Colorado Small Business Grants 2026: What's Open Now

Colorado small business grants open or recurring in 2026

Colorado had five grants open to ordinary for-profit businesses when Grantsights checked each program's own page on October 17, 2026, and the state's two big Advanced Industries grants reopen January 4, 2027. Every one of them is a reimbursement or a match, so you spend first and claim later.

Where no grant fits, these are the loans and free help Colorado owners lean on:

Left out: the Advanced Industries Proof of Concept grant, because a research institution applies rather than a business (it also reopens January 4, 2027), OEDIT's Cannabis Business Grant (closed since October 2024), and the Boulder and El Paso County relief grants Colorado Enterprise Fund helped administer, which have all closed.

Whether you're a tech startup in Boulder, an outdoor recreation company in Durango, a cannabis business in Denver, a rancher on the Eastern Plains, or a clean energy company in Fort Collins, this guide covers Colorado small business grants you can actually apply for in 2026. Small business owners, entrepreneurs, rural business operators, and economic development professionals will find specific programs, dollar amounts, and application paths here.

Colorado's grant environment stands out for two reasons: the Advanced Industries program provides direct state grants for qualifying technology and research projects, and the Rural Jump-Start program pairs tax relief with small matching grants for new rural employers. If you're an R&D company in Colorado, the first question is whether your project fits one of OEDIT's seven advanced industries.

The state's economic geography matters for grants. The Front Range (Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs) captures most venture capital and tech grants. The Western Slope and Eastern Plains qualify for rural programs that Front Range businesses can't access. And the outdoor recreation and cannabis industries have Colorado-specific funding opportunities that don't exist in other states.

Last updated: 2026-11-04

Our analysis of Colorado small business grant searches shows 3 different funding paths: OEDIT innovation grants for advanced industries, rural incentives for export-oriented companies outside the Front Range, and federal SBIR, USDA, or SBA routes. For example, a bioscience project still inside a Boulder university lab may fit Advanced Industries Proof of Concept (the university applies), while a startup that has licensed the technology would look at Early Stage Capital and Retention, while a local-only restaurant in a Rural Jump-Start zone is a bad fit because the program expects export activity. Compare active options in Grantsights grant database, SBIR grants, and USDA rural business grants before writing.

What official Colorado small business pages don't tell you is when a grant is worth the application time versus when it will only slow a financing plan. Compare OEDIT Advanced Industries grants, Colorado STEP export support, SBDC referrals, USDA rural programs, and SBIR/STTR routes first, because the next action changes by business type. Apply when the company has a commercial product, a public-purpose project, and evidence for the stated market. Skip when the request is rent, payroll, inventory, or general working capital. The better route may be SBDC advising, a local incentive, an export reimbursement, or a federal SBIR/STTR award.

For example, our review found that an advanced manufacturing company with two years of domestic sales and a first foreign distributor lead should compare Colorado STEP and the Advanced Industries Export Grant before seeking a general small-business grant. A food truck, salon, or retail shop with no export, research, rural, or public-purpose angle is a bad fit for these grants and should use local financing routes first.

Next route: Compare Colorado options with the small-business grant route, Colorado grant records, and eligibility checker. Use this guide for state fit and the route pages for active program choice.

May 2026 Grantsights Decision Memo: Colorado Small Business Grant Fit

The phrase "Colorado small business grants" hides several different buyer intents. Our May 2026 source review found that the strongest route depends on whether the business is a technology company, export-ready company, rural new employer, local Main Street business, or federal R&D applicant.

According to OEDIT, Advanced Industries Accelerator funding is limited to seven sectors: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, bioscience, electronics, energy and natural resources, infrastructure engineering, and technology and information. According to OEDIT's Rural Jump-Start page, the program is built around new businesses in eligible rural zones, local sponsorship, and job creation. According to Aurora's small business services page, local support is more about advising and business services than a permanent citywide cash-grant pool.

Grantsights' apply/skip rule: apply when the project has a public-purpose reason the state can defend, such as technical risk, export growth, rural job creation, energy savings, or workforce benefit. Skip when the request is simply "my business needs money." The better path is often SBDC triage before any grant narrative is written.

