The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Urban Agriculture Program is opening its first funding opportunity for urban producers in Colorado. The Urban Agriculture Microgrant Program is accepting applications from urban agriculture operations seeking to complete small-scale projects crucial to expanding urban production, implementing conservation practices, educating community members, and addressing other common challenges.
“Urban producers play a critical role in resilient local food systems across Colorado,” said Evanne Caviness, Director of CDA’s Conservation Services Division. “Farming in an urban interface poses unique challenges to urban producers, and here at CDA, we recognize the importance of investing in their innovation and resilience.”
For the purpose of this grant program, urban agriculture means the cultivation and distribution of farm products in and around urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, specifically to serve the local community. These operations can also be a tool for education, community engagement, and raising awareness about agriculture and food production.
Urban growers throughout the state of Colorado are encouraged to apply, including any producer whose primary market includes community members and/or businesses local to their operation. Operations do not need to be based in a major metropolitan area to be considered.
A total of $20,000 is available for projects that support Colorado’s urban farms through actionable improvements, capacity building, and community engagement. Grant awards may not exceed $5,000 for a single entity application. Applications are due by January 26, 2026.
The Urban Agriculture program staff will host an informational webinar about the microgrant on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 9 am. You can find the registration link and other information about how to apply on the Urban Agriculture Program webpage.
Urban agriculture is an area of focus for CDA as part of the agency’s Strategic Plan. It falls into multiple strategic directions, such as Environmental Stewardship and Climate Resilience, People and Community, as well as Market and Economic Productivity.