Catalytic Projects

Criteria for Assessing Catalytic Project Funding Requests

When evaluating a Catalytic Project funding request, the board will consider the criteria and considerations delineated below. Because Catalytic Projects are a new funding category, the board may find it needs to reassess these criteria prior to deliberating and acting on a Catalytic Project funding request.

These criteria ensure compliance with the FRWD Enterprise statute, the board’s priorities as identified in the Strategic Plan, and board directives when grant making and contracting.

Criteria 1: Considerations for Catalytic Project Funding (differentiating Catalytic Projects from Grant Projects)

• Involves a complex public-private partnership or multiple local governments across multiple jurisdictions.

• Requires a project manager who balances all the partners’ interests to be successful.

• Pilots a new approach which may result in a proof of concept or replicable model.

• Addresses board-identified consideration(s) in the board’s Strategic Plan, such as ‘Community Challenges.’ For example, ‘Community Challenges’ identified in the FY24-26 Strategic Plan include volatile commodity prices, difficulty siting facilities, high transportation costs, demand exceeds supply, and supply chain delays.

• Time is of the essence.

Criteria 2: Appropriate Use of Enterprise Funds (Akin to Grant Projects)

• Benefits the Front Range.

• Diverts or reduces waste, and/or promotes reuse while supporting circularity.

• Increases infrastructure capacity. This includes projects that increase the capacity of processing new tons, improve the processing of current tons, or enable the processing of new materials.