STATEWIDE – The Department of Local Affairs’ (DOLA) Division of Local Government (DLG) awarded $35,883,577 across 70 projects in Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) grants from the latest application cycle (25-03), which closed in December 2024.
“Housing can’t happen without roads, water, sewer, and utilities,” said Maria De Cambra, DOLA Executive Director. “At DOLA, we’ve committed funds to help communities make data driven housing decisions, build the infrastructure needed to support housing for every Colorado budget, and increase solar electric options among rising utility costs.”
This grant program facilitates essential community improvements, including water and wastewater systems, resilient public facilities, comprehensive plans, and housing. Over half of the projects awarded during this cycle support drinking water and wastewater systems.
Cycle 25-03 included two special initiatives: “More Housing Now and Land Use Initiative” in addition to the “Climate Resilience Challenge.”
DOLA awarded $6,037,903 from the More Housing Now and Land Use Initiative for eight projects that address the demand for local government infrastructure that supports attainable housing goals and to develop housing needs assessments. Highlights include:
- The Westcliff Housing Utility Infrastructure project will extend its utility infrastructure to accommodate a 35-unit affordable housing development for Phase I, as well as future phases.
- In Parachute, the Gateway Affordable Housing Infrastructure project will extend utility infrastructure for 50 affordable housing units and 18 market-rate units, transforming a blighted building into homes for the community.
The Climate Resilience Challenge awarded $4,845,739 for five bold projects that advance cutting edge climate work and encourages projects that align with multiple goals, including climate adaptation and climate mitigation solutions. Highlights include:
- The Climate Resilience Challenge Grand County Emergency Management Services Headquarters and Resiliency Hub Phase 1 project consists of EMS construction that includes water reclamation technology and a solar electric system allowing for full offset of electrical needs. Grand County EMS (GCEMS) has been the sole emergency medical services provider in Grand County since 1970.
- The Climate Resilience Challenge Wray Civic Center Construction Phase II - Resiliency Hub. This project consists of significant HVAC improvements, solar panels for zero-emissions energy generation and a backup generator for redundancy at the Wray Civic Center Resiliency Hub (under construction).
The EIAF program assists political subdivisions that are socially and/or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels. Funds are derived from the state severance tax on energy and mineral production and from a portion of the state’s share of royalties paid to the federal government for mining and drilling of minerals and mineral fuels on federally owned land.
The current application cycle (25-07) of the EIAF grant is open through April 1, 2025. Applications are accepted for Tier I projects (up to $200,000) and Tier II projects ($200,001 to $1,000,000). Applicants must contact their Regional Manager prior to applying.
Learn more about the Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant (EIAF) program.