Grant Opportunities
Funding for FRWD grants is provided through user fees collected on each ton of waste sent to landfills in the Front Range region. The fee is credited to a cash fund to finance the grant program. Collection of these fees began in January 2020 and will increase over the next several years, ultimately providing an estimated $15 million in grant dollars per year. In the first eight grant cycles, FRWD awarded 47 grants totaling over $18 million.
FRWD request for grant applications are published approximately every four months, and application cycles are expected to alternate between a general focus (e.g. community zero waste) and one with a special focus (e.g. construction and demolition).
Project types can range in focus; examples include implementing or expanding community curbside recycling or composting programs, commercial or institutional waste diversion programs, and implementing or creating a new end market for recyclable materials.
General Eligibility Criteria
Entities that are eligible to apply for FRWD grants include local governments, processors, haulers, for-profit businesses, non-profits and colleges or universities. Private sector entities (for-profit and nonprofit organizations) need to be registered and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State. For more details on eligibility and other application details please view the Frequently Asked Questions.
Examples of eligible entities include (but are not limited to):
Compost operators
Public or private schools, colleges, and universities
Construction & demolition processors
End markets
Retail stores
Food rescue organizations
Businesses
Landfill owners
Hard-to-recycle material drop-offs / processors
Landscaping companies
Manufacturers
Secondary processors
Material Recovery Facility (MRF)/Material processors
Textile companies
Waste haulers
Industry association
Government agencies
Non-profit organizations
Tribal nations
Special districts
Intergovernmental partnerships
Schedule Office Hours with a Grant Ambassador
Meet one-on-one with a FRWD Ambassador and get your questions answered about the FRWD Grants Program.
Ready to Apply?
There are currently no open grant funding opportunities at this time. Please join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on upcoming funding opportunities.
Prepare for upcoming grant opportunities by checking out our grant tools and resources, reviewing examples of past request for applications and awarded grant project summaries, and scheduling office hours with our FRWD Grant Ambassador to learn more about the program.