Capacity Building Grants

Supporting Circularity

The Colorado Circular Communities (C3) program provides three tiers of funding based on the project’s budget, scope of work, and anticipated effect on building a circular economy in Colorado. Capacity Building Grants are the highest tier of funding, and these projects are expected to provide Colorado with significant advances in waste diversion and aversion. This can be accomplished through sustainable design, remanufacturing, distribution/market development, source reduction, reuse, repair, recovery, collection, recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, or biochar production. 

Projects submitted for Capacity Building Grants should build a larger framework for building a circular economy by focusing on the full lifecycle of the targeted materials. The C3 team will consider project submissions in the broad context of advancing a sustainable circular economy in Colorado and may bring in various subject matter experts to analyze the project's efficiency, efficacy, and capacity for industry collaboration. 

Any entity looking to apply for a Capacity Building Grant should not only consider the diversion and/or aversion of materials from landfills, but also the effect on the circular economy as a whole and the communities that will benefit from the project. Projects that create access to a circular economy in areas of the state that historically lack that access will be prioritized, as well as projects that benefit underserved and/or rural communities. Additionally, the C3 team will consider the project’s potential impact on communities that have historically experienced considerable environmental and social stressors.

Essentials

Basics

Application Requirements

  • Project Details

  • Detailed budget and budget narrative

  • Detailed project work plan and timeline

  • Vendor quotes

  • Letters of support 

  • Enviroscreen 2.0 report for the project location’s region

Additional materials may be submitted, including but not limited to 

  • Permitting and regulation documentation 

  • Letters of commitment from partnerships related to the project

Application Process

Review the Capacity Building Grant Guidelines - Read through the entire document to learn about the details of the grant opportunity prior to submitting an inquiry.

Invitation Only - Interested applicants should submit a detailed technical assistance inquiry to work with the C3 team regarding their project. There are multiple questions in the inquiry. Submitting an inquiry does not guarantee an application invitation. If the proposed project is considered eligible and sufficiently meets Capacity Building Grant requirements, the C3 team will work with the applicant to develop an application including work plan and budget to be presented to the C3 Board of Directors by the C3 team.