Environmental Justice Grant Program

The Environmental Justice Grant Program is administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment through its Office of Environmental Justice and is guided by the Environmental Justice Advisory Board. The program was established under the Environmental Justice Act signed into law in 2021, which formalized environmental justice as a statewide priority. The Act emphasizes reducing environmental health disparities and ensuring that disproportionately impacted communities have access to clean air, water, and equitable participation in environmental decision-making. Funding for the program is derived from the Community Impact Cash Fund, which is supported by penalties collected from violations of air pollution regulations. The primary purpose of the grant program is to support community-driven projects that avoid, minimize, measure, or mitigate environmental harms in disproportionately impacted communities. These communities are defined using specific socioeconomic and environmental criteria, including income levels, racial and ethnic composition, housing burden, linguistic isolation, and exposure to environmental hazards. Eligible projects may include activities such as pollution monitoring, infrastructure improvements, climate resilience initiatives, or efforts to support equitable participation in environmental rulemaking processes. The program explicitly prohibits lobbying activities and restricts funding to uses that directly benefit communities rather than private financial gain. The grant cycle described includes a structured two-phase application process designed to manage high demand and improve review efficiency. The first phase is a Pre-Application Requirement for Request for Applications, where applicants submit a concise proposal outlining their project. Approximately twenty applicants are then invited to submit full applications in the second phase, with final selections resulting in approximately ten funded projects. This phased approach ensures that applicants align their full proposals with initial submissions and allows the Advisory Board to conduct a thorough evaluation process. Funding for this cycle is approximately 2.75 million dollars, with individual awards ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 dollars for a two-year project period. The performance period for selected projects is expected to run from April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2029. A portion of the funding, specifically fifteen percent, is reserved as a non-competitive set-aside for Colorado’s two federally recognized Tribal governments, ensuring dedicated support for Tribal-led initiatives. All awards are contingent upon available funding and grantee compliance with program requirements. Eligibility for the program is broad but limited geographically to Colorado-based entities. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, local governments, federally recognized Tribal governments, educational institutions, grassroots organizations, and certain for-profit entities such as mobile home park owners, provided that funded activities directly benefit residents and do not produce profit for the owner. All proposed projects must take place within designated disproportionately impacted communities as identified through the state’s mapping tools or through documented historical environmental inequities. Applications must be submitted via email by the stated deadline, and applicants are responsible for ensuring timely delivery. The process includes required narrative responses addressing project design, community impact, organizational experience, and engagement strategies. Applications are scored based on quality and alignment with program goals, with review conducted by teams consisting of Advisory Board members and department staff. Final funding decisions are made after a multi-stage review process, including individual scoring and committee discussions. The timeline for this grant cycle begins with the opening of the pre-application phase in mid-June 2026 and concludes with submission deadlines in early August 2026. Additional milestones include informational webinars, technical assistance sessions, and a formal question-and-answer period. Invitations for full applications are expected in September 2026, with final award decisions anticipated in January 2027. The program is recurring and continues to evolve based on community needs and prior funding cycles, reinforcing its role as a key mechanism for advancing environmental justice across Colorado.

Align project with demonstrated community needs; clearly identify disproportionately impacted community criteria; ensure strong community engagement plan; strictly follow SMARTIE framework; avoid lobbying activities