Federal Stimulus Funds

The State of Colorado is distributing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through the Department of Local Affairs through the following programs in an effort to support communities in their recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Current Programs

• Innovative Affordable Housing Strategies
  Via House Bill 21-1271 the three programs offer grant money and other forms of state assistance to local governments to promote innovative solutions to the development of affordable housing across the state. While the program is active, it is no longer awarding funds.
• Strong Communities
  House Bill 22-1304 established a new "Infrastructure and Strong Communities" program funded by federal stimulus funds that develops a list of sustainable land use best practices and complementary educational opportunities, selects interested municipalities and counties to participate in the program, and offers grants to selected communities.
• Broadband
  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. Energy Impact Grants for broadband are made available to support two general areas – planning and provision of infrastructure.
• Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant Program
  The program provides grants to small community-based nonprofit organizations for infrastructure funding to help mitigate the financial hardships of the Covid-19 public health emergency.

Inactive/Expired Programs

• American Rescue Plan (ARP)/Non-Entitlement Units of Local Government
  The plan sent relief to states and local governments affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic, allowing them to better respond to the resulting public health needs and economic hardships that communities continue to experience nationwide.
• Small Business Relief Program
  The program provided direct aid, grants, and annual fee waivers to struggling small businesses and also created grant programs and allocated funds specifically for art and cultural organizations as well as minority-owned businesses.
• Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVRF)
  The fund reimbursed costs to counties, municipalities and special districts for necessary expenditures incurred due to the Covid-19 public health emergency (Covid-19 emergency).
• Community Development Block Grant - Covid (CDBG-CV)
  These funds were used for HUD Community Development Block Grant eligible activities and met the Department of Housing and Urban Development national objective of benefit to low and moderate income persons.

Contact Information

Direct inquiries regarding initial program interest to your Regional Manager.