Last verified: October 14, 2026.
Denver is paying up to $15,000 to East Colfax businesses hurt by bus rapid transit construction, until November 10, 2026. Colorado also funds small efficiency projects for any eligible business statewide. Both are narrow, so read who qualifies before anything else.
Grants are only one option. See every way to fund your business.
New to grants? Start with the small business grants hub and how to apply for a small business grant.
Local and state sources in Colorado
| Source | What it offers | Status on October 14, 2026 | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Economic Development and Opportunity | Construction impact grants (BIO Fund) | Open; see program below | https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Economic-Development-Opportunity/Business-Support/Fund-and-Finance-Your-Business/Business-Impact-Opportunity-Fund-RD-4 |
| Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment | Green Business Network grants | Open; see program below | https://cdphe.colorado.gov/dehs/sustainability/cgbn/grant-opportunities |
| Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade | State business programs | See official page | https://oedit.colorado.gov/ |
Narrow grants are easier to win if you fit them.
Programs open now, verified today
Denver Business Impact Opportunity (BIO) Fund
- Amount: a one-time grant of $7,500 for businesses with $100,000 or less in annual gross revenue, or $15,000 above that.
- Who qualifies: Denver businesses within 350 feet of the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit construction (Roslyn Street to Yosemite Street), in retail, arts and recreation, accommodation and food, or other services, with 2025 revenue of $30,000 to $5,000,000 and at least a 20% revenue decline over a 90-day period. Open to the public at least six months.
- Deadline: the deadline to apply is Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
- Official page: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Economic-Development-Opportunity/Business-Support/Fund-and-Finance-Your-Business/Business-Impact-Opportunity-Fund-RD-4
Colorado Green Business Network Grants
- Amount: efficiency grants up to $1,500, $3,000 or $4,500 depending on location score, and pre-approved equipment grants up to $500.
- Who qualifies: businesses, nonprofits and others located in Colorado, in good standing with the Secretary of State and registered with the Colorado Green Business Network. Projects must save energy, fuel or water.
- Deadline: applications are open through Saturday, May 1, 2027.
- Official page: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/dehs/sustainability/cgbn/grant-opportunities
Skip $10,000 Growth Grant (nationwide)
- Amount: one $10,000 grant.
- Who qualifies: U.S.-based entrepreneurs and small business owners age 18 or older, so Colorado owners can apply.
- Deadline: apply by Thursday, December 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
- Official page: https://helloskip.com/funding-details/10k-grants-fall-2026
Tips: free help in Colorado
Colorado SBDC offices help with plans and applications. Find an SBDC, SCORE mentor or Women's Business Center with the SBA local assistance locator.
How to apply without missing a step
- Confirm your address is inside the program area before anything else.
- Read who qualifies: employee counts, years open and revenue limits knock out most applicants.
- Gather your business license, recent tax return, quotes or photos the page asks for.
- Note the time zone and hour on every deadline, then submit a day early.
Example
Here's a hypothetical. Sam runs Juniper Spoon Diner (a made-up business) on East Colfax. Sales dropped during construction. He pulls 90 days of sales from before and during the work and applies to the BIO Fund. He also registers with the Colorado Green Business Network to ask about LED lighting.
Scam red flags
- Grants.gov says applying for a federal grant is completely free.
- Nobody legitimate asks for a fee to release a grant you won.
- The SBA only emails from addresses ending in @SBA.gov.
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.FTC.gov. See Grants.gov on grant fraud and our grant fee scams guide.
Next steps if no grant fits
See small business grants open now, or use the full funding guide linked near the top of this page.
Related: grants by business type: women-owned, minority-owned, startups, veteran-owned, sole proprietors and rural businesses.
Sources
All checked October 14, 2026.
- Denver BIO Fund: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Economic-Development-Opportunity/Business-Support/Fund-and-Finance-Your-Business/Business-Impact-Opportunity-Fund-RD-4
- Colorado Green Business Network grants: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/dehs/sustainability/cgbn/grant-opportunities
- Colorado OEDIT: https://oedit.colorado.gov/
- Skip Growth Grant: https://helloskip.com/funding-details/10k-grants-fall-2026
- SBA, Grants: https://www.sba.gov/loans/additional-funding-opportunities/grants/
- Grants.gov, Grant fraud: https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-fraud
- FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/