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June 18, 2026 Source Check: Arapahoe, Aurora, OEDIT, and Rural Fit

The June 18 source check separates Colorado statewide grants from local business support. OEDIT's Advanced Industries page says the program is limited to seven sectors: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, bioscience, electronics, energy and natural resources, infrastructure engineering, and technology and information. OEDIT's Advanced Industries announcement said the program supported 36 recipients in its latest public cohort. The summer 2026 Proof of Concept and Early Stage Capital and Retention cycle closed August 27, 2026. OEDIT's Proof of Concept page (opens in a new tab) lists two application periods a year and says the next one opens January 4, 2027. OEDIT's Rural Jump-Start page says tax benefits are available through December 31, 2030, and grant benefits through June 30, 2028. Current Rural Jump-Start grant benefits are up to $15,000 in a Rural Jump-Start zone and up to $25,000 in a Tier 1 Just Transition community.

The answer is narrower than many searchers expect. Arapahoe County's South Metro Enterprise Zone page says more areas were added starting January 1, 2026, including parts of Four Square Mile and eastern Arapahoe County. Aurora's Small Business Development Center serves Aurora plus Arapahoe, Douglas, and south Jefferson counties, but that is advising and support, not a permanent countywide cash-grant pool.

What To Do Before Writing A Colorado Grant Narrative

Send research, advanced manufacturing, bioscience, aerospace, energy, and technology companies to OEDIT and SBIR grants. Send rural employers to USDA rural business grants, Colorado grants, and the grant database before they assume every state program is a cash grant.

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Colorado Small Business Grants: State-Funded Programs

OEDIT: Colorado's Economic Development Engine

The Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) is Colorado's main economic development agency. Unlike many states where the agency primarily recruits large employers, OEDIT has strong programs targeting small businesses and startups.

According to the OEDIT Advanced Industries program, eligible businesses must support one of seven Colorado advanced industries: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, bioscience, electronics, energy and natural resources, infrastructure engineering, or technology and information, based on the Advanced Industries Accelerator program page (opens in a new tab).

Advanced Industries Accelerator Grants

This is Colorado's standout program. The Advanced Industries (AI) program targets seven sectors: aerospace, advanced manufacturing, bioscience, electronics, energy and natural resources, infrastructure engineering, and technology/information. If your company is in one of these sectors, you have access to direct state grants that most states don't offer.

Proof of Concept Grants (up to $150,000): For early-stage technology development at research institutions. The project must originate from an approved Colorado research institution or federal lab, and the institution is the applicant. According to the OEDIT Proof of Concept program, eligible projects can receive up to $150,000 and must provide a 1-to-3 institution-to-state cash match, meaning a $150,000 request requires at least $50,000 from other sources, based on the Proof of Concept grant page (opens in a new tab). The money funds prototyping, testing, and initial market validation. Applications are reviewed by peer panels with industry expertise. OEDIT doesn't publish a standing success rate, so treat each cycle as competitive.

Early Stage Capital and Retention Grants (up to $250,000): For companies that have validated their technology and are moving toward commercialization. According to the Early Stage Capital and Retention grant page (opens in a new tab), it requires a 2-to-1 company-to-state cash match, so a $250,000 request needs $500,000 of company cash. These grants fund product development, market entry, and scaling activities.

Collaborative Infrastructure Grants: These fund projects that support the broader Advanced Industries ecosystem, like shared facilities, industry clusters, and workforce initiatives. They go to collaborative projects, not single-company R&D. OEDIT lists the next round as opening February 1, 2027.

OEDIT's 2026 pages confirm the program remains active. The summer 2026 Proof of Concept and Early Stage Capital and Retention cycle closed August 27, 2026, and both pages say the next application opens January 4, 2027. Early Stage Capital and Retention applicants must have annual revenue under $10 million and less than $20 million raised from grants and investors since founding. OEDIT can issue a conditional award to a company that hasn't raised its match yet, but the match must be in hand within six months or the award is forfeited. The program consistently receives more applications than it can fund, so strong proposals with clear commercial potential and solid matching funds are essential.

SBIR/STTR Matching: Not a Current Colorado Program

Some older guides describe a Colorado SBIR/STTR matching grant. OEDIT's Advanced Industries programs page (opens in a new tab) lists four grants (Proof of Concept, Early Stage Capital and Retention, Collaborative Infrastructure, and Export) plus a consultant network, with no SBIR/STTR match. A 2024 bill, SB24-140 (opens in a new tab), would have created one with Phase I matches up to $100,000 and Phase II matches up to $250,000, but the legislature postponed it indefinitely on February 22, 2024.

