Federal Technical Assistance Grants for Colorado Water Projects

The Federal Technical Assistance Grant Program is administered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), a state agency dedicated to conserving, developing, protecting, and managing Colorado’s water resources for current and future generations. As part of its broader Colorado Water Plan initiatives, this program aims to enhance the ability of eligible entities to pursue federal funding that supports water-related projects. The program was established to help grantees secure technical and financial capacity to initiate and advance projects that align with the objectives of the Colorado Water Plan, particularly those related to raw water supply. This grant program is structured to support the development of highly competitive federal grant applications by providing financial assistance for pre-application activities. These activities include preliminary project planning and design, cost estimation, federal opportunity navigation, and actual grant writing. It is important to note that treated water and municipal infrastructure projects are not generally eligible under this program. All funded efforts must result in the submission of one or more federal funding applications, making this a capacity-building grant tied to demonstrable output. The program offers two types of grants: Local Capacity Grants and Technical Assistance Grants. Local Capacity Grants are direct awards that allow recipients to hire contractors or use internal resources to develop their projects and prepare federal applications. In contrast, Technical Assistance Grants provide recipients access to a contractor pre-selected by CWCB, who can deliver a suite of services including project design, cost estimation, and grant application development. The availability of both options ensures that applicants of varying organizational capacities can access technical support. The program is funded with $5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). A 25 percent match is required from all applicants. For Local Capacity Grants, up to half of the match can consist of in-kind work provided by the applicant. In-kind contributions are not eligible for matching under the Technical Assistance Grant category. Awards are distributed on a rolling basis, and the application window remains open until December 2024. All awarded funds must be spent by December 2026. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria. Governmental entities such as municipalities, counties, and state agencies, along with non-profit organizations, mutual ditch companies, and partnerships, may apply. Covered Entities under Section 37-60-126, C.R.S. are also eligible, provided they have adopted an approved water conservation plan. All applicants must have a federal System for Award Management (SAM) account and a Unique Entity ID (UEI), both of which must be public to verify eligibility for ARPA funds. Prior to applying, interested parties must contact Michael Regan at CWCB to discuss the potential project. Application materials are available through the CWCB Portal, and new users must register before submission. While Local Capacity applicants must submit a statement of work, budget, and project schedule, Technical Assistance applicants only need to provide a project concept. Budget development for approved Technical Assistance projects occurs during project scoping with CWCB’s selected contractor. Additional resources such as templates, guidelines, and how-to videos are available through the CWCB Portal. For questions, applicants may contact Michael Regan via email at michael.regan@state.co.us or by phone at (303) 866-3441 x3214.