomes and sustained reductions in litter in the communities receiving grants.

More information about state transportation and infrastructure projects is available at build.ca.gov.