Grant FAQs
Noxious Weed Grant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General | Eligibility | Partnerships | Species Table | Mapping | Budget
General
- Q: How many applications can I submit?
A: You should submit one application.
- Q: How should I submit my application if I have multiple projects?
A: It is common for one application to have several projects within it. Describe each project separately within the application in order of priority.
- Q: Can more than one entity receive reimbursement from a single grant?
A: No, only one entity can receive reimbursement. If there are partner entities with reimbursable expenses, then it is the responsibility of the primary entity to disburse payment.
- Q: Can this grant continue into the next field season?
A: For the Noxious Weed Annual Grants, the project period's latest end date is May 31st. You are welcome to include early-season preparatory work or winter projects, grouping them with the prior year's field season. If you apply for a grant in a subsequent year, please ensure that the project timeframes do not overlap.
- Q: Can I depend on another grant cycle occurring next year?
A: Yes, provided everything continues to run smoothly, there will be a grant cycle around this same time next year. Funding one year does not guarantee funding the next year.
- Q: When can treatments of noxious weeds occur under this grant cycle?
A: Projects awarded funding through this grant cycle generally occur between April 1st of the award year and May 31st of the following year. Since the Final Report is always due on or before the grant's end date, treatments should ideally conclude shortly before that deadline to ensure they are fully documented in the report.
- Q: Is there a maximum amount of funding we can request?
A: No, there is not a limit on the amount that can be requested, but there is limited funding available. The Colorado Noxious Weed Act directs CDA to disperse these funds across the state. All funding requests must be met with a 1:1 match.
- Q: What is the anticipated average award amount?
A: Our grants range from single projects to multiple-county cooperative initiatives with a wide range of funding levels.
- Q: What are the expected acres treated per dollar reimbursed for a successful proposal?
A: After reviewing past successful grants, we’ve calculated that a reasonable estimate for a successful, integrated management project would fall between $75-$150 per acre.
- Q: Is it permissible for an individual who will not be directly involved in executing the grant project to serve as the primary grant contact?
A: No. The primary grant contact listed in the application must be an active employee or representative of the entity managing the grant project and must be prepared to manage the grant, if awarded.
Eligibility
- Q: Can a private landowner apply for a grant?
A: No for this funding cycle and likely the foreseeable future, private landowners and Homeowners Associations (HOAs) are not eligible to apply. This is due to the 37% reduction in the noxious weed fund. We are focusing our limited resources on distributing funds solely to local governmental entities (counties, cities, and conservation districts) who have a legal mandate under the Noxious Weed Act to manage these species.
- Q: Can a non-profit organization apply for a grant?
A: No, for this funding cycle and likely the foreseeable future, non-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. This is due to a 37% reduction in the noxious weed. We are focusing our limited resources on distributing funds solely to local governmental entities (counties, cities, and conservation districts) who have a legal mandate under the Noxious Weed Act to manage these species.
- Q: If a Noxious Weed Council is understaffed or is experiencing shortages, does that affect their eligibility?
A: Grantees have until the end of the grant to become compliant.
- Q: Is a project that is primarily focused on planning and research eligible for funding under this opportunity?
A: Unless we have specifically allowed for planning and research grants in the RFA, this type of project is not eligible. Treatments of List A and/or B noxious weeds must be a main component of the project.
- Q: Please expand on the requirements for the local governing entity applicants mentioned in the application form.
A: According to the Colorado Revised Statutes 35-5.5-107: Local advisory board - formation - duties. (1) The governing body of each county and municipality shall appoint a local advisory board. The local governing body, at its sole option, may appoint itself, or a commission of landowners, to act as the local advisory board for that jurisdiction.
This provision only applies to counties and municipalities, and applicable entities have until the end of the grant to become compliant.- Q: Are homeowners (HOA’s) eligible for applying for this annual grant?
A: No. For this funding cycle and likely the foreseeable future, Homeowners Associations (HOAs) are not eligible to apply. This year, due to a 37% reduction in the noxious weed fund, we are focusing our limited resources on distributing funds solely to local governmental entities (counties, cities, and conservation districts) who have a legal mandate under the Noxious Weed Act to manage these species.
- Q: Does being within a county that has a Noxious Weed Advisory Board qualify a municipality (that lacks its own Noxious Weed Advisory Board) for this grant?
A: According to 35-5.5-107. Local advisory board - formation - duties, the municipality can cooperate with the county, or develop its own Board in order to meet this minimum qualification for grant eligibility.
Partnerships
- Q: How many partners can I have?
A: There is no limit to the number of partners allowed. You will find a specific section in the application form where you can list and explain these collaborations.
- Q: Can I include support letters from partners or other organizations?
A: Yes, you can include support letters. Attach your support letters to the same email you submit for your application.
- Q: Can Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Habitat Partnership Program (HPP) or NFWF Restore grant money be used as a match to CDA grants?
A: No, matching fund sources cannot come from other state funds unless approved by CDA prior to submitting a project proposal. Please contact CDA staff with questions about matching sources that may need approval.
- Q: Can funds from the noxious weed grant be applied to state and federal lands?
A: The use of state funds on federal lands is limited and must be approved in advance by CDA.
