Business Grants in Colorado [Updated for 2024]

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Updated: February 22nd, 2024

Business Grants in Colorado [Updated for 2024]

If you plan to launch or open a business in Colorado, consider applying for a business grant. In general, business grants are one of the essential things to consider when developing a startup business, especially if you need more money as capital to start your business. You can find grants in Colorado and apply for one to help your business.

In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need about business grants in Colorado. We'll include different ones to fit any starting business for various owners. This way, you'll have a starting point if you need starting capital through grants.

Without further ado, let's get into it!

Best Business Grants in Colorado

Below are some of the best business grants in Colorado. If you're starting a business and need some funding for capital, consider applying for any of these grants.

The Denver Foundation Grants

With a focus on the seven-county Denver metro area, The Denver Foundation (TDF) offers grants to nonprofit organizations working in Colorado.

Most of these grants are given to organizations that promote equality, economic opportunity, and basic human needs.

Typically, grants range from $5,000 to $20,000. The TDF website still offers several other funding sources for NGOs if their grant listings differ from what you need.

Apply for The Denver Foundation Grants

Ballantine Family Fund Grant

You can apply for a Ballantine Family Fund grant if your nonprofit organization is registered with the IRS as a 501(3)(c). This grant applies only to companies operating in La Plata, Dolores, Montezuma, Archuleta, and San Juan counties in Southwest Colorado.

The rewards have four different quarterly deadlines, ranging from $500 to $5,000. Every year, the Ballantine Family Fund awards scholarships totaling approximately $250,000, so applying is highly worthwhile.

Apply for Ballantine Family Fund Grant

Choose Colorado Rural Business Funding

Choose Colorado offers a comprehensive list of loans and grants for rural-based businesses on our list of grants for small businesses in Colorado. Various tools, such as small business grants and state financing programs, are available here. Grant opportunities may take a little digging, but rural development companies are often eligible for much funding.

Apply For Choose Colorado Rural Business Funding

Small Business Grants in Colorado

Most business grants offered to business owners in Colorado are only for small businesses. As such, you'll find many options when starting a small business in this state. Moreover, a small business will have better chances of getting a business grant approval in Colorado. Here are some options to consider:

Colorado GrantWatch

If you're looking for grants for Colorado small businesses, check out Colorado GrantWatch frequently. Unlike some grant aggregators, you won't only find opportunities specific to Colorado small businesses.

Nonetheless, many fantastic Colorado small business grants are available across a wide range of sectors, industries, and more -many of them are appropriate for companies based in your state.

Often, Colorado GrantWatch updates so you can see what's new and what programs are currently accepting applications. It is another reason why you should keep an eye on it.

Apply for Colorado GrantWatch

Choose Colorado Startup Resources

If you are a startup looking for Colorado small business grants tailored to your emerging company, check out the Choose Colorado startup page.

Like the rural hub, this collection of multiple sources is available to Colorado-based small businesses and startups.

Additionally, your company can benefit from federal financing, tax credits, and grant options.

Apply for Choose Colorado Startup Resources

Small Business Grants in Colorado for Minorities

Business grants are always geared towards minorities who plan to start small businesses, and Colorado offers various business grants. For this reason, you can consider these grants if you want to start a small business in Colorado.

Customized Job Training Grants

According to the available funding, tailored job training grants may be a viable funding option for Colorado-based entrepreneurs.

The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) offer this grant program.

A first initiative, Colorado First, offers funding for companies moving to or growing in Colorado to educate new employees.

As part of the Existing Industry program, Colorado businesses that are already well-established are provided with funding to assist them in adjusting to new technologies, remaining competitive, and avoiding layoffs.

Apply for Customized Job Training Grants

Colorado Fresh Food Financing Fund

The Colorado Fresh Food Financing Fund accepts grant applications from charity and for-profit organizations attempting to increase people's access to food.

This initiative offers grants of up to $50,000 to food retailing companies that improve access to rural areas and low-income or disadvantaged consumers.

Award recipients may utilize the money for operating costs, real estate, etc. However, they say that your company must pass the concept stage and have, at the very least, a finished business strategy and financial predictions.

Apply for Colorado Fresh Food Financing Fund

Business Grants in Colorado for Women

Another common factor for business grants is for women who are business owners. As such, if you're a woman who's planning to start a business in Colorado and need of funding, you can consider applying for one of the following grants:

Amber Grant for Women

If you're a woman entrepreneur in Colorado, consider applying for the Amber Grant. Each month, a female business owner is chosen by judges for the Amber Grant to receive a $10,000 prize.

If you win both the monthly and yearly prizes, you will receive $35,000 for your company. A $25,000 payment is given to one of the 12 monthly winners after all the prizes have been awarded for the year.

You must submit a brief application with a few questions, some personal data, and a $15 application fee to be considered for an Amber Grant. In addition, there are a few details needed for the application.

To help the committee understand what makes your firm unique and why a grant would be essential for you, we advise you to answer the additional optional question about what you'd do with the money if given to you.

Apply for Amber Grant for Women

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the frequently asked questions you may have about business grants in Colorado.

How Can I Get Financial Help for My Business in Colorado?

Business grants vary from state to state, and Colorado has a specific business grant suited to approved applicants and business owners.

Every Colorado small business owner is entitled to financial assistance from federal and state agencies.

As such, if you plan to start a business in Colorado, you can apply for a business grant through the federal and state agencies that cover this state.

How Much Is the Colorado Grant?

The amount of financial help you can get from business grants offered in Colorado depends on your business type and your eligibility for approval.

However, you can get as much as $10,000 if you conduct development and research with the state's federal agencies.

Also, it will depend on your application's approval, as the state agency will determine how much grant they'll offer for your business.

What Is the Colorado Grant For?

Colorado's Federal Government isn't publicly provided, meaning only some startups business are automatically given grants. As such, you'll likely need to apply for such and wait if you get approved or not.

Nonetheless, the Colorado Grant is primarily available for small business owners planning to start and grow their ventures.

While most grants require paying back the funding, some grant beneficiaries from the Colorado Government do not require such. Thus, you can grow your business in Colorado without paying back the grant after some time.

Conclusion

Starting a business from scratch requires hard work, research, and funding. As such, many people need more funding to maintain or even launch a business. With business grants, the state government will take care of the capital you need or the fund you need for your business research.

As such, you only need to worry about your business structure and do the work to keep it growing. With this information, we hope you find a business grant in Colorado and get approved for one to help you grow your business.

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Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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