Larimer OEM Community Mitigation Grant Program
Grants for Community-Led Mitigation Projects
Larimer County has a long history of disasters. In fact, Larimer County has had the most federally-declared disasters out of all counties in the State of Colorado since 1965. Hazard mitigation is key to reducing risk - protecting life, preventing property loss, and minimizing disruption to daily life. In addition, studies have found that hazard mitigation is extremely cost-effective, with every single dollar spent on mitigation saving multiple dollars more in avoided future losses.
The Larimer County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) recognizes that the upfront cost of hazard mitigation can be a barrier in this important risk-reducing and cost-saving work. To remove this barrier to communities in Larimer County, the Community Mitigation Grant Program was created in 2022.
Learn more about the program, previously funded projects and the impact to our communities by viewing our Community Mitigation Grant StoryMap.
2024 Grant Cycle
Applications for 2024 cycle Community Mitigation Grant funding are now being accepted.
An informational webinar was provided February 22, 2024. Recording to be posted soon. Webinar slides available here.
How to Apply
- Apply here: 2024 Community Mitigation Grant Application
- Please use the online form to submit your application. However we recommended that you save your proposal and the answers to the application questions, outside of the online form, just in case there are any issues with your online form submission.
Applicant Eligibility
- Eligible applicants include community groups, local non-profit organizations and charitable foundations.
Funding Limitations
The following will NOT be accepted as eligible requests for funding:
- Salaries or staff capacity.
- Project planning expenses.
- Road maintenance and repair.
- Food and beverages.
Important Dates
- 2024 Application Period opens January 10, 2024.
- 2024 Application Period closed at 11:59pm on March 15, 2024.
- Intent to award notices will be made following the close of the application period, with awards announced on or before May 1, 2024.
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Eligible applicants include community groups, local non-profit organizations and charitable foundations. Small grassroots community groups will take priority over larger non-profits.
- Projects must be located in Larimer County and must mitigate the risk from one or more hazard(s).
- Applicants may submit applications for proposed project funding up to $10,000.
- Applicants may submit applications for only one project per grant cycle.
- Applicants can only be awarded twice in a three year period. Why? Fundamentally the Community Mitigation Grant program aims to remove financial barriers and catalyze grassroot efforts for mitigation activities at the community scale. We seek to help build momentum and help contribute to a community sense of agency for longer term self-sufficiency in this important risk reduction work. Meaning, this program provides funding that is intended to be supplemental, not supplanting. Additionally we want to create opportunities for all communities across Larimer County, giving us a chance to spread this supplemental funding support around to all corners of the county.
- Important Note: Successful applicants will demonstrate community support and community engagement with their proposed project. Preference will be given to projects including multiple stakeholders, with large community buy-in and participation. This grant program is designed to incite community collaboration, reward neighbors helping neighbors and improve social capital - ultimately increasing resilience to future disaster or disruption.
Grant funding will be awarded via a competitive process. Proposals will be scored by Larimer County OEM using a points-based system. Points are given based on the following:
1. Overall contribution to community resilience and risk reduction as a result of the project. (5 points)
- Community resilience: How, and to what extent, will this project improve the community's ability to cope with disaster?
- Risk reduction: How, and to what extent, will this project reduce future hazard impacts to the community?
2. Community involvement and buy-in, both for the proposed project and for future mitigation efforts. (5 points)
- Community involvement: Will there widespread participation in the project all in the community or neighborhood, or rather only a small number of people?
- Community buy-in: Are there other funds being contributed to the project? Will there be contribution of in-kind resources to the project (such as volunteer time, use of community/community-member owned equipment, etc.)?
- Future efforts: What are the long term plans to continue or build on the efforts proposed in the application? Is this proposal part of a larger related project?
3. Partnerships developed or maintained during the planning of the project. (5 points)
- Collaboration: Who did you collaborate with (and how) during the development of this proposal?
