Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Deadlines
Mobile Home Programs. Colorado Department of Local Affairs. State. Project-based funding. Eligible entities nonprofit organizations, local governments, resident-owned communities. Funding can be used for projects related to acquisition and infrastructure improvements. The MHP must be located within an eligible community. Deadline monthly on the 1st, LOI due by the 15th.
Rolling Deadlines
Prop 123 Land Banking. Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. State. Project-based affordable housing funding. Eligible projects acquisition of land for the development of affordable housing. Local and tribal governments are eligible for grants and forgivable loans to nonprofits. The Proposition 123 Land Banking Program (Program), provides funding for the acquisition of land for the development of affordable rental and for-sale housing. Mixed-use is allowed if the predominant use is affordable housing. Land with pre-existing improvements is eligible for financing; however, only the value of the land is eligible for financing under the Program. Started accepting LOIs on September 16 and will continue to do so until the funds are exhausted.
Resources
Addressing Homelessness in Rural Communities. Department of Housing & Urban Development + US Department of Agriculture. A Technical Assistance Guide. Providing supportive housing in rural areas presents a significant challenge – one that is being exacerbated by economic distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural communities struggle to find adequate, affordable rental units as well as access to the services their most vulnerable tenants need. Both U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offer programs that can address the challenge.
Rolling Deadlines
Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities state and local government, Tribes, NPOs including Cooperatives, for-profit businesses. This program provides financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas.
Resources
BroadbandUSA. National Telecommunications & Information Administration. Federal Funding. BroadbandUSA’s Federal Funding site connects you to funding opportunities that support broadband planning, digital inclusion, and deployment projects. The site allows you to filter programs by Agency/Department, Eligible Recipients, and/or Program Purpose by using the filter options on the left
Rolling Deadlines
Rural Business Investment Program. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Startup funding. Eligible entities for-profits and subsidiaries of an entity. Provides a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) license to newly formed developmental capital organizations to fill the need for business and development capital in rural areas. The program works with for-profit developmental capital funds.
Business and Industry Loan Guarantees. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Loan funding. Eligible entities for-profit and nonprofit businesses, cooperatives, Tribes, public bodies, and individuals engaged or proposed to engage in a business. Loan guarantees to improve, develop, or finance business, industry, and employment and improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities.
Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance. Economic Development Administration. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities State, local government, nonprofits 501c3 and not, special district governments, Tribes. The Public Works program provides resources to meet the construction and/or infrastructure design needs of communities to enable them to become more economically competitive. Supported activities under EDA’s EAA program include construction and non-construction such as construction or upgrading of public infrastructure, sectoral partnerships for workforce training, design and engineering, technical assistance, economic recovery strategies, and capitalization or re-capitalization of Revolving Loan Funds.
Draper Richland Kaplan. Foundation. Startup funding. Eligible entities nonprofits. This foundation will invest and help provide support to entrepreneurs for a three-year funding cycle to launch and expand their ventures.
Colorado Startup Loan Fund. Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade. State. Loan funding. Eligible entities small businesses. Provides loan capital to mission-based lenders to provide loans to Colorado entrepreneurs and small business owners needing capital to start, restart, or restructure a business, and those who are not able to obtain a loan from traditional lenders.
Strategic Fund Job Growth Incentive. Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade. Business incentives. Eligible entities Businesses considering interstate competitive expansion or relocation projects in Colorado. Project-based funding. Funds for locating or expanding in the state, signing a lease, hiring employees related to this project, making material expenditures for this project.
Upcoming Deadlines
Hometown Grants. T-Mobile. Foundation. Project-based funding. Eligible entities local government, tribal leaders, or nonprofit community leaders. The program will fund projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in small towns (with populations less than 50,000), including town squares, historic buildings, outdoor parks, ball fields, or libraries. Elected leaders, town managers or employees, or nonprofit leaders are eligible to submit project details. Deadline: Awards will be made quarterly. Applications will be open on a quarterly basis and the portal will close on the last day of each quarter and reopen for the new quarter on the first of the month.
Rolling Deadlines
Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities rural local governments and Tribes. This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings. Detailed list of essential community facilities included in link.
Disaster Supplemental Grant. Economic Development Administration. Federal. Project-based. Grants for areas in a Presidentially declared disaster region may be eligible for highly flexible grants to use building up a strong and modern workforce. EDA’s role in disaster recovery is to facilitate the timely and effective delivery of federal economic development assistance to support long-term community economic recovery planning and project implementation, redevelopment and resiliency.
