Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program

The Emerging Contaminants for Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program is administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Water Quality Control Division. This program is part of a larger federal initiative established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), specifically targeting the management of emerging contaminants in drinking water systems. The goal is to support public water systems in small or disadvantaged communities across Colorado by offering planning, design, and infrastructure funding to mitigate public health risks associated with contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), manganese, and others listed on the EPA's Contaminant Candidate Lists (CCLs). Eligible applicants include regulated community or non-transient/non-community public water systems that meet Colorado’s definitions of small or disadvantaged communities as outlined in the State Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWRF) program. Additionally, entities must have already conducted assessment sampling to determine the presence and extent of emerging contaminants. Applicants can choose to apply for one of two funding tiers: Tier 1 provides up to $300,000 for planning and design activities, while Tier 2 offers up to $10 million per year (up to $30 million total) for infrastructure projects that are further along in development. Applicants may not apply for both tiers in the same cycle. Tier 1 projects must result in key deliverables such as a DWRF prequalification form and are intended to prepare a community for eventual infrastructure development. These grants are capped at a 24-month performance period and do not allow reimbursement for pre-award costs. Tier 2 projects are intended for entities that are construction-ready and listed on the DWRF Intended Use Plan Appendix A. Tier 2 applications must include completed planning documents and cost estimates and are subject to federal compliance requirements such as the Build America, Buy America Act, Davis-Bacon wage laws, and environmental review standards. Applicants must submit a comprehensive application packet including an applicant checklist with signature, a 2026 W-9 form, a project narrative, and a detailed budget worksheet for the selected tier. Non-governmental organizations must also provide proof of signature authority and a certificate of good standing if applicable. All application materials must be emailed in a single PDF no larger than 10 MB to the designated program email address by the deadline. The deadline to submit questions is January 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. MDT, and applications are due by February 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Notifications of award are expected during the week of March 2, 2026, with purchase order projects starting around March 30 and grant contract projects starting around April 27, 2026. This grant program is recurring and expected to reopen semiannually in January and July through 2028, pending continued federal allocations. Applications will be evaluated based on a two-level priority screening process, first by the type and severity of the contaminant, and second by project readiness, community disadvantage status, and population size. Financial risk assessments are also considered in the scoring process. All awards are subject to the availability of funds, and applicants must be prepared to accept state terms and conditions without negotiation.

Ensure required attachments are complete and submitted in a single PDF no larger than 10MB to avoid disqualification.