- Stakeholder support: Who are the stakeholders to this proposal and how were their interests represented during the development of this proposal?
Total of 15 points available.
If the proposal is not awarded due to a low score relative to other proposals, applicants are welcome to inquire about suggested project and proposal improvements for future consideration.
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Grants will be awarded on a reimbursement basis. However, in extenuating circumstances, Larimer County OEM is willing to negotiate with the applicant the provision of funds up front if the applicant cannot complete the project due to lack of available funding capacity. Again this is only in extenuating circumstances and will be determined on a case by case basis; there is no guarantee that this is possible and may require in-depth justification and assurance.
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If selected for award, an Agreement between Larimer County and the grant recipient is required prior to finalizing the award and receiving funds. The Agreement will include the amount of the grant award, and will address the scope of the funding award, the timeline for project completion, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other conditions.
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After receiving and finalizing an award, and prior to any project work beginning, a community project kick off meeting with all stakeholders involved must occur. OEM must be made aware of the meeting and attending stakeholders prior to the meeting occurring. An OEM representative will attend if able.
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If a funded project changes from the initial application and budget, a written change request is required and OEM must approve the change before any dollars are spent, in order for those expenses to be eligible for reimbursement.
- The award recipient must keep track of all project expenditures and submit receipts or proof of payment for all items purchased to be eligible for reimbursement.
- Pictures of the project activity (before, during and after) must be taken and submitted to OEM.
- OEM may request a site visit prior to, during, or after the project’s completion.
- OEM reserves the right to request any detail or clarification on the project.
- A final report on the project, its outcomes and all substantiating documentation for expenses must be submitted by 11:59pm on November 3rd, 2024.
- Any grant funded project work or activity occurring on private property MUST be allowed and permissible by the property owner(s). The appropriate permission from the property owner must be granted in writing to the community member or person/entity managing the community project.
|
Award Amount |
Award Recipient |
Project Name |
Hazard Mitigated |
|
$7,000 |
Big Elk Meadows Association |
Wildfire Mitigation |
Wildfire |
|
$2,300 |
Carriage Hills Property Owners Association |
Slash Disposal |
Wildfire |
|
$10,000 |
Crystal Lakes Road and Recreation Association |
Hidden Park Mitigation and Emergency Vehicle Staging Area |
Wildfire |
|
$5,000 |
Community Mitigation Volunteers |
Mitigation Tool Library |
Wildfire |
|
$10,000 |
Horsetooth Lake Estates |
Wildfire Mitigation and Preparedness |
Wildfire |
|
$5,700 |
Pinewood Springs Fire Protection District |
Community Mitigation Initiative and Mitigation Demonstration |
Wildfire |
|
$10,000 |
Red Feather Highlands Maintenance Association |
Slash Removal |
Wildfire |
|
$5,000 |
Riverrock Estates Homeowners Association |
Defensible Space Project |
Wildfire |
|
Award Amount |
Award Recipient |
Project Name |
Hazard Mitigated |
|
$10,000 |
Crystal Mountain Road Association |
Post-Fire High Water Diversion |
Flood |
|
$8,000 |
Estes Valley Watershed Coalition |
Marys Lake Forest Health and Wildfire Mitigation |
Wildfire |
|
$8,000 |
Glacier View Meadows Road and Recreation Association |
Slash Chipping |
Wildfire |
|
$1,362 |
Glen Haven Association |
Chipping Program |
Wildfire |
|
$8,000 |
Horsetooth Lake Estates Homeowners Association |
Wildfire Mitigation |
Wildfire |
|
$6,000 |
Lazy D Corporation |
River Debris Clean Up |
Flood |
|
$5,368 |
Red Feather Highlands Maintenance Association |
Wildfire Mitigation |
Wildfire |
|
$3,000 |
The Retreat Landowners Association |
Chipping Program |
Wildfire |
Point of Contact
If you have questions about the Community Mitigation Grant program, please contact:
Josh Roberts at josh.roberts@larimer.gov
