Boulder County accepting applications for Climate Innovation Fund grants

NEWS RELEASE
BOULDER COUNTY
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Boulder County is now accepting applications for Climate Innovation Fund grants, aiming to award a total of $550,000 to projects focused on carbon dioxide removal and landscape resilience and restoration. Individuals, teams, and organizations are encouraged to submit short-form proposals for regional projects designed to effectively remove and securely store carbon dioxide and deliver measurable benefits to our community's resilience and environmental health in response to climate change impacts.

Short-form proposals can be submitted online through the Boulder County website until the March 21, 2024 deadline. Submissions that meet the county's criteria will be invited to provide a detailed project plan, including expected outcomes and a comprehensive budget, during a subsequent four-week application phase starting in April 2024. This two-step process ensures thorough evaluation and support for the most promising initiatives.

Established in 2022, the Climate Innovation Fund awarded its inaugural grants to Biochar Now, Boulder Watershed Collective, Drylands Agroecology Research, Ollin Farms, and Takachar. These organizations have since gained recognition for their innovative approaches to carbon dioxide removal and landscape restoration. Their projects have been demonstrated to lawmakers and elected officials, and they have received international media coverage, including features in the Washington Post, BBC, NPR, and Newsweek.

“Boulder County's Climate Innovation Fund has helped transform local ideas into real-world climate solutions with global impact," said Susie Strife, Boulder County Director of Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience. “This new round of funding strengthens our commitment to supporting innovative technologies and practices tailored to our community's unique needs, yet capable of inspiring global change. We're not just addressing the climate crisis in our own backyards; we're demonstrating how local action can drive global progress."

Building on the success of previous grant recipients, the 2024 application cycle will allocate funding to projects that best meet the county's criteria for carbon dioxide removal and landscape resilience and restoration. Priority will be given to projects that provide verifiable carbon removal metrics and demonstrate tangible benefits to local communities. Evaluation criteria will also focus on creativity, scalability, accuracy in carbon removal calculations, support for historically disadvantaged groups, and long-term carbon storage stability.

Carbon Direct, a leading carbon management firm, will partner with Boulder County to evaluate proposals, focusing on carbon removal potential, scientific integrity, and effectiveness. This collaboration draws on the expertise of more than 40 leading carbon scientists, ensuring the chosen projects are both innovative and scientifically sound.

“Since announcing its first Climate Innovation Fund in 2022, Boulder County has established itself as a leader in local climate action, establishing a roadmap for other cities and counties to drive climate impact and community benefits,” said Dr. Sarah Federman, Director of Landscape Decarbonization at Carbon Direct. “Carbon Direct is proud to work with Boulder County to identify innovative local carbon projects poised to catalyze community engagement and scale solutions that mitigate the effects of climate change.”

The application period for short-form proposals is now open and will close March 21, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. MT. Visit Boulder County's Climate Innovation Fund webpage for more details and to apply.

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