Great Outdoors Colorado's Planning and Capacity Program aims to address the complex natural resource and outdoor recreation needs of Colorado's communities through thoughtful and comprehensive planning efforts. For the fiscal year 2025, GOCO plans to allocate a total of $18.9 million, which includes $10.3 million in local government funds and $8.6 million in open space funds. The program focuses on various areas, including planning, capacity building, research, career pathways for underrepresented individuals, and educational projects that explore outdoor opportunities and issues.

The primary purpose of the Planning and Capacity Grants is to support projects that develop local, regional, or statewide plans, enhance organizational capacity to address natural or recreational resource needs, and conduct research on conservation or recreation issues affecting Coloradans. Additionally, the program seeks to provide educational opportunities that promote community engagement and foster partnerships and collaboratives. Eligible projects may include master plans, strategic plans, and comprehensive plans, as well as initiatives aimed at community education and engagement.

Funding from this grant can be used for a variety of costs associated with project planning, coordination, implementation, and communication. This includes staff expenses for the applicant and contracted service providers, strategic planning and consulting services, staff and board development, training, workshops, and costs related to surveys, engineering, design, and GIS/mapping. The program does not require a matching contribution from applicants.

Eligible applicants for the Planning and Capacity Grants include municipalities and counties in Colorado, Title 32 special districts that can receive distributions from the Conservation Trust Fund, political subdivisions of the state focused on open space and natural area management, 501(c)(3) nonprofit land conservation organizations, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This broad eligibility aims to encourage diverse participation from various organizations involved in natural resource management and outdoor recreation.

Submission requirements and specific application questions are not detailed in the provided information. However, interested applicants are encouraged to visit the GOCO website for more information and guidance on the application process. The evaluation criteria for grant applications will likely focus on the project's alignment with GOCO's objectives, the potential impact on the community, and the feasibility of the proposed plans.

The deadline for submitting applications for the 2025 Planning and Capacity Grants is October 24, 2024. It is important for potential applicants to be aware of this timeline and prepare their proposals accordingly. Additional important dates related to the grant cycle may be available on the GOCO website, where applicants can also find further details about the program and its requirements.