Boulder County Climate Innovation Fund accepting project proposals - Boulder Daily Camera

Boulder County Climate Innovation Fund accepting project proposals - Boulder Daily Camera

Boulder County is accepting applications for $550,000 in 2024 Climate Innovation Fund grants.

The county, along with carbon management firm Carbon Direct, is accepting proposals from individuals, teams and organizations for regional projects aiming to remove carbon dioxide and restore and protect landscapes.

“Boulder County’s Climate Innovation Fund has helped transform local ideas into real-world climate solutions with global impact,” said Boulder County Director of Sustainability, Climate Action and Resilience Susie Strife in a statement. “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.”

Proposals that meet the criteria set by the county will move on to a four-week-long application stage where applicants will present an in-depth project plan. Projects will be evaluated based on their creativity, accuracy in carbon removal calculations and focus on historically disadvantaged groups, among other assessments.

“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,” Sarah Federman, director of landscape decarbonization at Carbon Direct, said in a statement.

This is the second time Boulder County is offering these grants following a successful batch of projects proposed in 2022 including Boulder Watershed Collective’s collaboration with Boulder Mushroom to decompose wildfire wood waste and Ollin Farms’ expansion of its carbon farming.

Proposals are due March 21 and can be submitted at bouldercounty.gov/climate/innovationfund/.