Local Match Program (Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). Colorado Department of Local Affairs. State. Federal match based funding. Eligible entities local government, special districts, and Tribes. The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 22-215 (creating Colorado Revised Statute 24-75-232), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Cash Fund, which allocates approximately $80 million in state General Funds for local match support for state agencies and local governments for the non-federal match requirements included in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Thriving Communities Technical Assistance. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Federal. Eligible entities are those that are eligible under specific grants. Technical assistance funding. The program will help local governments ensure housing needs are considered as part of their larger infrastructure investment plans, while also supporting equitable development in disadvantaged communities. Investments to revitalize communities, ensure equitable access to resources, create economic opportunities for residents and businesses, and improve housing availability, affordability, and quality.
Resources
DOLA Local Community Funding Guide. Created by Colorado Department of Local Affairs. This tool can help local communities in Colorado track potential upcoming funding opportunities. Very user friendly, easy to break down by funding category, program, award type, agency, etc.
Rolling Deadlines
Thriving Children. W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Foundation. General operating and project-based funding. Eligible entities nonprofit organizations. The foundation supports in three primary areas: Thriving Children: We support a healthy start and quality learning experiences for all children. Working Families: We invest in efforts to help families obtain stable, high-quality jobs. Equitable Communities: We want all communities to be vibrant, engaged and equitable.
Rolling Deadlines
Community Disaster Loan Program. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Federal. General operating support. Eligible entities local governments. The Community Disaster Loan Program provides funding for local governments to operate their essential community services after substantial revenue loss caused by a disaster.
Upcoming Deadlines
Colorado Electric Grid Resilience Funds. Colorado Energy Office + Department of Local Affairs. State (through DOE funding). Project-based funding. Eligible entities electric utilities and local governments. Funds to increase grid resiliency in the State. Includes the following Grant Programs:
- Microgrids for Community Resilience – support community-level resilience to reduce impacts during electric grid disruptions. Round 4 is now open. Deadline is rolling until funds are expended.
- Advanced Grid Monitoring – support electric utilities in funding critical grid monitoring and resilience projects. Max $500,000 per applicant. Deadline November 15.
Community Change Grants. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal (IRA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities local government, Tribe, higher education institute. Environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. Deadline November 21, rolling applications accepted.
Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities States, local governments, and Tribes. Grants offered by the Brownfields Program may be used to address sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) and petroleum. Deadline November 14.
Environmental Justice Grant Program. Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. State. Project-based funding. Eligible entities nonprofits, local government, Tribes, universities, other educational institutions, for-profit business, grassroots organizations. Funds for projects to ensure every community has a healthy environment in which to live, learn, work, and play. These projects help measure, prevent, or reduce pollution in disproportionately impacted communities. Disproportionately impacted communities include low-income communities, communities of color, communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change, and some other categories. Funds also can help pay for technical assistance to help community organizations most effectively participate in rulemaking hearings. Deadline November 25.
Consumer Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal (IRA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities States, local governments, Tribes, nonprofits, public-private partnerships. Funding for projects that will achieve the following objectives: decrease household food waste; expand markets for and boost sales of compost; inform the public about residential food waste composting program, provide details on accepted materials, and increase collection rates while reducing physical contamination in residential food waste composting programs. Deadline December 20.
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal (IIJA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities political subdivisions of states and territories. To support projects that enhance local government infrastructure for managing post-consumer materials. Its primary goals are to reduce municipal solid waste (MSW), increase waste diversion from landfills and incinerators, and fund innovative solutions like recycling, composting, and waste prevention. Deadline for intent to apply November 15, for application December 20.
Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants. US Department of Agriculture. Federal (IIJA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Must be within a rural area with population of 50,000 residents or less. Combined grant and loan guarantee funding up to 75% of total eligible project costs. If you are interested in applying, contact one of the local program specialists before starting your application. They can be found on the above linked website under the “Contact” tab. Deadlines December 31, 2024; March 31, 2025.
Clean School Bus Program Rebates. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal (IIJA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities local governments who are responsible for providing school bus service or the purchase of school buses, a public charter school district, regional education service agency or joint transportation agency, and more. Offers rebates to replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models. Rebate applications can request funds for replacing up to 50 buses. Deadline January 9, 2025.
Funding Notice: Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas. Department of Energy & Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. Federal (IIJA). Eligible entities tribes and tribal organizations, state and local governmental entities, non-profit and for-profit entities, rural electric cooperatives, farming associations and cooperatives, labor unions, institutions of higher education, and both incorporated and unincorporated consortia. Applicant teams must address at least one of the following: improving overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems; siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines; reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation in rural or remote areas; providing or modernizing electric generation facilities; developing microgrids; or increasing energy efficiency. Deadline concept papers February 27, 2025; application August 28, 2025.
Rolling Deadlines
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal (IRA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities States, local governments, and Tribes. Assist in implementation strategies to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency.
Upcoming Deadlines
PROTECT- The Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost- Saving Transportation Discretionary Grant Program is a competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to plan for and strengthen surface transportation to be more resilient to natural hazards, including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides over $1.4 billion over five years through this program to fund projects that address the climate crisis by improving the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail.
