Who doesn’t love the adventurous and outdoorsy vibe that defines Colorado? This great state is a wonderful place to live—and is home to hundreds of thousands of businesses. In fact, small businesses make up over 99% of all Colorado businesses. If you’re a business owner in Colorado looking for funding, there are plenty of options. Peruse these state-specific business grants and loans to see whether or not you’re eligible.
Department or Agency: CLIMBER Loan Fund
Loan or Grant title: CLIMBER Small Business Loan
CLIMBER stands for Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery. Colorado small businesses with 1-99 employees that were financially stable before the pandemic are eligible to apply for this state-wide loan, which provides working capital funds between $10,000 and $500,000.
Department or Agency: Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Loan or Grant title: Cannabis Business Loan
In partnership with NuProject, Colorado’s Cannabis Business Office is making lending capital accessible to cannabis businesses. This type of loan is not commonly provided by traditional lenders, which is what makes it so unique. Loan amounts range from $25,000 to $150,000 and can be used for working capital, equipment, and location expansion or renovations. This loan is a revolving loan fund, meaning that as loans are repaid the money will go back toward funding more cannabis businesses. Among other qualifications, applicants must operate a licensed cannabis business, have an active social equity license in Colorado, and have ownership of at least 51% of the business.
Department or Agency: Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Loan or Grant title: Cannabis Business Loan
In partnership with NuProject, Colorado’s Cannabis Business Office is making lending capital accessible to cannabis businesses. This type of loan is not commonly provided by traditional lenders, which is what makes it so unique. Loan amounts range from $50,000 to $150,000 and can be used for working capital, equipment, and location expansion or renovations. This loan is a revolving loan fund, meaning that as loans are repaid the money will go back toward funding more cannabis businesses. Among other qualifications, applicants must operate a licensed cannabis business, have an active social equity license in Colorado, and have ownership of at least 51% of the business.
Department or Agency: Colorado Enterprise Fund
Loan or Grant title: Black Business Loan Fund
The Black Business Loan Fund aims to help Black-owned businesses get the capital—and business mentoring—they need to start and grow their operations. Under the fund, startups and existing businesses can qualify for loans of $10,000 up to $1 million to put toward working capital and startup expenses.
Department or Agency: Colorado Enterprise Fund
Loan or Grant title: Valor Loan Program
Veterans looking to start or grow a business in Colorado may be eligible to apply to the Valor Loan Program, which awards funds between $5,000 and $500,000 for working capital, inventory, and other business expenses.
Department or Agency: Colorado Enterprise Fund
Loan or Grant title: Creative Industries loan
From performing and visual arts to salons and music, the Colorado Enterprise Fund supports small businesses in the creative industries. Eligible applicants may receive between $10,000 and $1 million in loan funds to use for working capital, equipment, property improvements, inventory, and more.
Department or Agency: Community Development Block Grant Business Loan
Loan or Grant: Community Development Block Grant Business Loan
Loans between $10,000 and $150,000 can be used to start, expand, or stabilize an existing business. Colorado businesses with five or fewer employees may apply. Businesses need to create or maintain at least one job for every $20,000 awarded.
Department or Agency: b:side fund
Loan or Grant: Small Business Loans
B:side fund’s loan program provides Colorado small businesses with loans between $20,000 and $5.5 million for working capital, business acquisition, renovations, debt refinancing, equipment purchases, and more. Businesses from all industries are eligible to apply.
Department or Agency: CEDS Financing
Loan or Grant: Interest-Based Small Business Loans
Start-ups and businesses in the Denver metro area are eligible to apply for the Interest-Based Small Business Loan program, which requires over $5,000 in owners’ equity. Loan amounts are made up to $100,000.
Department or Agency: CEDS Financing
Loan or Grant: Small Business Murabahah – Islamic Compliant Debt
This Small Business Murabahah program follows an Islamic financing structure in which the borrower pays a fee (instead of interest), along with the principal. Loans up to $100,000 are available for businesses and start-ups in Colorado.
Department or Agency: Lendistry
Loan or Grant: Colorado Startup Loan Fund
The Colorado Startup Loan Fund makes funds accessible for underserved businesses in the state of Colorado. The purpose of this program is to help start-ups and businesses grow with working capital loans between $25,000 and $150,000. Eligible businesses have fewer than 25 employees and up to $2 million in annual gross revenue, among other qualifications.
Department or Agency: Town of Monument, Colorado
Loan or Grant: Monument Capital Project Grant
Monument, Colorado, is providing reimbursements up to 50% (or $2,500) for businesses to upgrade their public-facing appearance. Funds can be used toward upgrades to building facades, storefront entrances, gutters, outside lighting, fencing, landscaping, bike racks, and more. Commercial businesses within the town limits of Monument may be eligible to apply.
Department or Agency: Town of Monument, Colorado
Loan or Grant: Small Business Scholarship Program
Monument, Colorado, is providing reimbursements of up to 50% (or $300) to licensed home-based businesses for business training expenses. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 25 employees and operate within the town of Monument, Colorado.
