|
Funding & Technical Assistance
NWCCOG Regional Grants Navigator
NWCCOG has a Regional Grants Navigator on staff to assist with identifying appropriate grant opportunities, reviewing grants prior to submission, or helping to gather letters of support. Feel free to reach out to him for assistance: Jonathan Godes, NWCCOG Regional Grants Navigator - jgodes@nwccog.org.
Federal Opportunities
Safe Streets and Roads for All. Deadline: June 26. US Department of Transportation. Federal. Planning and demonstration or implementation funding. Eligible entities metropolitan planning organizations, local government, special districts, certain transit agencies, Tribes. A comprehensive safety action plan is the foundation of this grant program. Planning and demonstration grants are used to develop, complete, or supplement and Action Plan. Implementation grants are used to implement projects or strategies that are consistent with existing Action Plans to address a roadway safety problem.
Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas Funding
NOFA to be released soon | Details here. U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) for up to $400 million to spur innovative, community-focused clean energy solutions in rural and remote areas across the United States. The anticipated funding plans to support energy technologies that provide clean, resilient, reliable, affordable power, while also aiming to increase local economic development.
State Opportunities
Colorado Creates Grant. Deadline: May 21. Colorado Office of Economic Development & Economic Trade. State. Eligible entities arts focused Colorado-based organizations. The purpose of Colorado Creates, Creative Industries’ largest annual competitive grant program, is to support arts programs, services, and activities associated with carrying out the National Endowment of the Arts strategic plan. From this funding, OEDIT has developed the Colorado Creates Grant, which provides general operating support for arts-focused organizations for the presentation of public programming.
Film Festival Support and Promotion Grant. Deadline: Rolling. Colorado Office of Economic Development & Economic Trade. State. Eligible entities to apply for this sponsorship, your film festival needs to take place in Colorado. The Film Festival Support and Promotion Grant supports more than 40 film festivals and educational events each year throughout Colorado. With a focus on Colorado’s rural areas, film festivals bring economic activity to different areas of the state by attracting new visitors.
Community Connect Grant. Deadline: April 21. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Eligible entities local government, Tribes, any other legal entity, including cooperatives, private corporations, or limited liability companies organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis. Rural areas that lack any existing broadband speed of at least 10Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream are eligible. Provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where service does not exist.
Revitalizing Main Streets: Opportunity 2 - Small Multimodal & Economic Resiliency Grant Program. Deadline: April 30. 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.
Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative. Next grant cycle will open June 2025. Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Great Outdoors Colorado. State. Advances regionally driven collaboratives working to ensure that Colorado’s land, water and wildlife thrive while also providing equitable access to quality outdoor recreation experiences. For areas that do not have a partnership, these grants support collaborative efforts to establish a coalition that is committed to convening a broad range of outdoor interests to identify and advance conservation and sustainable recreation objectives. For areas with established Outdoor Regional Partnerships, grant funds support collaboration, public involvement, research, and planning that build on existing efforts. The next grant cycle
Human Bear Conflict Reduction Grants. Deadline: May 30. Colorado Parks and Wildlife. State. Eligible entities local government, HOAs, community groups, businesses, Tribes, Universities. Provides local communities with support to reduce human and bear conflicts. Seeks to foster innovative solutions that can be replicated throughout the state. This effort is does in tandem with other tools including bear management, CPW bear conflict response, and the game damage program.
Non-Motorized Trails Grants. Colorado Parks and Wildlife. State. Eligible entities local government, Tribes, and nonprofits with a 501(c)3. Supports projects that enhance outdoor recreation through trail construction, maintenance, planning, and related activities, while protecting natural and cultural resources. Funding comes from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and the Federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Deadline will open with initial deadline in September and a secondary deadline in October.
Proposition 123 Local Planning Capacity Grant
Opens May 1 and closes May 30 | Details here. This funding supports local government implementation of Proposition 123 requirements including fast track and planning efforts that advance affordable housing strategies or projects. These funds are only available to those local governments who have filed a commitment and are eligible for Proposition 123 funds. LPC funds can also support implementation of 2024 land use and housing legislation? Projects could include:
- Adopting ADU strategies (HB24-1152) or displacement mitigation strategies (HB24-1152 & SB24-174);
- Calculating Housing Opportunity Goals or designating Neighborhood Centers (HB24-1313), and;
- Updating land use codes to address parking minimums (HB24-1304) or occupancy limits (HB24-1007).
Colorado Energy Office Community Accelerated Mobility Project (CAMP)
Deadline: May 9. The next round of CAMP, which offers grant funding for community-led e-mobility projects, is open.
Other Opportunities
Rural & Community Support Grants. Deadline: July 15. Anschutz Family Foundation. General operating and project-based funding. Eligible entities nonprofits and local government partnering with a nonprofit. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on improving quality of life for individuals and families in Colorado, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Priority is given to projects addressing basic human needs, community and economic vitality, self-sufficiency, and access to opportunities. Eligible proposals should demonstrate community engagement, strong leadership, and sustainable impact, with an emphasis on organizations serving low-income and vulnerable populations.
Supporting Coloradans in Recovery Through Non-Clinical Programs. Deadline: June 15. The Colorado Health Foundation. Project-based funding. Eligible entities local government, Tribes, nonprofits, for-profits. Provides funding for non-clinical programs that support Coloradans in recovery from substance use disorders. Grants focus on addressing social determinants of health, promoting well-being, and reducing barriers to sustained recovery through services such as peer support, housing assistance, employment programs, and community connection activities. Priority is given to programs that are community-driven and culturally responsive.
Equitable Community-Designed Outdoor Spaces. Deadline: June 15. The Colorado Health Foundation. Project-based funding. Eligible entities local government, Tribes, nonprofits, for-profits. Provides funding to support the planning, design, and creation of outdoor spaces that promote health, well-being, and equity in Colorado communities. Grants prioritize community-led projects that address the unique needs of underrepresented populations by improving access to safe, inclusive, and culturally relevant outdoor environments. Funding can be used for planning, community engagement, and construction activities.
Community Heart and Soul Seed Grant Program
Apply here. The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides $10,000 in funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to start the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization.
El Pomar Foundation
Deadline: Rolling. The El Pomar Foundation takes a broad, general grant making scope with greatest emphasis on arts & culture, civic/community initiatives, education, health, and human services. The foundation looks to support organizations and initiatives that demonstrate not only that they’re making a positive and significant difference in peoples’ lives and/or solving issues important to their communities, but also that they have solid plans to activate the mission, program, or project for which they’re seeking funding; financial sustainability; and strong community support and organizational leadership.
High Country Conservation Center|Funding for Waste Reduction Projects
Deadline: June 1. The High Country Conservation Center, in partnership with the Summit County government, is offering grant funding for waste reduction projects. Local nonprofits, businesses, homeowners’ associations, schools and government agencies can apply for the competitive grants aimed at reducing waste and increasing recycling and composting efforts. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $75,000, and all projects must be completed within one year of award notice.
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.
| 
