The Colorado Department of Agriculture will award a total of $250,000 in competitive grants to fund projects that increase the processing capacity in the Colorado wine industry. This program is funded by Senate Bill 21-248.
The Markets Division's Farm to Market Infrastructure Program has worked with CDA's Colorado Wine Industry Development Board to create this program to benefit the wine grape industry as broadly and as fairly as possible, by increasing the industry’s processing capacity.
This grant will help winegrowers purchase new equipment and invest in facilities to increase productivity and improve the quality of both grapes and finished wines.
Applications are now closed.
If you have questions, please email Jodi Walder with the Farm to Market Infrastructure Grant Program.
Funding levels and requirements
Winegrowers can apply at one of three different levels. Each level has its own limits and requirements, as listed below:
- Award to one unique business or individual. Maximum individual award: $25,000
- Award to multiple businesses or individuals working collaboratively on one project. Award: up to $25,000 for each participating individual or business. Maximum award: $100,000
- One large project that would benefit the entire state’s wine and grape industry, stretching beyond one AVA or region, and would reinvest not only the initial capital outlay of the grant funds, but also a significant portion of future revenues back into the Colorado wine and grape industry statewide. Award: $250,000
The Wine & Grape Industry Processing Grant to be used for agricultural processing, meaning the transforming, packaging, sorting, storage, or grading of Colorado livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, plants, or plant products.
Applicants must submit a fully completed online application for one of the levels listed above.
Required information includes a detailed project description, plan, and budget. The loan evaluation committee may request additional information upon review of the application.
Applicants must possess experience in the wine or grape industry or demonstrate sufficient understanding of the industry to make the proposal viable and must be entities registered in the State of Colorado
Application information
Applications will be accepted online until 11:59 pm on Friday, September 29, 2023.
Grant projects that benefit more than one individual, winery, or vineyard will be considered more competitive in the application review process.
Once contracts with recipients are finalized and signed, recipients can request up to 50% of the award for prepayment of expenses based on the approved budget.
Recipients may not use grant funds to reimburse any expenses incurred prior to the finalization of the contracts.
A committee will review all applications and may request additional information to make a final decision. Grant announcements are expected to be made in mid to late October 2023.
Please review the Wine & Grape Processing Grant Program Guidance document for more information.
More Information
If you have additional questions about this grant program, please email Jodi Walder with the Farm to Market Infrastructure Grant Program.