The Colorado Department of Agriculture Noxious Weed Program’s annual grant is now open for applications.

See CDA’s Media Release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2024
Contact: Olga Robak, 720-428-0441, olga.robak

Grants Available to Combat Noxious Weeds in Colorado

Broomfield, Colo. — Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed Program is accepting applications from local governing bodies and nonprofits for weed management grants that will help diminish or eradicate populations of state-listed noxious weeds in critical areas around Colorado.

“The Noxious Weed Program Annual Grants will fund projects that help eradicate or contain state-listed noxious weeds on lands across Colorado,” said CDA’s Noxious Weed Program Manager Patty York. “This funding is particularly important in helping new or underfunded weed management programs invest in their area of Colorado and bring additional resources to where they are needed.”

Applications from eligible organizations are being accepted until Monday, December 16, at 5 pm. Applications must follow all the requirements specified in the Request for Applications (RFA) document. Full requirements can be found on CDA’s Noxious Weed Program Annual Grants page.

This year, the Noxious Weed Program will award approximately $700,000 from the Noxious Weed Fund and approximately $40,000 from the USFS State & Private Forestry Program to projects happening between April 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026 that help manage high-priority noxious weeds across Colorado.

Eligible organizations include counties, municipalities, conservation districts, non-profit organizations, and organized private entities such as road associations or homeowners associations. Grant requests can be for any amount, but all must have a 1-to-1 funding match. Applicants will need to submit materials via email and include a table of which noxious weed species they plan to target, the proposed project budget and a map or maps identifying noxious weed locations and treatment areas.

Noxious weeds are non-native, aggressive invader species that replace native vegetation, reduce agricultural productivity, cause wind and water erosion, and pose an increased threat to communities from wildfire. CDA’s Noxious Weed Program coordinates local, state and federal weed managers to help them achieve their weed management goals through strategic partnerships.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is committed to advancing the state’s clean energy and water use goals. Noxious weeds often create dense patches that use more water than if native species occupied that same area. Infestations of noxious weeds can also affect irrigation systems and impact recreation. The Noxious Weed Annual Grants provide financial resources for on-the-ground noxious weed management that benefits all of Colorado and help protect the state’s natural and agricultural ecosystems.