Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program

The Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program is a funding opportunity established by the Environmental Protection Agency and administered in Colorado by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Officially titled the Colorado Assistance for Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program, this initiative provides financial support to public water systems in smaller or underserved communities to help them mitigate public health risks associated with emerging contaminants. These include substances such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), manganese, and other emerging contaminants that may be present in drinking water supplies. The program is designed to provide both planning and infrastructure grants. Tier 1 Planning and Design Grants offer funding of up to $300,000 for projects involving planning, design, and pilot testing, with a project duration of up to 24 months. Tier 2 Infrastructure Grants support larger-scale projects focused on designing and constructing treatment facilities, building consolidation infrastructure, establishing new potable water sources, or undertaking other necessary infrastructure work to address emerging contaminants. Tier 2 projects may receive funding of up to $30 million, with a cap of $10 million per year, subject to the availability of funds. To be eligible, applicants must be non-transient, non-community or community public water systems that are regulated and meet disadvantaged community definitions as outlined in the Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1452(d)(3), the Colorado base Drinking Water Revolving Fund disadvantaged community definitions, or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Drinking Water Revolving Fund principal forgiveness eligibility criteria. Additionally, applicants must have completed assessment sampling to confirm the presence and extent of emerging contaminants prior to applying. Funding through this grant does not cover assessment monitoring and sampling; such activities are supported under a separate PFAS Grant Program. Applications must be submitted during the official Request for Applications (RFA) period. The current RFA (Number 42483B) opened on January 24, 2025, and will close on March 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. MDT. The program is actively accepting applications at this time. The Department anticipates opening future RFA periods twice annually in January and June through at least 2028, contingent on available federal allocations or until all funds are exhausted. Separate RFA announcements will be made for each period and distributed via the Department’s listserv. Prospective applicants are required to complete several forms and submit a comprehensive application package. Required components include a DWRF prequalification form, a project narrative, a budget work plan tailored to the tier being pursued, and a summary of alternatives for Tier 2 projects. Interested applicants can submit inquiries regarding the eligibility of specific contaminants using the provided RFA inquiry form, with a cutoff date for inquiries set for February 7, 2025. For further information or assistance, applicants may contact the program administrators via email at [email protected]. The Department also publishes responses to inquiries received prior to the inquiry deadline on the program webpage.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals as early as possible to ensure consideration.