Colorado Business and Commerce Grants

The City of Fort Collins in Colorado is offering Dream It Up Planning Grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to various organizations and committed individuals for planning projects that enhance urban habitat and foster connections to nature, with a focus on early project efforts like community engagement, landscape planning, and city amendment processes.

State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant is available for small businesses in Colorado to support their international expansion efforts. The grant provides funding of up to $10,000 per year for activities such as attending trade shows, holding international business meetings, researching new markets, updating marketing materials for new markets, and compliance testing. Administered by the Global Business Development (GBD) division, this program is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

This grant provides financial support to local attractions, organizations, and agencies in Colorado Springs to promote tourism and stimulate economic growth through events and projects aligned with key tourism impact areas.

We are so excited to be offering the Applefest Business Grant again this year! There are some amazing opportunities for businesses to capitalize on funding for those projects that can boost your business! This is a first come first serve grant program. All applications are reviewed by a committee and grant workshops will be held to assist those who need help filling out the application or who have questions about qualifying purchases. All grants are due by noon on Friday, November 1. Late applications will not be accepted. Since this is a rolling grant, once the funding had been dispensed, the grant program will close; even if it is before November 1.

This initiative provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal governments in coal-impacted communities to develop and scale innovative economic projects that create job opportunities and foster local economic transformation.

The City of Lafayette offers grants to directly support the preservation of older buildings. Donor Name: City of Lafayette State: Colorado City: Lafayette Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Lafayette Historic Preservation Board (HPB) is offering competitive grants of up to $3,000 for a building improvement project on older buildings in Lafayette that meets the following: Age of Building (House, Outbuilding, Barn, etc.): 50 years old or older Eligible Structures Commercial buildings Houses Churches Outbuildings and barns  Project Characteristics may include Extends the life of the building and/or enhances the historic character of the building Keeps historic materials to the extent possible; otherwise, uses identical or similar materials Removes non-historic features or materials to expose historic ones Eligible Improvements may include, but are not limited to: Structural improvements like foundation repair. Restoration and repair of original windows and doors and weather sealing. Roof repair or replacement. Installation of gutters and site drainage work. Restoration and cleaning of masonry, including brick, stone and concrete. Power washing is discouraged on any building receiving grant funding. Restoration or reconstruction of original architectural details of the building, such as materials, porch, cornice and window details, using historic materials. Painting A paint analysis to determine the original color is encouraged. Painting over brick is discouraged. All required building permits must be obtained. Location Within Lafayette city limits Eligibility Criteria  To be eligible, buildings must be at least 50 years old and within Lafayette city limits. Improvement projects will be considered based on the following criteria: Longevity – Impact of the project on the lifespan of the building Appearance – Use of historic materials where applicable Use of a Lafayette-based business or do-it-yourself (DIY) Urgency of need will be assessed Research was done on the property (Sources could include Carnegie Library, Miner’s Museum contacts, Lafayette Historical Society, Lafayette’s HPB website, Treeless Plains book, other local history books, old newspaper articles, etc. Other relevant issues related to the project and site may be considered. For more information, visit City of Lafayette.

This grant provides funding to support projects that boost economic development, promote tourism, and enhance cultural arts programs in Brighton, encouraging community engagement and attracting visitors.

The Boulder County is now accepting applications for its Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant Program. Donor Name: Boulder County State: Colorado County: Boulder County (CO) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/06/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant Program (SFMG) is funded by the county’s voter-approved wildfire mitigation sales and use tax, which went into effect in 2023. It provides cost-share funding through competitive grants to leverage other federal, state, and local funding sources. The purpose of these funds is to support large landscape and community-wide forest and grassland management projects to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, protect water supplies, and promote resilient ecosystems. Funding Information There is a $2.4 million budget for 2024, distributed over 2 cycles. Of this amount, planning grants will be capped at $250,000. The county will fund up to five (5) planning proposals annually, at a maximum of $50,000 each. What Can Funding Be Used For? Forest Fuels Mitigation Grants: Creation or maintenance of fuel breaks Fuels reduction by various appropriate methods, including mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, and others, designed to protect water supplies and/or reduce potential fire intensity Removal of saleable woody materials with specific utilization plans The removal/disposal of slash and non-merchantable materials using methods such as chipping, mulching, grinding, pile burning, broadcast burning or mechanical removal Cross-boundary projects that may include private, local government, and federal lands Grassland Fuels Mitigation Grants: Fuels reduction by various appropriate methods including mowing, grazing, or prescribed fire Mitigation on private lands as a multi-homeowner project (e.g., community/HOA common areas, privately owned green spaces/beltways) Local government open space management projects with the objectives of mitigating wildfire risks Ditch fuels reduction projects Cross-boundary projects that may include private, local government, and federal lands Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs): Updates to existing plans or development of new plans. Eligibility Criteria  The following organizations may apply: Local government entities in Boulder County Private utilities, ditch companies, and water providers State agencies that own or manage land in Boulder County Homeowners Associations Non-profit organizations In addition, applicants must: Be able to function as the fiscal agent and have legal authority to administer and/or implement treatments in the proposed project area(s). Confirm that participating landowner(s) agree to the project’s scope of work and grant’s reporting and monitoring requirements. For more information, visit Boulder County.

This program honors outstanding leaders of small businesses in the Denver metro area who have demonstrated innovation, resilience, and community impact, recognizing their achievements through awards and media exposure.

This program provides $2 million in funding to support the development of geothermal energy systems for various entities in Colorado, prioritizing projects that benefit low-income and underserved communities.

This program provides funding to local governments and economic organizations in Colorado to boost the semiconductor industry by conducting market studies, implementing infrastructure improvements, and promoting regional assets.

This program provides funding to local governments and economic development organizations in Colorado to develop projects that attract semiconductor-related businesses, particularly in underrepresented and rural areas of the state.

This program provides financial support to Colorado businesses for customized job training to enhance workforce skills and improve employee retention.

This program provides funding to organizations and educational institutions to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills for emerging food and agriculture leaders in Colorado.

This program provides financial support to LGBTQ+-owned and allied restaurants, cafes, and bars to help them thrive and recover.

This funding opportunity supports rural Colorado communities in creating jobs and fostering economic growth through projects like infrastructure improvements, workforce development, and entrepreneurial support.

This program provides financial support and resources to small businesses in select U.S. cities that are dedicated to community upliftment and have been impacted by COVID-19.

This program provides funding to industrial and manufacturing companies, local governments, and public-private partnerships in Colorado to help reduce air pollution by supporting the purchase and installation of emission reduction equipment.

This program provides funding to businesses and nonprofits in Colorado to create tailored job training for new hires and existing employees, enhancing workforce skills and competitiveness.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for tourism marketing initiatives in Colorado, targeting nonprofit organizations, government entities, and industry associations dedicated to promoting responsible travel and enhancing the state's tourism economy.