Grid Hardening for Small and Rural Communities Grant Program
Forecasted
The Grid Hardening for Small and Rural Communities Grant Program funds projects to improve grid resilience against wildfires and extreme weather in rural Colorado, administered by the Colorado Energy Office.
Funder: Colorado Energy Office
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (deadline for written inquiries, projected) | November 2026 (application submission deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,000,000 per award; ~$1.9 million total available for this cycle; 5-year project period; 33% minimum cost match required.
Summary: Supports rural Colorado utilities in hardening the power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other risks.
Key Information: Only one application per utility per cycle; funds are reimbursement-based; strict federal compliance required.
Description
The Grid Hardening for Small and Rural Communities Grant Program, administered by the Colorado Energy Office (CEO), provides funding to rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in Colorado for projects that strengthen and protect the electric grid. The program aims to reduce outages and enhance resilience against wildfires, extreme weather, and other hazards, with a focus on communities at higher climate risk or with social vulnerabilities. Eligible projects include undergrounding electrical equipment, fire-resistant technologies, utility pole management, and more. Funding is made possible by Colorado’s allocation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) 40101(d) Grid Resiliency funding, in partnership with the Department of Local Affairs.
