The provision of high-speed broadband services can play a critical role in enhancing local government operations and community development efforts. Local governments can play a role assisting public institutions and private businesses, as well as local citizens, to gain access to reliable broadband service at affordable costs.
Such locally initiated actions can be undertaken under local authority to enhance economic development, improve distance learning opportunities, promote inter-jurisdictional communication, and improve health care delivery and to meet citizens’ requests for better access to the breadth of services available over broadband.
Who Should Apply
Energy/Impact Assistance Fund grants are directed by statute to communities that are economically or socially impacted by the development of energy and mineral resources. Grants are also awarded based on financial need, among other review criteria. Therefore, the majority of grant funding is directed to smaller and more rural communities where sufficient broadband service is lacking.
Energy Impact Grants for broadband are made available to support two general areas – planning and provision of infrastructure.
The Application Process
Applications for any of the current Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) funding opportunities may be submitted as part of the regularly planned EIAF cycles.
The EIAF Cycle 23-11 application opens on June 30, 2023 and closes on August 1st, 2023.
In order to be accepted into an EIAF grant cycle, applicants must contact their Regional Manager prior to submitting any application and must be "ready to go"; furthermore, if there are any questions in preparing the application, applicants should contact their Department of Local Affairs Regional Manager.
Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant Program Guidelines
Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant Application - PDF or Microsoft Word
Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant Budget - Financials Template
2023 Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant County Impact Scores
The Application Cycle
The Department of Local Affairs is pleased to announce the following schedule for applications in the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Program through December 31, 2023.
Cycle 23-11: $25,000,000 available
Tier I (up to $200,000) and Tier II ($200,001 to $1,000,000) applications accepted
- Application period opens: June 30, 2023
- Application period closes: 11:59 p.m. August 1, 2023
- Final awards: November 2023
The amounts available in the cycle identified above depend on the revenues generated by severance and federal mineral lease collections.
EIAF Initiatives: In addition, the EIAF program has additional funding available in Cycle 23-11 for the following initiatives:
- Climate Resilience Challenge: $20,000,000 available
- Main Street LIVE: Livability Investments for Vibrant Economies: $17,500,000 available
- More Housing Now and Land Use Initiative: $20,000,000 available
- East Central Council of Local Governments Regional Broadband Strategic Plan
- Northeast Colorado Association of Local Governments Regional Broadband Strategic Plan
- Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Regional Broadband Strategic Plan
- Pitkin County
- Red Cliff Communications Site Engineering RFQ
- Region 10 Broadband Implementation Blueprint RFP
- Rio Blanco County
- Teller County Broadband Expansion RFP
- Upper Arkansas Area COG Regional Broadband Strategic Plan
Estes Park Broadband Plan
South Central Council of Governments Regional Strategic Broadband Plan
Garfield and Mesa Counties Broadband Strategic Plan
Moffat County Broadband Strategic Plan
SEBREA Broadband Strategic Plan
San Luis Valley Broadband Strategic Plan
Teller County Broadband Plan
Yuma County Broadband Master Plan
NWCCOG Regional Broadband Strategic Plan
Region 9 Southwest Colorado Access Network Final Report
Region 10 Broadband Blueprint
UAACOG Regional Broadband Strategic Plan
Routt County Strategic Broadband Plan Final Report
Pitkin County Broadband Phase II Report
Custer County Broadband Infrastructure Expansion Design Study Final Report
Southwest Colorado Council of Governments Strategic Broadband Plan
East Central Colorado Council of Government Broadband Strategic Plan
Fraser and Winter Park Final Report
NECALG Broadband Strategic Plan
Broadband in Summit County - Strategic Plan
Town of Buena Vista Broadband Assessment and Feasibility Analysis
Contact Information
Initial Interest
Direct inquiries regarding initial program interest to your Regional Manager. Use the other program contacts once the initial process with your Regional Manager is complete.
Program Contact
Greg Etl
greg.etl@state.co.us
970-380-4065