Department or Agency: Town of Silverthorne, Colorado
Loan or Grant: Business Grant Program
The Town of Silverthorne’s grant program awards up to $10,000 for site enhancements that will help improve the town’s image. Lighting, landscaping, parking lots, signage and more are included in potential funded upgrades. Buildings are eligible if they are in commercially-zoned areas and proposed projects must meet all town building codes.
Department or Agency: City of Englewood
Loan or Grant: Business Initiation Grant
The City of Englewood’s Business Initiation Grant was created to support the growth of new businesses. Local businesses may be eligible to receive up to $2,500 if they have been in business for at least 12 months and have participated in a pre-approved business planning workshop.
Department or Agency: City of Englewood
Loan or Grant: Business Acceleration Grant
The City of Englewood’s businesses may be eligible for a Business Acceleration Grant of up to $10,000 if they have a commercial location and at least two years left on their lease. Funds can be put toward business expansion, improving operations, and business retention expenses.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Colorado Credit Reserve
The Colorado Credit Reserve supports businesses that have historically struggled to get bank loans, including minority and women-owned businesses. Qualified businesses can get up to $500,000 per loan to put toward working capital, inventory, equipment, contract financing, and real estate projects.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Colorado Startup Loan Fund
This fund supports mission-driven lenders in giving microloans between $10,000 to $150,000 to businesses that struggle to get larger loans from traditional financial institutions. To qualify, businesses need to be located in Colorado, have 25 or fewer full-time employees, and no more than $2 million in gross annual revenues the preceding fiscal year.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Innovative Housing Incentive Program
Under this program, Colorado housing manufacturing businesses can get grants and loans to invest in developing more affordable housing. Businesses can either apply for a grant to reimburse up to 20% of their operating expenses on a monthly basis (up to $350,000), or compete for a factory development loan to expand an existing factory or construct a new one.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Community Development Block Grant Planning and Feasibility Studies Grant
This grant supports qualified Colorado businesses that take on certain development projects that end up creating or retaining permanent, high-quality jobs. Businesses need to create or retain at least one full-time equivalent job per $20,000 funded, and hire low to moderate-income individuals in at least 51% of the jobs it creates or retains.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Advanced Industries Collaborative Infrastructure Grant
This grant funds collaborative projects that will have industry-wide impacts across one or more of Colorado’s advanced industries (advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and electronics, to name a few). Colorado businesses that develop infrastructure to support an advanced industry can qualify for up to $500,000 in grant money.
Applications are open every year from February to April.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Advanced Industries Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grant
This grant gives Colorado-based technology businesses in advanced industries up to $250,000 to develop and commercialize an advanced technology that will be created or manufactured in the state. To qualify, your business needs to have received fewer than $20 million in grants and funding since its launch and have annual revenues under $10 million.
Applications are open every year from January to March and July to September.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Advanced Industries Export Grant
Another advanced industry program, the export grant helps Colorado-based technology businesses in advanced industries that want to export or are currently exporting. The grant—which is designed for small and medium-size businesses—reimburses qualified businesses for up to $15,000 or 50% of international business development and marketing expenses.
The next application period opens July 1, 2024.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Advanced Industries Proof of Concept Grant
This grant gives Colorado research institutions up to $150,000 to speed up their applied research in advanced industries and commercialize products and services. Qualified projects need to create a disruptive technology that directly impacts at least one advanced industry in Colorado and accelerates product or service commercialization.
Application periods are January to March and July to September.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Cash Collateral Support
This credit enhancement program helps small and medium-size Colorado businesses get funding they wouldn’t otherwise be able to get because of collateral limitations. Lenders can apply for up to 25% of the loan amount of $500,000 (whichever is less) in collateral to support businesses trying to get loans. To qualify, businesses need to have fewer than 750 employees at the time of the financing.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Colorado Revolving Loan Fund
This fund supports startups and small and medium businesses that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All registered businesses are eligible to apply for loans between $5,000 and $750,000. However, the program prioritizes historically underserved businesses, including women-owned operations, minority and veteran-owned businesses, and businesses in low income and rural communities.
Department or Agency: The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
Loan or Grant title: Film Festival Support and Promotion Grant
Through the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM), this grant helps support Colorado-based film festivals of all kinds. The grant amounts vary depending on available funding, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Department or Agency: Colorado Enterprise Fund
Loan or Grant title: Small Business Loans
The Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) aims to make small business funding more accessible by giving fixed-rate, low-interest loans from $10,000 to $1 million to business owners looking to start or grow their operations. CEF usually accepts business loan applicants who have lower credit scores, tighter cash flow, and limited collateral. Qualified businesses can put their loan money toward working capital, equipment, real estate purchases, inventory, or property improvements.
Department or Agency: Venture Capital Authority
Loan or Grant title: Venture Capital Authority
The Venture Capital Authority (VCA) partners with five different funds in Colorado that are committed to investing in seed or early-stage startups within the state. These funds typically invest between $50,000 and $3.25 million in promising Colorado-based startups.
If you’re a startup interested in funding, contact one of the five funds listed here to learn more.
See more Colorado funding programs.
