Explore the Coast Overnight

The Explore the Coast Overnight Program aims to create more opportunities for all Californians to stay overnight at the coast through the expansion or construction of hotels, motels, hostels, campgrounds, RV campgrounds, cabins, yurts, dorm rooms, and others.

The Conservancy’s Explore the Coast Overnight Program was created to expand more opportunities for all Californians to stay overnight at the coast, particularly individuals and youth from low and middle-income households, communities of color, at-risk or underserved populations, and others that face barriers to accessing the coast. The goals of the Explore the Coast Overnight Program include: Helping improve existing, and develop new lower-cost coastal accommodations; Ensuring that new or renovated coastal accommodation projects are available to all Californians, in particular low and middle-income Californians and organizations that serve under-resourced communities; Supporting innovative pilot projects; Creating and preserving a variety of lower-cost coastal accommodations; and Maintaining and increasing the stock of lower-cost coastal accommodations along the California coast. The Conservancy provides grant funds for the planning, design, permitting, and/or construction of lower-cost coastal accommodation projects that advance the goals and priorities of the Explore the Coast Overnight Program.

Type: Grant Award: not published as a fixed amount; depends on the applications received Total available: $5,000,000.00 Matching funds: Not Required Funding method: Reimbursement(s) Funding source: State Deadline: Ongoing Award period: Usually 3-4 years A letter of intent is required. Source: California Grants Portal record 1671, published by the State of California.

Eligible applicant types: Nonprofit; Public Agency; Tribal Government

Public agencies, federally-recognized tribes, and certain nonprofit organizations are eligible for funding. To be eligible, a nonprofit organization must qualify under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and its articles of incorporation must demonstrate that the organization’s purposes are consistent with Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, the Coastal Conservancy’s enabling legislation.

Geography: Priority will be given to projects that are on or near the California coast. Projects within 1.5 miles of the coast and/or within the coastal zone are highest priority. Projects farther from the coast can be considered. When projects are located farther than walking distance to the coast, existing and potential transportation options will be evaluated to ensure relatively easy access to the coast to the extent possible.