Grants

To promote market development and increase production capabilities for climate smart commodities and other agricultural products, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for the Climate Smart Market Expansion Project. These competitive awards will support pilot projects that increase demand and create premiums for agricultural products grown using climate smart practices. Proposals are being accepted as Documented Quotes through the Colorado Vendor Self Service (VSS) website. 

The application period is now open for the 2026 growing season for Colorado producers and organizations who work with specialty crops. CDA is accepting applications for the SCBG program in the form of a concept proposal through February 17, 2025.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Welfare has selected ten applicants to receive a total of $200,000 to help improve the well-being of Colorado’s domestic horses. During the competitive grant process, a panel consisting of horse experts reviewed more than 30 applications requesting more than $1M in funding, and selected projects that would have the greatest impact on domestic equine welfare. 

Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed Program is accepting applications from local governing bodies and nonprofits for weed management grants that will help diminish or eradicate populations of state-listed noxious weeds in critical areas around Colorado. 

Agriculture’s new Division of Animal Welfare is accepting competitive grant applications for the new Equine Welfare Assistance Grant Program. This year, the legislature appropriated $200,000 to fund projects that promote the well-being of Colorado’s domestic animals with a focus on equines. 

For the second year in a row, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) awarded $500,000 through the Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration grant, funding six projects that demonstrate the technology and benefits of agrivoltaics in Colorado. 

By growing food and developing energy on the same parcel of land, agrivoltaics is an important component of both the state’s renewable energy goals and fostering a resilient agricultural system in Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s new Division of Animal Welfare is seeking input from people with expertise on horse, donkey and mule welfare to help shape the new Equine Welfare Assistance Grant program. Stakeholders can provide comments by taking a brief survey to help inform how to develop the grant program, which will award a total of $200,000 to projects that promote the well-being of Colorado’s domestic equines. The survey closes on September 18.