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Open Lands Small Grants for Community Partnering

Applications for the 2010 Small Grants for Community Partnering are due by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2009!

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 $113,000 has been provided to 88 projects.

In 2009, the program was renamed to "Small Grants for Community Partnering" and was expanded to include other types of projects which connect people to the land. The expansion added categories for "agriculture," "increased access to open lands," and "research on open spaces."

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 trail". Connecting people to the land is an integral part.

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

Pingree Park
Photo by Ernst Strenge

These funds are available again in 2010 for your special project! Individual projects may be awarded up to $2,000 per year. Small Grants for Community Partnering proposals must meet each of the Selection Criteria. Please review those 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.

In 2009, eight projects received funding through the Small Grants Program. The recipients were:

Project Applicant	Project Name	Amount Funded	Project Location	Project Description
North Fork Weed Coop	Management of Dalmation Toadflax Using Insect Biocontrol Agents	$2,000	North Larimer County	Insect release on dalmation toadflax at Abbey of St. Waldburga
Pinewood Springs Property Owners' Association	Crescent Lake - Pinewood Springs	$2,000	Southwest Larimer County	New spillway pipe, drain, and fittings to maintain Crescent Lake
Trees, Water, and People	Lopez Nature Center	$1,800	Fort Collins	Restoration of educational natural area
Silver Leaf Beautification Committee	Silver Leaf Nature Path	$1,725	Loveland	Handicap accessible nature path to access outdoor classroom
Poudre Wilderness Volunteers	Tools and Supplies for Poudre Wilderness Volunteers' Trail Maintenance Crew Operations in 2009	$1,000	Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest	Tools, supplies, training for PWV work crew
The Shores at Mariana Cover Homeowners' Association	Mariana Cove Xeriscaping Project	$1,000	Loveland	Xeriscaping project taking bluegrasses to native plantings
Huntington Hills Master Community Association	Restoration of the Huntington Hills Natural Area	$1,000	Fort Collins	Reclamation, erosion control, and seeding of area with native grasses
Peninsula at Horseshoe Lake Homeowners' Association	Peninsula at Horseshoe Lake Native Plant Woodland Cluster	$1,000	Loveland	Woodland cluster native planting

photo of 2009 Larimer County Small Grants Award Recipients

2009 Larimer County Small Grants Award Recipients
Photo by Charlie Johnson

To find out more about the Small Grants for Community Partnering 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 for Community Partnering and/or to obtain an application.