Colorado Climate Smart Markets Program

The Climate Smart Markets Program drives market development and increases sales for agricultural products grown using practices that directly address Colorado's climatic challenges. Through competitive awards, the program incentivizes innovation and creates new climate-smart market opportunities by removing the financial risk associated with entry and start-up. The Climate Smart Market Expansion (CSME) Project is a competitive opportunity that supports pilot projects to facilitate expanding the marketplace for climate-smart commodities and products. These awards support initiatives that increase demand for climate-smart crops and establish market premiums for Colorado producers at all stages of the supply chain.

Businesses that source Colorado's climate-smart commodities and products are strongly encouraged to submit a proposal. This includes, but is not limited to, food, beverage, clothing, and other manufacturers, as well as processors, commodity handlers, farm product dealers, buyers, and distributors.

Eligible businesses or organizations must be based in Colorado or have demonstrated clear relationships with Colorado-based suppliers. Entities awarded by CDA must be compliant with local, state, and federal rules and regulations.

For purposes of this program: 'Climate Smart Commodities' means raw materials produced using any practice that increases soil health, optimizes water usage, or enhances more diverse and beneficial ecosystems, and/or reduces greenhouse gas emissions. 'Climate Smart Agricultural Products' means processed or semi-processed agricultural goods grown, raised, or made using climate-smart practices.

The live program page publishes no award figures at all — it describes the opportunity ("competitive awards" that "remov[e] the financial risk associated with entry and start-up") and states "The 2025 funding cycle is now over. Please check this page for updates on future funding rounds," with no dollar amounts, cost-share percentage or match requirement.

CDA publishes each round's figures in its own press releases rather than on the program page. Two rounds have published terms, and the per-proposal ceiling was $30,000 in both.

Round 1 — CDA press release, February 28, 2025:

• "Up to a total of $90,000 is available for projects supporting the development of market opportunities for Colorado producers using climate smart practices."

• "The maximum award amount is $30,000.00 per proposal."

• No match or cost-share requirement was stated.

• Solicited not as a grant application but as procurement: "Proposals are being accepted as Documented Quotes through the Colorado Vendor Self Service (VSS) website" (DQ number 2025-0364). Deadline March 17, 2025.

Round 2 — CDA press release, October 13, 2025:

• "A total of $120,000 is available for initiatives that increase demand for agricultural products employing climate smart practices at any stage of the supply chain or for projects that develop market premiums for producers."

• "The maximum award amount for this round of the Climate Smart Market Expansion Project is $30,000.00 per proposal."

• Again solicited as a Documented Quote through Colorado VSS, DQ number 2026-0001; deadline October 29, 2025 at 12 p.m. MT.

• The same release reports round 1's outcome: "In April, the first round of the Climate Smart Market Expansion grants distributed $90,000 to three innovative projects."

Both rounds carried the same duration condition among the scored outcomes: "Documented premiums for climate smart commodities or products for a minimum of the length of the award, preference given to proposals demonstrating long-term sustainability."

Treat $30,000 as the ceiling CDA has used in every round it has published, not a guaranteed standing figure — and look for the next round in CDA's press releases, since the program page itself never carries amounts. Note also that this is aimed at supply-chain buyers rather than at producers directly: eligible applicants are "food, beverage, clothing, and other manufacturers, as well as processors, commodity handlers, farm product dealers, buyers, and distributors" that source Colorado climate-smart commodities, and must be Colorado-based or show clear relationships with Colorado suppliers. The producer benefit is the market premium the funded project creates.

The 2025 funding cycle is now over. Please check the program page for updates on future funding rounds, and sign up for CDA's email list to receive updates on the Climate Smart Market Expansion Project and future opportunities.