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Climate Resilience Challenge

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The Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Local Government (DOLA) supports local governments which engage in Climate Resilience projects through the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) Program. While current EIAF program guidelines are scored on how they incorporate resilience, renewables, and hazard risk reduction, the Climate Resilience Challenge will take this work to the next level with a $10M set aside for bold projects that move forward cutting edge climate work. The Climate Resilience Challenge promotes and integrates climate resilience projects that capture multiple objectives across: (1) climate adaptation and (2) climate mitigation solutions, and (3) social equity by addressing the most high-risk vulnerabilities for their community or region. Applications that incorporate all three of these criteria will be most competitive for the Climate Resilience Challenge. Those that incorporate one or two of these criteria may be moved to the regular EIAF Program grant review, which will require a 50% match rate.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to contact their Regional Manager prior to submitting any application and must be “ready to go” in order to be accepted into an EIAF grant cycle. The Regional Manager will assist you in identifying additional funding sources and will provide technical assistance by engaging other state and local agencies to support your project. 

Application opens on March 1, 2024 on the EIAF website

All applications in this Initiative will follow the regularly planned cycles of the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) Program.

Funding

The purpose of the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Program is to assist political subdivisions that are socially and/or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels. 

  • All applications in this Initiative will follow the regularly planned cycles of the EIAF Program until funds are exhausted. 
  • Other state, federal, or local agencies’ funding (such as CEO or CDPHE) are eligible for matching funds. 
  • Match for construction: 25% 
  • Match for planning projects: 10% 
  • Maximum request is $2M

Eligible Projects

The Climate Resilience Guidance & Resources provides background on the climate resilience plans and projects that qualify for the CRC. The examples listed below should not limit creative solutions that meet local/regional needs.

  • Climate Planning - development and adoption of a Climate Resilience Plan or Climate Action Plan - 10% local match
    In order to apply for planning funding, the proposed plan must at a minimum address climate mitigation as well as climate-related risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities (including social vulnerabilities) and climate adaptation solutions.
  • Project Implementation - 25% local match, application limit capped at $2M
    In order to apply for implementation funding, the applicant is required to have one of the above plan types adopted in the past five years. Municipalities can utilize their County Plans or their own integrated plans for eligibility. Project Implementation includes planning, design, engineering and construction.
    • Climate adaptation projects: projects that build resilience, mitigate hazards, and prepare communities for future climate-related shocks and stressors in high-risk areas that tie together disaster resilience, climate adaptation, and environmental justice.
      • Hazard mitigation projects: Projects that address high-risk hazards and build or rebuild in a way that reduces, or mitigates, future disaster losses in Colorado communities.
      • Nature-based solutions & green infrastructure projects: Nature-based solutions to climate change involve conserving, restoring, or better managing ecosystems to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, while also providing benefits to human well-being and ecosystem/habitats. Similarly, “green infrastructure” provides a network of nature or semi-natural areas and green space that deliver ecosystem services, climate adaptation capacity, human well-being, and economic co-benefits.
      • Resilience hub projects: Resiliency hubs are physical spaces that serve as community centers for education, services, and community capacity. During emergencies, resiliency hubs may be activated to distribute resources and coordinate response and recovery services during, before, and after disasters - wildfires, floods, heat-related events, and power outages.
    • Climate mitigation/greenhouse gas emission projects:
      • High performance public buildings: Projects that incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that reduce GHG emissions through high performance public buildings. Project elements could include electrification; energy efficiency upgrades; net zero projects; on-site renewables; water efficiency projects. Projects seeking funding under this aspect of the program should have applied for an Energy Performance Contract through the Colorado Energy Office first, if applicable.
      • Climate-ready public infrastructure: Public infrastructure, affordable housing, and downtowns that include smart growth/location-efficient site selection, water conservation, and other climate-related benefits.
      • Other infrastructure projects that include climate-smart land use practices, infill development, transit-oriented development, community solar, community microgrids, or other renewable energy components.

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