Submit Applications for 2023 Innovate Fort Collins Challenge – Colorado

Deadline: 08/31/2023

Size of the Grant: $1,000 – $7,499

Details:

IFCC needs your projects to make the housing in Fort Collins more resilient and equitable as the world changes and climate impacts are felt globally and locally.

This year’s competition helps individuals and organizations implement projects that seek solutions to community challenges related to:

• Housing affordability
• Climate change
• Weather-related challenges

Project Objectives and Focus 

Successful project proposals should focus on benefiting the Fort Collins community members that are most impacted by housing affordability, Climate change, and weather-related challenges. These project solutions may address the following challenges:

• Negative impacts of extreme cold winter temperatures and/or hot summer days by increasing indoor comfort in homes
• Poor indoor air quality (reduce exposure to wildfire smoke, improve air flow, ventilation, mold, etc.)
• High utility expenses caused by lack of energy efficiency and/or weatherization for households or buildings. This may include buildings that support multiple households (e.g., neighborhood clubhouses)

For this funding opportunity, the City will prioritize awarding projects that are designed by and that benefit those most affected by housing affordability, climate and weather-related impacts including:

• Non-English Speakers
• Low or moderate-income households defined as those who meet the affordable housing target of under 80% area median income.
• People experiencing housing instability (see glossary)
• Older adults (62 years and older), particularly those with low fixed incomes
• People experiencing disabilities
• People with health-related illnesses most impacted by heat and/or poor indoor air, such as respiratory issues
• Those living in more vulnerable housing conditions such as mobile homes, low quality housing, etc.

Funding Information

2023 Available Funding: Up to $70,000 in total awards

Projects awards can range from $1,000 up to $7,499 based on the following criteria:

• $1,000 – $5,000   ̶   2 or more Households or neighborhood groups that apply with a solution to a common or shared problem. The homes do not necessarily have to be on the same street/block or neighborhood but must be located within city limits or growth management area.
• $1,000 – $7,499   ̶   Service Group/Organizations such as a homeowner association, for-profit companies, non-profit or community-based organization that supports highly affected/impacted community members within the Fort Collins community.
• Scaling: Winning projects may be scaled up or down based on number of applicants and demand for funding.

Eligible Housing Types

• Mobile homes and mobile home communities
• Rental housing (with permission of owner)
• Single family units (attached and detached)
• Multi-family units
• Clubhouses or other shared common spaces for residents
• Homeless or Domestic Violence Shelters

Eligibility Criteria

For an application to be considered, the individuals or groups benefiting from the proposal must be located within the Fort Collins City limits or the growth management area. Eligible applicants include:

• 2 or more individual households/homes
• Awarded individuals must complete a IRS W-9 form before receiving funding. If applying as a group, one of the applicants would be required to file a W-9. Those who complete a W-9 will receive a 1099 tax form for 2023. This requires a social security number or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). Informal groups of households/neighbors (18 years or older or arrangements with a legal adult)
• Homeowner Associations
• Non-profit 501 (c) 3 organizations
• For profit businesses
• Libraries, museums, education centers

For more information, visit City of Fort Collins.