Larimer County awards $24,711 in small grants for seven community projects
Larimer County Natural Resources is proud to announce $24,711 in grants supporting seven community and neighborhood projects that educate and connect people to the land. The 2026 awards support a wide range of organizations across Larimer County through the Small Grants for Community Partnering program.
Since 1998, Larimer County has awarded a portion of the open space sales tax directly back to the community through the Small Grants for Community Partnering Program. To date, the county has awarded $470,700 for 253 community and neighborhood projects. Grant funds are available to nonprofits, community organizations, homeowner associations, and K-12 schools for outdoor neighborhood and community-based projects across Larimer County.
The 2026 grantees, projects, amounts and locations include:
| Grantee | Project Name | Award Amount | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Whitewater | Diversity Whitewater Community River Float | $4,000 | Poudre River |
| CSU Environmental Learning Center | Expanding Ute STEM Kit Outside the Classroom | $3,750 | Fort Collins |
| Estes Valley Recreation & Park District | Estes Valley Recreation & Park District Permaculture Program | $3,594 | Estes Park |
| Estes Park Middle School | Estes Park Trails and Parks Educational Signage Project | $2,212 | Estes Park |
| Northern Colorado Foodshed | Native Pollinator Habitat for Resilient Farms and Communities | $3,215 | Fort Collins/ Loveland |
| St. Luke’s Episcopal Church | St. Luke’s Xeriscaping for Creation Care | $4,000 | Fort Collins |
| Trails at Vista Bonita Homeowners Association | Russian Olive Removal | $4,000 | Fort Collins |
Small Grants for Community Partnering is an initiative of Larimer County Natural Resources that distributes a portion of Help Preserve Open Spaces sales tax dollars each year. The five grant program categories below align with Larimer County's mission, meet community needs, and inspire stewardship of the natural world. The county invites new and returning applicants to apply for seed funding or capacity-building support for projects that:
- Provide or enhance natural landscapes, including wildlife habitat, rivers, wetlands, outdoor community gathering spaces, neighborhood parks, greenbelts, and lakes/ponds.
- Provide nature-based environmental education opportunities, including outdoor education signs and materials, outdoor classrooms, workshops, and training.
- Provide opportunities for people to connect with the land by removing barriers to nature access, such as limited transit options and financial obstacles.
- Provide opportunities for people to connect with the land through local agricultural food production.
- Develop new research on Larimer County open spaces that provides information on ecology, history, visitation, and/or human dimensions.
For more information about the program, contact Jennifer Almstead, Small Grants Program Coordinator, at (970) 619-4569 or jalmstead@larimer.org, or visit www.larimer.org/small-grants.
Jennifer Almstead
Small Grants Program Coordinator
Fund Development and Projects Specialist
(970) 619-4569
