Impact Grants - C3 - Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise

Impact Grants - C3 - Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise is sponsored by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Provides funding for projects that contribute to a circular economy, including waste aversion and diversion efforts through sustainable design, remanufacturing, reuse, repair, recovery, collection, recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, or biochar production.

C3 - Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise Program Type: Public or Private sectors Nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations and businesses, tribes, local governments, public and private schools, institutions of higher education 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.

Demonstrate that all permitting, certification, and local rules and land use requirements have been researched, by providing a current status of any applications or requirements that are in process Present a correct and clear budget request accompanied by recent vendor quotes, preferably within the past six months, for each requested item Include a realistic and manageable project timeline Projects that are anticipated to create greater outcomes related to C3 goals will take precedence.

Please keep in mind that program resources are limited and not every application will be awarded, even if it is well-prepared. C3 program priorities are dynamic and may fluctuate based on variables such as available funding, commodity markets, previously funded projects, and other related variables. Potential projects are scored with a point system based on defined criteria.

The rubric for scoring can be found in the guidelines for each grant type. Please note: C3 grants are not intended for urgent or emergency situations. Entities may only be awarded one C3 grant each calendar year.

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. Institutions of Higher Education Nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations and businesses, local governments, public and private schools, and institutions of higher education located in Colorado are eligible to apply. Applicants are limited to one Colorado Circular Communities (C3) funding award per calendar year.

Projects must promote a circular economy, defined as an economy that: Uses a systems-focused approach that involves industrial processes and economic activities that are restorative or regenerative by design Enables resources used in industrial processes and economic activities to maintain their highest value for as long as possible Aims to eliminate waste through the superior design of materials, products, and processes, including business models 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.

Eligible and ineligible expenses are detailed in the Impact Grant guidelines . Any funds spent before full execution of an agreement are not eligible for reimbursement. Be registered and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State Be in operation for a minimum of one (1) year (This will be verified through the Colorado Secretary of State.)

Maintain good standing with all regulatory programs, including CDPHE, EPA, and OSHA Be in good standing with the Colorado Department of Revenue Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local permitting, zoning, and code requirements Be prepared to make purchases upfront and be reimbursed once contract requirements are met.

When submitting an application for a C3 grant, applicants agree to adhere to the state’s terms and conditions. Terms and conditions of the agreements will not be altered. Inability to agree to terms and conditions will disqualify entities for funding.

For most awards: State PO Terms and Conditions or C3 Grant Agreement For awards with government entities: C3 Intergovernmental Agreement Template Summaries of awarded Impact Grants Application Process and Key Dates There are three Impact Grant application cycles in 2026 to provide a structured review timeline: January-March; April-June; and July-September.

If you submit an application during one of these windows, your application will be reviewed at the end of the window. Specific dates are included in the Impact Grant guidelines . Each application will be reviewed and scored on its own.

After each application window closes, there will be approximately one month for review, scoring, and deliberation. Selected projects will be presented to the board roughly two months after the window closes. You will be required to confirm that you have watched the Impact Grant Pre-Application Video in order to apply.

Prepare for the Application Read through all of the Impact Grant guidelines to learn about the details of the grant opportunity prior to applying.

Work plan including timeline Resume(s) for key project staff and/or mission statement for key project partners Subcontractor commitments (if applicable) Letter of commitment from leadership (required for education and government entities) Additional materials may be submitted, including but not limited to Letters of support on supporting company’s letterhead If partners or government support are part of your project, it is highly recommended that a Letter of Support be submitted for each.

Submit your application online when you are ready to apply. Note: For application submission support, including application portal navigation (such as logging in, registering), assistance with file uploads, system errors, or submission failures, please contact c3. grantmanagement@state.

co. us . Producer Responsibility Program Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is a program established with Colorado House Bill 22-1355 that makes producers of packaging and paper products responsible for the recycling of their materials.

The State of Colorado appointed Circular Action Alliance (CAA) as the designated Producer Responsibility Organization. If you have questions about EPR, please contact CAA directly.