Many of the land use planning tools and strategies detailed in this guide can be achieved with existing planning staff. However, some funding opportunities are available to support specific efforts. They are briefly described below. Please see the program website for details on grant amounts, scope, funding eligibility, and timeline.
General Land Use Planning
Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF)
The EIAF administered by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs assists political subdivisions (municipalities, counties, school districts, special districts and other political subdivisions, and state agencies) that are socially and/or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, local government planning, as well as capital projects such as water and sewer improvements, road improvements, construction/improvements to recreation centers, senior centers and other public facilities, and fire protection buildings and equipment.
Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)
The CDBG-DR programs help homeowners, businesses, local governments and communities rebuild after natural disasters. Federal grant funds are provided following presidentially declared disasters to address unmet recovery needs for housing, infrastructure, planning, and economic development. Funds are provided by HUD and are subject to supplemental appropriations by Congress. Eligible activities include a broad range of planning and project activities. The program for the 2012-2013 declared disasters is administered by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.
Economic Development Administration Planning and Local Technical Assistance Programs
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has established natural disaster mitigation and resiliency as a national strategic priority for investment. This particular program provides funds to assist with creating regional economic development plans and to strengthen the capacity of local organizations to undertake and promote effective economic development programs, including disaster resiliency plans.
Natural Resources Grants and Assistance Database
The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Natural Resources Grants and Assistance Database provides a comprehensive list of natural resource grants and assistance programs that promote the health and welfare of Colorado’s natural resources. This includes grant opportunities and programs for Colorado residents to implement fuels mitigation and education efforts with the goal of reducing their wildfire risk. The database is free to use. The database offers information on CSFS programs, as well as grant and assistance opportunities sponsored by federal, state, and private organizations for Colorado residents.
Hazard Mitigation Planning and Projects
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program
The Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHSEM), Mitigation and Recovery Section (MARS), administers all Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs. Eligible applicants must have a FEMA-approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in order to be eligible for HMA grant funds. The following is a brief description of eligible projects under the following programs.
Pre‐Disaster Mitigation Grant Program
This program provides funding on a nationally competitive basis for plans and for natural hazards mitigation projects. Eligible activities include Local Hazard Mitigation Plans, property acquisition and demolition, elevation or relocation, minor localized flood reduction projects (i.e., detention ponds, improved culverts, channel stabilization), structural retrofitting of existing buildings, infrastructure retrofits, construction of tornado safe rooms, and wildfire defensible space or fuels reduction projects.
Flood Mitigation Assistance Program
The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program provides funding for flood risk reduction activities. Communities eligible for FMA funding must be participants in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Eligible activities include property acquisition and demolition, elevation or relocation, and minor localized flood reduction projects.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides Post‐Disaster Mitigation (PDM) funding in the event of a presidential disaster declaration. Potential activities funded through HMGP include all eligible PDM activities, in addition to post-disaster code enforcement activities. Contact a DHSEM Mitigation Specialist for more information.
Public Assistance, Section 406
This is a federal discretionary grant program that provides funds to incorporate hazard mitigation measures into the repair, restoration, and replacement of facilities damaged by presidentially declared disasters. The program, administered by the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, awards funds from FEMA on a cost reimbursement basis. Eligible hazard mitigation measures must be identified and approved with an eligible Public Assistance (PA) project.
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
This program, administered by the US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS), provides federal funds to relieve imminent hazards caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural occurrences. Eligibility is not limited to presidentially declared disasters and includes projects such as stream restoration, correcting damaged drainage facilities, establishing cover on critically eroding lands, repairing flood control structures, and the purchase of floodplain easements.
Watershed Rehabilitation Program
This program, administered by the US Department of Agriculture, NRCS, provides funds to help rehabilitate aging dams that are reaching the end of their design lives to address critical public health and safety concerns. Eligible activities include the planning, design, and construction of entire projects. NRCS selects projects based on recent rehabilitation investments and the risks to lives and property if a dam failure would occur.
Wildland-Urban Interface Community and Rural Fire Assistance
This program, administered by the US Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management), implements the National Fire Plan and assists communities at risk from catastrophic wildfire by providing assistance to develop local capacity and other activities related to assessment and mitigation planning, community and homeowner education, hazardous fuel reduction, local employment, and fire protection. These funds are available to states and local governments at risk as published in the Federal Register, Indian Tribes, public and private education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and rural fire departments serving a community with a population of 10,000 or less in the wildland-urban interface.
Parks and Open Space Planning
Great Outdoors Colorado Planning Grants
This Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant is designed to help eligible entities develop strategic master plans for outdoor parks and recreation projects, trails, or site-specific plans. Local governments are eligible to apply for Planning Grants.
Non-Motorized Trails Grant Program
This Colorado Parks and Wildlife Program funds projects for large recreational trail grants, small recreational trail grants, trail planning, and trail support grants.
Colorado Conservation Trust Fund
Forty percent of the net proceeds of the Colorado Lottery are distributed by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs through the Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) to municipalities and counties and other eligible entities for parks, recreation, and open space purposes. CTF funds are distributed quarterly on a per capita basis. Funding can be used for the acquisition, development, and maintenance of new conservation sites or for capital improvements or maintenance for recreational purposes on any public site.
Land Acquisition
The Conservation Fund: Conservation Acquisition
The Conservation Fund’s Conservation Acquisition Revolving Fund provides ready capital for acquisition of lands and waters of high conservation value.
Land and Water Conservation Fund
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program features two funding components: 1) a federal program that funds the purchase of land and water areas for conservation and recreation purposes through four federal land management agencies; and 2) a state-managed matching grant program provides funds for planning, developing and acquiring land and water areas for state and local parks, and recreation facilities. The current policy of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is to allocate the annual Colorado state-side LWCF apportionment to trail projects that come before the State Recreational Trails Committee as trail grant applications from eligible local government entities and projects sponsored by Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
This program, administered by the US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands and wetlands and their related benefits. Under the Wetlands Reserve Easements component, NRCS helps to restore, protect, and enhance enrolled wetlands. Enrollment options for wetland reserve easements include the purchase of permanent easements, 30-year easements, and other term easements for the maximum duration allowed under applicable state laws.
Conservation Trust Fund
Administered by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs through the Conservation Trust Fund (CTF), these state funds are distributed to Colorado municipalities, counties, and other eligible entities for parks, recreation, and open space purposes.
Drought Planning
Water Efficiency Grant Program & Drought Mitigation Planning Grants
This Colorado Water Conservation Board Program provides financial assistance to communities, water providers, and eligible agencies for water conservation-related activities and projects. Eligible entities as well as state and local governments and agencies can receive funding to develop water conservation and drought plans, implement water conservation goals outlined in a water conservation plan, and educate the public about water conservation. cwcb.state.co.us/LoansGrants/water-efficiency-grants/Pages/main.aspx
Awarded through the program, Drought Mitigation Planning Grants are provided specifically to assist water providers or state and local governmental entities in developing drought mitigation and response plans.
WaterSMART Drought Response Program
U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation's Drought Response Program supports a proactive approach to drought. It provides assistance to water users for drought contingency planning, including consideration of climate change information and to take actions that will build long-term resiliency to drought. Water users may include individual citizens, industry, and governments. Program areas include: contingency planning, resiliency projects, and emergency response actions. To be eligible, entities must be within a state or tribe that has a current declaration of drought or that has a drought plan on file with Congress. usbr.gov/drought
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program
The Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program provides funds to plan and implement authorized watershed project plans for the purpose of watershed protection, flood mitigation, soil erosion reduction, and sediment control among other activities. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS.