Colorado Noxious Weed Program Annual Grants

The Noxious Weed Management Grants are funded through the Noxious Weed Management Fund (NWMF) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) State & Private Forestry Grants. Approximately $450,000 of Noxious Weed Management Fund and approximately $50,000 of USFS State & Private Forestry (SPF) funding was available for the 2026 grant round. The primary objectives of the NWMF grant program are to: provide additional financial resources to entities engaged in cooperative efforts to eradicate and/or contain state-listed noxious weeds; produce measurable outcomes across Colorado for noxious weed management; and assist new or underfunded weed management programs, especially in regions where additional resources are needed.

Eligible applicants for the 2026 grant cycle were limited to local governing bodies, weed control districts, and cooperative weed management areas in Colorado that demonstrate project capacity and compliance with the Colorado Noxious Weed Act. State/Federal agencies can be partners but not applicants.

Reimbursement grants with no per-award ceiling but a hard 1:1 match.

• No cap on the ask: "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." CDA will not name a typical award either — "Our grants range from single projects to multiple-county cooperative initiatives with a wide range of funding levels."

• Match: "We require a 1:1 match for this grant opportunity. However, we welcome and appreciate proposals that include match above the minimum." "All funding requests must be met with a 1:1 match." In-kind counts: landowner and volunteer hours valued at "the current Federal Volunteer Rate," full-time staff wages that directly contribute to the project, and fringe benefits (payroll taxes, health premiums, cell phone reimbursement) all qualify. Match may be incurred "90 days prior to the start date listed on the Purchase Order (PO)." One real restriction: "matching fund sources cannot come from other state funds unless approved by CDA prior to submitting a project proposal."

• Money available in the round: "Approximately $450,000 of Noxious Weed Management Fund is available for the 2026 grant round. Approximately $50,000 of United States Forest Service (USFS) State & Private Forestry (SPF) funding is also available." CDA notes "a 37% reduction in the noxious weed fund" this cycle.

• Budgeting benchmark CDA publishes: "a reasonable estimate for a successful, integrated management project would fall between $75-$150 per acre."

• Equipment: "we will not fund any single item exceeding $5,000" (equipment defined as an item costing $5,000 or more with a lifespan of a year or more), and "reimbursable staff wages are limited to part-time/temporary employees" absent pre-approval.

• Paid on invoice after close-out, not up front: the final report is due by the grant expiration date, then "you will have 45 days to submit your invoice and all supporting documentation." Project periods run roughly April 1 of the award year to a latest end date of May 31 the following year.

• Recurring but not guaranteed: "there will be a grant cycle around this same time next year. Funding one year does not guarantee funding the next year."

To apply, first carefully review the RFA and complete the Google Form Application, then submit by the deadline. 2026 timeline: RFA Release Date October 31, 2025; deadline to submit questions December 5, 2025; Q&A posted December 9, 2025; application submission deadline December 15, 2025 at 5:00 pm MST; estimated notification of award February 13, 2026. The 2026 Noxious Weed Annual Grant cycle is now closed.