2024-25 Local Planning Capacity Grant Program (Colorado)

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) is pleased to announce the 2024-25 Local Planning Capacity Grant Program.

Donor Name: Colorado Department of Local Affairs

State: Colorado

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 09/30/2024

Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000

Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned

Details:

The intent of the program is to increase the capacity of local government planning departments responsible for processing land use, permitting, and zoning applications for housing projects. The program supports local governments’ capacity to implement a system that expedites the review process for affordable housing. Grant funds can also support increasing planning department capacity, especially to impact the number of units built (to achieve local government commitments) and maintain eligibility for Prop 123 funds.

Funding Information

• Approximately $4.4 million is available.
• Suggested maximum award amount is $200,000. Larger grant requests may be considered, particularly for multi-jurisdictional projects.

Eligible Project Types and Activities 

• Implementing new IT solutions or technologies that streamline development review including adopting online permitting and tracking systems, electronic plan review.
• Implementing “lean” business principles to improve inter-agency coordination on review and approval of affordable housing projects.
• Regulatory changes such as land use or development code amendments that effectively streamline development review of projects with affordable housing.
• Planning efforts to convert or preserve existing housing units from market-rate to affordable housing with a mechanism such as a deed restriction or land use restriction.
• Tracking or documentation activities related to Prop 123 including tracking a jurisdiction’s annual growth commitment or fast track metrics.
• Activities that support local governments’ capacity to increase or expedite affordable housing, including navigating funding opportunities and grant applications, data collection or site inventory of publicly-owned land for future affordable housing projects.
• Other strategies that align with the goals of the program, pending DOLA approval.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible entities include municipalities, counties, and tribal governments whose Prop 123 baseline and commitment have been accepted by the Division of Housing (DOH).
• Collaborative, multijurisdictional or regional projects are allowed, with one jurisdiction acting as the lead fiscal agent during the application and grant implementation process.
• Awards cannot be made directly to housing authorities but housing authorities or other nonprofits may partner with eligible municipalities, counties, or tribal governments.

For more information, visit DOLA.