The use of federal funds on federal lands is not permitted.- Q: Due to new grant eligibility requirements, a non-profit organization cannot serve as the primary grant applicant and would need to partner with a public-sector entity in order to receive grant funds. How will a partnership like this impact the public-sector applicant’s chance of having the overall grant proposal approved?
A: CDA gives preferences to grants with recognized partnerships and encourages long-term, sustainable collaborations. Section 9 of the Application will ask applicants to describe specifics around the partnership(s) listed in the application. The Grant Review Committee will have the option to assign bonus points for grants with fitting, recognized partnerships.
Species Table
- Q: If I am going to treat an area twice, would I double the acreage reported?
A: No, do not double the acreage. Write the actual amount of acreage and then further elaborate that you plan to treat it twice.
- Q: How do I estimate gross acreage if I know the infestation includes private land that I do not have access to?
A: You can use Google Earth or ArcGIS to visually estimate areas that you do not have access to. Do your best with any information available to you. If you do not have access to this land for mapping purposes, you will most likely not be able to treat it either, so take that into account when estimating acreage to be treated.
- Q: Can I apply for funding for List B species only?
A: Yes, although List A species are scored as higher priority through the application ranking process. Approximately 2/3rd of our funding tends to go towards proposals with at least some List A species treatments.
- Q: Can non-traditional treatment techniques (such as goat grazing) be included in the proposal?
A: Non-traditional treatment weed management techniques would be an eligible grant expense, as long as the noxious weeds being targeted can viably be treated that way.
- Q: Can funds be used to scout for List A species?
A: List A species are a priority for funding from the Noxious Weed Management Fund (NWMF). Surveying for these species is an eligible use of grant funds.
- Q: Can funds be used to scout for Watch List species?
A: Scouting and surveying for Watch List species is an eligible practice under the NWMF, as long as your application does not solely focus on Watch List species. All survey efforts must be mapped in EDDMapS, including "absence" records for surveys. Treatment of Watch List (and other non-regulated) species is not an eligible grant expense.
- Q: What does "Is species elevated to List A within the project area?” mean in the species table?
A: The question refers to some List B species being elevated to mandatory removal in some areas, essentially making them the same as List A species. Maps outlining the species that are elevated and where within each county can be found here.
- Q: Can noxious weed funds be used for seed collection and distribution on treated sites?
A: The primary use of NWF funds should be for active weed management and eradication efforts. Seed collection and distribution in areas where noxious weeds were treated can be considered a form of cultural management, and could apply for funding as a part of a larger project. Whether a seed-focused project would rank high enough for funding would be dependent on the competition and scoring by the Grant Review Committee.
- Q: Can a project focused only on a List C noxious weed species (like Downy Brome/Cheatgrass) qualify for the Noxious Weed Program Annual Grant?
A: No. To apply, your project must include management of a higher-priority List A or List B species. Managing List C species can, however, be included as a component of your overall project plan.
Mapping
- Q: How many maps can I submit?
A: An unlimited number of maps can be submitted with your application. Email maps as attachments in the same email you submit for your application. If possible, keep List A and List B species on different maps
- Q: Is point data adequate for reporting in EDDMapS?
A: Yes, point data is adequate. Make a professional estimate on the number of gross acres and infested acres that will be treated based on the best available information. For larger infestations, drawing a virtual polygon will provide more accurate data.
- Q: Do I need to attach a map if I’m only asking for funding for education and outreach?
A: No, a map would not be necessary.
Budget
- Q: Is it acceptable to use full-time staff wages as part of our cash match?
A: Yes, full-time staff wages that directly contribute to the project can be used as match, starting 90 days prior to your Official Start Date (if awarded). As a reminder, unless under special circumstances pre-approved by CDA, reimbursable staff wages are limited to part-time/temporary employees.
- Q: Should we describe requested funds and matching contributions on the application?
A: Yes, provide a description of requested funds and matching contributions on the budget form. If you need to explain further, use the “Additional Information” at the end of the Application. All funds must be directly related to the project.
- Q: Can landowner and volunteer labor hours be utilized for in-kind matching?
A: Yes, record the number of hours worked and use the current Federal Volunteer Rate to estimate the value of that contribution.
- Q: For multiple entities applying together, can we submit only one budget sheet?
A: Yes, as long as all budget items are accounted for, clarified in detail, and listed in prioritized order, one long budget sheet or separate sheets may be submitted.
- Q: Can we claim mileage, repairs, and gas as expenses in our budget?
A: No, you can only claim mileage because the FEMA mileage reimbursement rate covers all costs of operating a vehicle for business purposes (including maintenance, repairs, taxes, gas, insurance, and registration fees).
- Q: When I download the Budget, I only get the Instructions. What am I doing wrong?
A: Make sure to download to Excel. The workbook contains two sheets, Instructions and Budget Form, which can be accessed by the tabs on the bottom bar of the Excel window.
- Q: Are fringe benefits eligible as cash matching funds for the Noxious Weeds Annual Grant?
A: Yes, fringe benefits are eligible to fulfill the cash match requirement. This includes associated costs such as payroll taxes, employee health insurance premiums, and cell phone reimbursements (when applied to grant personnel).
- Q:What is the expected match amount or percentage required for a successful proposal?
A: We require a 1:1 match for this grant opportunity. However, we welcome and appreciate proposals that include match above the minimum. Historically, more than half of successful grantees provide extra support, whether through in-kind services or cash contributions.