Larimer OEM Community Mitigation Grant Program

Grants for Community-Led Mitigation Projects 

Larimer County has a long history of disasters. In fact, Larimer County has had the most federally-declared disasters out of all counties in the State of Colorado since 1965. Hazard mitigation is key to reducing risk - protecting life, preventing property loss, and minimizing disruption to daily life. In addition, studies have found that hazard mitigation is extremely cost-effective, with every single dollar spent on mitigation saving multiple dollars more in avoided future losses.

The Larimer County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) recognizes that the upfront cost of hazard mitigation can be a barrier in this important risk-reducing and cost-saving work. To remove this barrier to communities in Larimer County, the Community Mitigation Grant Program was created in 2022.

Learn more about the program, previously funded projects and the impact to our communities by viewing our Community Mitigation Grant StoryMap. 

2026 Grant Cycle 

The application period for the 2026 funding cycle will open Monday, January 12, 2026 and it will close at 11:59PM on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Intent to award notices are made following the close of the application period, with awards anticipated to be announced on or before May 4, 2026. 

The end of the performance period for 2026 cycle projects will be November 2nd, 2026. 

How to Apply

  • Submit your application through this online form: [Application form will be made available January 12, 2026]
    • We recommended that you save your proposal and the answers to the application questions, outside of the online form, just in case there are any issues with your online form submission.
  • An informational webinar will be provided on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Information on the grant program and application process will be discussed during this webinar. To attend this webinar you must register via this link: Information Webinar Registration.

Applicant Eligibility

  • Eligible applicants include community groups, local non-profit organizations and charitable foundations. Small grassroots or community groups will take priority over larger non-profits.

Funding Limitations

The following will NOT be accepted as eligible requests for funding: 

  • Food and beverages.
  • Salaries or organization's staff capacity.
  • Project planning expenses.
  • Road work. Project activity involving repair, maintenance or other such work on roads is NOT eligible. The only exception: roadside thinning or slash pile chipping. 

Important Dates

  • The application period for the 2026 funding cycle will open Monday, January 12, 2026.
  • The application period for the 2026 funding cycle will close at 11:59pm on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
  • An informational webinar will be provided on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
  • Intent to award notices are made following the close of the application period, with awards announced on or before May 4, 2026.
  • The end of the performance period for 2026 cycle projects will be November 2nd, 2026. A final report on the project, its outcomes and all substantiating documentation for expenses must be submitted by 11:59pm on Sunday, November 1st, 2026.
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  1. Eligible applicants include community groups, local non-profit organizations and charitable foundations. Small grassroots community groups will take priority over larger non-profits. 

     

  2. Projects must be located in Larimer County and must mitigate the risk from one or more hazard(s).

     

  3. Applicants may submit applications for only one project per grant cycle.

     

  4. Awards are usually limited to $10,000.

     

  5. Applicants can only be awarded twice in a three year period. Why? Fundamentally the Community Mitigation Grant program aims to remove financial barriers and catalyze grassroot efforts for mitigation activities at the community scale. We seek to help build momentum and help contribute to a community sense of agency for longer term self-sufficiency in this important risk reduction work. Meaning, this program provides funding that is intended to be supplemental, not supplanting. Additionally we want to create opportunities for all communities across Larimer County, giving us a chance to spread this supplemental funding support around to all corners of the county.

     

  6. Important Note: Successful applicants will demonstrate community support and community engagement with their proposed project. Preference will be given to projects including multiple stakeholders, with large community buy-in and participation. This grant program is designed to incite community collaboration, reward neighbors helping neighbors and improve social capital - ultimately increasing resilience to future disaster or disruption.

Grant funding will be awarded via a competitive process. Proposals will be scored by Larimer County OEM using a points-based system. Points are given based on the following: 

 

1. Overall contribution to community resilience and risk reduction as a result of the project. (5 points)

  • Community resilience: How, and to what extent, will this project improve the community's ability to cope with disaster?
  • Risk reduction: How, and to what extent, will this project reduce future hazard impacts to the community?

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2. Community involvement and degree of partnerships, for both the proposed project and for future mitigation efforts. (10 points)

  • Community involvement: Will there be widespread participation in the project across the community or neighborhood, or rather will it only be a small number of people?
  • Community buy-in: Are there other funds being contributed to the project? Will there be contribution of in-kind resources to the project (such as volunteer time, use of community/community-member owned equipment, etc.)?
  • Collaboration and partnership: Who did you collaborate with (and how) during the development of this proposal?
  • Future efforts: What are the long term plans to continue or build on the efforts proposed in the application? 

 

Total of 15 points available.

If the proposal is not awarded due to a low score relative to other proposals, applicants are welcome to inquire about suggested project and proposal improvements for future consideration.

  1. Grants will be awarded on a reimbursement basis. However, in extenuating circumstances, Larimer County OEM is willing to negotiate with the applicant the provision of funds up front if the applicant cannot complete the project due to lack of available funding capacity. Again this is only in extenuating circumstances and will be determined on a case by case basis; there is no guarantee that this is possible and may require in-depth justification and assurance.

     

  2. If selected for award, an Agreement between Larimer County and the grant recipient is required prior to finalizing the award and receiving funds. The Agreement will include the amount of the grant award, and will address the scope of the funding award, the timeline for project completion, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other conditions.

     

  3. After receiving and finalizing an award, a community meeting must be held where the project is discussed with the community. OEM must be made aware of the meeting and attending stakeholders prior to the meeting occurring. An OEM representative will attend if able.

     

  4. If a funded project changes from the initial application and budget, a written change request is required and OEM must approve the change before any dollars are spent, in order for those expenses to be eligible for reimbursement.

     

  5. The award recipient must keep track of all project expenditures and submit receipts or proof of payment for all items purchased to be eligible for reimbursement.

     

  6. Pictures of the project activity must be taken and submitted to OEM.

     

  7. OEM may request a site visit prior to, during, or after the project’s completion.

     

  8. OEM reserves the right to request any detail or clarification on the project.

     

  9. A final report on the project, its outcomes and all substantiating documentation for expenses must be submitted by 11:59pm on November 1st, 2026.

     

  10. Any grant funded project work or activity occurring on private property MUST be allowed and permissible by the property owner(s). The appropriate permission from the property owner must be granted in writing to the community member or person/entity managing the community project.

The Community Mitigation Grant program was created in 2022. Since 2022 to date, 59 community mitigation projects have been completed in 4 annual grant cycles, with a total of over $343,000 in grant funds awarded to 47 different recipients. 57 projects have mitigated against impacts from the wildfire hazard, and 3 projects have mitigated against impacts from the flood hazard.

Click here for a running list of awards: List of Awards