Small grants available for Larimer neighborhood, community projects

LOVELAND — Applications are being accepted by Larimer County’s Department of Natural Resources for its 2024 Small Grants for Community Partnering Program.

For 25 years, the program has awarded grants to communities throughout Larimer County using a portion of the Help Preserve Open Space sales tax for nature-based neighborhood and community projects. Since its inception, the program has awarded nearly $400,000 across 232 projects throughout the county.

All applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13. Applicants may request up to $3,500 per application for projects that take place in Larimer County. Projects must be shovel-ready for project completion by the end of 2024. Grant awards will be announced by next March.

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The department is inviting new and returning nonprofit organizations, homeowners’ associations, schools and community-based organizations to apply for seed money or capacity support for projects that fit into one of five grant categories:

• Provides or enhances natural landscapes, including wildlife habitat, rivers, wetlands, outdoor community gathering spaces, neighborhood parks, greenbelts, lakes and ponds, etc.
• Provides nature-based environmental education opportunities, including outdoor-education signs and materials, outdoor classrooms, workshops, training, etc.
• Creating opportunities for people to connect with the land via providing access to nature for those experiencing barriers, including limited transit options, financial obstacles, etc.
• Creating opportunities for people to connect with the land via local agricultural food production (projects that include practices around improving soil, water, habitat or community connection to agriculture).
• Research on Larimer County open spaces.

The department also will offer a webinar about the 2024 Small Grants Program at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31. Attendees will learn more about how the program works, important updates, how to submit a competitive application and other tips. Register here to reserve a spot.

The application link, guidelines and instructions, budget worksheet and all other information for the program can be accessed at larimer.gov/small-grants. For more information, contact program coordinator Jennifer Almstead at 970-619-4569 or jalmstead@larimer.gov.