Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise (C3) Grants (C3)

Colorado Circular Communities (C3) is a statewide program dedicated to supporting Colorado's communities, businesses, nonprofits, schools, institutions of higher learning, and tribes with resources to advance the state's transition to a circular economy. C3 provides financial and technical assistance to enhance circularity across the state and help organizations achieve their waste aversion and diversion goals.

Funding tiers include:

• Mini Grants (OPEN): small projects up to $50,000, expected to be quickly completed, such as the purchase of equipment or supplies.

• Impact Grants (OPEN): between $50,000 and $500,000, for projects that contribute to a circular economy beyond the project period of 18 months or less.

• Capacity Building Grants (OPEN): awards more than $500,000, focused on the full lifecycle of targeted materials; by invitation only, and interested entities must submit a detailed inquiry.

• STEPS Program (Strategic Technical Expertise for the Public Sector): no-cost technical assistance for local governments, tribes, and public K-12 school districts.

Mini, Impact, and Capacity Building Grants are open to: nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations and businesses, tribes, local governments, public and private schools, and institutions of higher education. The STEPS Program is open to local governments, tribes, and public K-12 school districts.

Farms are not named as a separate applicant category, but Colorado agricultural operations run as for-profit businesses are eligible. Eligible project types include composting, anaerobic digestion, and biochar production — covering on-farm composting, manure/organics digesters, and biochar from crop residues.

Three grant tiers plus a free technical-assistance program. All grants are reimbursement-based, and you can only win one per year.

• Mini Grants (open): "Mini Grant awards are up to $50,000 for projects that can be completed quickly, within a six-month contract period."

• Impact Grants (open): "Impact grants are the middle tier of grant funding available, with awards between $50,000 and $500,000 for projects contributing to a circular economy, beyond the project period." "Applications are always open, however there are three application cycles in 2026 to provide a structured review timeline: January-March; April-June; and July-September."

• Capacity Building Grants (invitation only): described only as "the highest tier of C3 funding" — no dollar range is published on the program page.

• STEPS Program: no-cost technical assistance, but limited to local governments, tribes and public K-12 school districts — not farms.

Cash-flow terms, which matter here: "All C3 grant recipients must enter into a contract. Grant funds are reimbursement-based. Grantees cover costs upfront, and are then repaid once contract requirements are met and deliverables are completed. Only expenses incurred after the contract is fully executed are eligible for reimbursement." Plan to float the whole cost.

Other conditions: "Entities may only be awarded one C3 grant each calendar year." Applicants must be registered and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State, "Be in operation for a minimum of one (1) year," and be in good standing with CDPHE, EPA, OSHA and the Colorado Department of Revenue. Budget requests need recent vendor quotes. Terms and conditions are non-negotiable: "Terms and conditions of the agreements will not be altered."

Timing: "Mini Grant applicants should plan for a minimum of six months from application submission to contract execution, if awarded. Decisions are typically issued within 90 days from application submission."

For farms specifically: the eligible project types that fit an on-farm project are composting, anaerobic digestion and biochar production — "Circular economy projects include waste aversion and diversion efforts, accomplished through sustainable design, remanufacturing, distribution/market development, source reduction, reuse, repair, recovery, collection, recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, or biochar production."

Mini Grants and Impact Grants are open. Impact Grants have three application windows each year: January-March; April-June; and July-September. Capacity Building Grants are by invitation only (submit a detailed inquiry). Apply and find guidelines at coloradocircularcommunities.org.