There are three types of PROTECT grants for our region:
- Planning
- Resilience Improvement
- Community Resilience and Evacuation Route
Deadline February 24.
Safe Routes to School. Colorado Department of Transportation. State. Project-based funding. Eligible entities local governments, service authority, school district, and other subdivisions of the State. Starting Safe Routes to School program presents your school, school district, or community with an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer and more accessible for children, including those with disabilities. Because the needs of every community are unique, each community or individual school may choose to emphasize different components to make its program work. Deadline November 4.
Multimodal Transportation and Mitigation Options Fund (MMOF). Colorado Department of Transportation. State. Project-based funding. Eligible entities local governments, transit agencies, school districts, non-profits or other sponsors of eligible multimodal projects. The MMOF program invests in projects that promote a “complete and integrated multimodal system.” Multimodal MMOF projects must provide benefits to or integration of transportation modes other than for traditional roadway vehicle use alone. Deadline December 20.
Rolling Deadlines
Revitalizing Main Streets: Opportunity 2 – Small Multimodal & Economic Resiliency Grant Program. Colorado Department of Transportation. State. Project-based funding. Eligible entities local governments, business improvement districts, council of governments, university or college. CDOT seeks to award grants to fund projects that improve safety for pedestrians, bicycle riders, transit users, seniors and people living with disabilities along urban arterials or main street corridors, connecting multimodal access to encourage downtown economic vitality. Applications may be submitted at any time to cdotmainstreets@state.co.us. Applications will be reviewed every month. Deadline for review will be the last Wednesday of the month.
Resources
Department of Transportation Navigator. US Department of Transportation. Helps communities navigate the best ways to apply for grants, and plan for and deliver transformative infrastructure projects and services. Provides an overview of grant programs under the Resources for Grant Seekers tab.
Toolkit to track federal infrastructure funding. Created by the Colorado Economic Recovery Office. This tool can help local communities in Colorado track potential upcoming funding opportunities.
WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. Bureau of Reclamation. Federal (IIJA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities States, Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, State/regional/local authorities (member must include a water or power delivery authority), or nonprofits acting in partnership with any other eligible entity. Funding provides funding for projects that result in quantifiable water savings, implement renewable energy components, and support broader sustainability benefits. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of renewable energy; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States. Deadline November 13.
Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects. Bureau of Reclamation. Federal (IIJA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities States, local government, Tribes, nonprofits with 501c3 status, special districts. Funds to invite sponsors of small surface water and groundwater storage projects to request cost-shared funding for the planning, design, and/or construction of projects that enhance and increase the reliability of municipal and irrigation water supplies, provide opportunities to enhance groundwater management and provide water quality improvements and ecosystem benefits. Round 1 Deadline December 12 and Round 2 Deadline July 15, 2025.
WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects for Fiscal Year 2024. Bureau of Reclamation. Federal (IIJA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities States, local government, Tribes, nonprofits, special districts. Funding to plan for and implement actions to increase water supply sustainability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflict. Also for small-scale on-the-ground projects that seek to conserve, better manage, or otherwise make more efficient use of water supplies. Deadline January 14, 2025.
Rolling Deadlines
Federal Technical Assistance Grants for Federal Projects. Colorado Water Conservation Board. State. Local Capacity Grants and CWCB Technical Assistance Grants. Eligible entities local government, mutual ditch companies, nonprofits. As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, a total of $5 million in federal funding has been allocated for technical assistance grants that will enable eligible entities to work with the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) contractors or to hire contractors to expand their capacity and expertise, in pursuit of federal funding opportunities that directly support the Colorado Water Plan objectives. The allowable uses of this grant funding are broad in scope, to allow for the wide range of federal opportunities available.
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants in Colorado. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Emergency funding. Eligible entities local government, nonprofits, Tribes. Emergency-based funding. This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply. Water source grants up to $1,000,000 for the construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and/or other sources of water (water source up to and including the treatment plant).
Watershed Restoration Grants. Colorado Water Conservation Board. State. Project-based funding. Eligible entities special districts, Tribes, mutual ditch companies, nonprofits. The Program will focus on the development of Wildfire Ready Watershed action plans and implementation of projects designed to mitigate post wildfire impacts. Applications will be accepted for capacity building, planning, engineering, and implementation to address the susceptibility of values at risk to post wildfire hazards.
Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities, nonprofits, Tribes. This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage, and distribution; sewer collection, transmission, treatment, and disposal; solid waste collection, disposal, and closure; storm water collection, transmission, and disposal.
Resources
Colorado Water Funding Opportunity Navigator. Colorado Department of Natural Resources. This database is intended to serve as a tool for people and organizations across Colorado to navigate all available funding opportunities for water projects in a single place.