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Open Lands Small Grants Program

2009 Small Grant Applications Are Due by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 21, 2008!

photo of garden
Loveland Youth Garden
Photo By Ann Dewey

Since 1998, the Larimer County Open Lands Small Grants Program has provided funds to a variety of individuals, neighborhood groups, homeowner associations, school groups, non-profits, and other appropriate local organizations for projects on public and private lands that enhance natural areas, improve open spaces, and provide opportunities for environmental and outdoor education. Since the program began, approximately $102,800 has been provided to 82 projects.

The Small Grants Program is funded by the Help Preserve Open Spaces quarter-cent sales tax initially approved by Larimer County citizens in 1995 and extended by the citizens in 1999. The funds are earmarked to "preserve and provide significant open space, natural areas, wildlife habitat, parks and trails".

Get more information about the Small Grants Program and download an application

These funds are available again in 2009 for your special project! Individual projects may be awarded up to $2,000 per year. Small Grant proposals must meet each of the Small Grant Selection Criteria. Please review the selection criteria carefully to determine if your proposed project qualifies. Each proposal will be reviewed by Larimer County Open Lands Staff and the Open Lands Advisory Board to ensure that the specific criteria are met and to determine which projects will be funded. The maximum dollar amount awarded is $2000 per project per year.

photo of Pingree Park
Pingree Park
Photo by Ernst Strenge

In 2008, seven projects received funding through the Small Grants Program. The 2008 Larimer County Open Lands Small Grants Award recipients were:

Project Applicant Project Name Amount Funded Project Description Project Location
Front Range Community College Exotic Species Elimination Project 2,000 Elimination of Russian olive and tamarisk at a number of parks and open spaces managed by Larimer County, City of Loveland, and City of Fort Collins Front Range, Larimer County, Fort Collins, and Loveland
Trails at Vista Bonita Homeowners' Association Boxelder Creek Exotic Tree Removal 1,500 Removal of invasive Russian olives and replacement with native trees and shrubs Fort Collins
Poudre Wilderness Volunteers Tools and Supplies for Poudre Wilderness Volunteers' Trail Maintenance Crew Operations in 2008 1,840 Tools and supplies for Poudre Wilderness Volunteers to provide trail maintenance operations Larimer County Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest
Silver Leaf Beautification Committee Silver Leaf Outdoor Classroom $975 Provision of an outdoor classroom area as Phase 1 of a larger project, the Silver Leaf Pond Project, to serve neighboring seniors and students Loveland
Poudre Wilderness Volunteers Tools, Supplies, & Training Materials for Poudre Wilderness Volunteers' Weed Crew Operations in 2008 $929 Tools and training materials for Poudre Wilderness Volunteers to provide weed control operations Larimer County Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest
Peninsula at Horseshoe Lake Homeowners' Association Peninsula HOA Habitat Viewing Areas $750 Continuation of a larger project (with funding by 2007 small grant) to provide wildlife viewing areas along the edge of an approximately 24-acre conservation area with conservation easement held by Legacy Land Trust. Loveland
LaPaz Homeowners' Association LaPaz HOA Wildlife Habitat Enhancement & Land Preservation $2,000 Continuation of a previous project to connect the wildlife habitat/pond area (funded by a 2001 small grant) with an 800-foot fenced corridor of native trees Loveland
Total dollars awarded in 2008 $ 9,994    


photo of 2008 Larimer County Small Grants Award Recipients
  2008 Larimer County Small Grants Award Recipients
  Photo by Charlie Johnson

To find out more about the Small Grants Program and/or to obtain an application, please contact Sue Burke by phone at 970-679-4566, by e-mail, or at the following link: more about the Small Grants Program and/or to obtain an application.