The 2025 Healthy Soils Initiative Grant Program, offered by Boulder County’s Parks and Open Space Agricultural Division and the Office of Sustainability, Climate Action, and Resilience, aims to improve soil health and promote sustainable agriculture practices. With a total funding pool of $1,000,000, the program supports agricultural producers farming on privately owned or leased Boulder County property. It encourages projects that contribute to a more climate-resilient and localized food system while enhancing economic equity and agricultural productivity.

Applicants can request funding between $40,000 and $100,000 to implement projects aligned with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil health principles. These principles include increasing soil surface cover, plant diversity, and livestock integration, minimizing soil disturbance, and maintaining living roots in the ground. Eligible projects must be located in Boulder County and demonstrate clear goals, feasibility, scalability, innovation, and benefits to historically underserved producers. Additional points are awarded for enrollment in Farm Service Agency conservation programs and partnerships with Zero Foodprint for supplementary funding.

Funds cannot be used for debt repayment, overhead exceeding 15%, legal fees, startup businesses, or existing program labor, among other restrictions. Projects must begin within three months of agreement execution, with all funds used within a 12-month period. Applicants must submit their proposals via the online Wufoo platform by January 8, 2025, at 11:59 PM MST.

Awardees must comply with reporting requirements and acknowledge Boulder County’s funding in all promotional materials. For assistance, applicants can contact Senior Sustainability Strategist Tim Broderick (tbroderick@bouldercounty.gov) or Nature-Based Solutions Fellow Sierra Wheeler (swheeler@bouldercounty.gov). Detailed information and application resources are available on the Boulder County website.