That doesn't make SBIR less useful in Colorado. A company that wins a federal Phase I award can still compare the Early Stage Capital and Retention grant if it fits the seven sectors and OEDIT's company limits. Just don't build a budget that assumes a state top-up after the federal award.

Rural Jump-Start Program

Rural Jump-Start targets Colorado's economically distressed rural communities. Designated zones cover most counties outside the Front Range, particularly the Eastern Plains and Western Slope.

Benefits:

• State income tax exemption for the business (up to 8 years)
• Personal income tax exemption for new employees (up to 8 years)
• Sales and use tax exemptions in some participating zones

Requirements:

• Must be a new business in Colorado (not relocating from another Colorado location)
• Located in a designated Rural Jump-Start zone
• Creates new net jobs
• Must be sponsored by a local government, institution of higher education, or economic development organization

The tax relief is broad: OEDIT's page lists 100% relief of state income tax for the new business and for its qualified new hires, and participating counties must waive business personal property tax for up to eight years. The catch is hiring. A business must plan for three to five qualified new hires by its third full year, and OEDIT holds back the last $5,000 of the matching grant until a new hire job has lasted a year.

Contact your local economic development office or the Colorado Rural Jump-Start page (opens in a new tab) to check zone eligibility.

According to the OEDIT Rural Jump-Start program, tax benefits are available through December 31, 2030 and grant benefits through June 30, 2028, based on the Rural Jump-Start program page (opens in a new tab). The program is strongest for export-oriented rural companies, not local-only retail or restaurant concepts.

Arapahoe County and Aurora Small Business Grants

Search interest for "Arapahoe County small business grants 2026" is real, but the active options are narrow. Arapahoe County itself is more visible for community, culture, housing, and human-services funding than broad for-profit startup grants. For businesses in Aurora or south metro Arapahoe County, the better first stops are:

According to the Arapahoe County Enterprise Zone program, some areas added in 2026 can qualify for state income-tax credits tied to commercial rehabilitation and other zone activity, based on the South Metro Enterprise Zone page (opens in a new tab). The downside is that many Arapahoe searches lead to local-service support rather than a standing countywide cash grant. If you are in Aurora, start with the city's small business services page (opens in a new tab) and the Grantsights grant database before assuming a countywide cash grant exists.

Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC)

Outdoor recreation is a major part of Colorado's economy. OEDIT's OREC provides:

• Outdoor Recreation Industry grants: Funding for projects that strengthen Colorado's outdoor recreation economy
• Industry networking and market intelligence
• International trade support for outdoor companies
• Public lands and access initiatives

If your small business is in outdoor recreation (gear, tourism, guiding, technology for outdoor activities), OREC is a resource most business owners don't know about. The office also partners with the Outdoor Industry Association, headquartered in Boulder.

Cannabis Business Support

Colorado's cannabis industry has unique challenges because federal illegality blocks access to SBA loans and federal grants. The state has responded with:

• Cannabis Business Office (OEDIT): Technical assistance and resource referrals
• Cannabis Business Grant: Closed. According to OEDIT's Cannabis Business Grant page (opens in a new tab), the last application period ran October 1 to 31, 2024, and it was limited to businesses owned by social equity licensees
• Denver Social Equity Program: Grants and fee reductions for equity licensees
• Boulder Cannabis Equity Program: Similar equity-focused support
• Local government programs: Several municipalities offer business improvement grants that cannabis businesses can access

The cannabis funding picture is evolving. Pay attention to federal policy changes that could open SBA and banking access.

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Federal Small Business Grants Available in Colorado

SBIR and STTR Programs

Colorado companies rank in the top 10 states for SBIR/STTR awards, driven by concentrations in aerospace (Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, United Launch Alliance), bioscience (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), and clean energy (the National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden, formerly NREL).

The DOE lab in Golden, renamed the National Laboratory of the Rockies (opens in a new tab) on December 1, 2025 (formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, or NREL), creates a unique pipeline for DOE SBIR topics. Companies working in solar, wind, energy storage, hydrogen, and grid technology have a natural connection to the lab's research priorities. The lab has also operated the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center to help small companies commercialize clean energy technologies.

