Grant funding to reduce disaster risk is now available to neighborhoods and communities within Larimer County.

The Community Mitigation Grant Program offered through the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management provides grant awards of up to $10,000 to help remove the obstacles communities confront in making them better prepared to collaborate and become more resilient.

The grant application period is open Jan. 10, 2024 through March 15, 2024. Grant award recipients will be notified by May 1, 2024.

Grant awards can be applied to a variety of community needs. Last year, the RiverRock Estates Homeowners Association used their grant to improve defensible space in their community, which is removing tree branches and brush that are too close to structures in fire-prone areas. Improving defensible space can lessen the chance of a structure catching fire during a fire emergency.

The Red Feather Lakes Highlands Maintenance Association used their grant to remove slash, which are small branches and woody debris in forested areas that can be a forest fire hazard, while Horsetooth Lake Estates used their grant funding for emergency preparedness and mitigation.

The grants help communities stay connected, and communities that are connected are more resilient or better able to recover from emergencies.

Community groups, non-profit organizations, and charitable foundations are eligible to apply for the grants, which can include:

• Forest treatments of community spaces
• Roadside fuel removal and improvements to community evacuation routes
• Home ignition zone and defensible space work
• Slash chipping and hauling
• Flood diversion and installation of high-water crossings
• Equipping community mitigation tool libraries
• Removal of vegetative debris in waterways
• Wildfire preparedness outreach and education

Visit https://www.larimer.gov/emergency/community-mitigation-grant-program to learn more about the Community Mitigation Grant Program.