Colorado's aerospace cluster around Colorado Springs (NORAD, Space Force, Schriever Space Force Base) and the Denver metro area drives strong DoD and Space Force SBIR participation.

Applications go through SBIR.gov (opens in a new tab). For a complete guide, see our SBIR grants complete guide.

SBA Programs and Colorado SBDCs

The SBA Colorado District Office in Denver serves the state with:

• SBA Microloans: Up to $50,000 through intermediary lenders
• SBA Community Advantage: For businesses in underserved communities
• SBA 8(a) Program: Business development for disadvantaged businesses
• SBA HUBZone: Contracting preferences for businesses in qualified zones

Colorado's SBDC network, operated through colleges, universities, and local partners across the state, provides no-cost advising. Ask your center for SBIR proposal help or rural program help before you start an application; services vary by center.

For more on SBA programs, see our SBA grants guide.

USDA Rural Development Programs

Rural Colorado businesses, particularly on the Eastern Plains and Western Slope, qualify for USDA programs:

Colorado's agricultural economy, particularly cattle ranching, wheat, and specialty crops, makes VAPG relevant for producers adding value through processing, packaging, or direct marketing. REAP grants are popular for solar installations on farms and ranches given Colorado's 300+ days of sunshine. One caution for Colorado small businesses: REAP grant applications are on hold at USDA right now, and only the guaranteed loan side is open, so check the REAP page (opens in a new tab) first.

Contact the USDA Colorado State Office (opens in a new tab) in Lakewood for current availability.

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Which federal grants actually reached Colorado small businesses (FY2025)

Colorado small businesses took in $83.9 million in federal grants in FY2025, across 317 grant awards to 168 recipients. Those totals come from a Grantsights analysis of USAspending.gov (opens in a new tab) FY2025 grant awards to small-business recipients in Colorado, pulled from the public USAspending.gov award search API (opens in a new tab) on October 17, 2026, for grant award types obligated between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025.

Nearly every dollar is research money. According to USAspending award data, HHS research programs (almost all NIH institutes) sent $25.8 million, about 31% of the total, DOE sent $17.6 million, NSF $16.8 million, and NASA $8.7 million. Two single awards, to Pioneer Energy and Bioverde Tech, made up a third of the state's total. For a Boulder biotech or an Aurora aerospace startup, that's a real target. For a Main Street business, it's proof that the federal grants landing in Colorado aren't open-to-anyone money; they're competitive awards tied to a federal research topic.

Treat the figures with care. Recipient type is self-reported in SAM.gov (opens in a new tab), and the list includes names such as BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems and the Space Science Institute, which shows how loose that label can be. The amounts are obligations, not payments, and a few listings net negative from deobligations. DoD SBIR awards mostly arrive as contracts, so this grant-only pull leaves them out.

Clean Energy Business Grants in Colorado

Colorado's clean energy sector deserves its own section because the state's commitment runs deep. The Colorado Energy Office and multiple programs create funding opportunities that don't exist in most states.

Colorado Energy Office Programs

• Colorado Clean Energy Fund (C-PACE): Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy financing for energy improvements
• Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF): Grants for communities impacted by energy development, which can benefit energy businesses
• EV and clean transportation grants: Charge Ahead Colorado funds workplace and public EV charging, with a year-round lane for requests of $50,000 or less and a 20% match (10% for certified small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses)

MassCEC Equivalent: Colorado Clean Energy Fund

The Colorado Clean Energy Fund provides financing and technical assistance for clean energy businesses. While primarily a financing entity (not a grant program), it connects companies to state and federal incentives.

Federal Clean Energy Grants in Colorado

Colorado's proximity to the National Laboratory of the Rockies makes the state a natural fit for DOE programs:

• DOE SBIR/STTR: Strong pipeline through the Golden lab's connections
• DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Competitive grants for clean energy technology
• USDA REAP: For rural renewable energy and energy efficiency

For more on clean energy business grants, see our grants for clean energy businesses guide.

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Local and City-Level Small Business Grants in Colorado

Denver Metro

• Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO): Small business grants, facade improvement, and neighborhood business support
• Denver Social Equity Program: Cannabis and broader social equity business grants
• Boomtown Accelerator: Technology startup acceleration
• Colorado Enterprise Fund: Denver-based CDFI making loans up to $1 million statewide, including SBA 7(a) loans and microloans
• BIO Fund: Grants of $7,500 or $15,000 for East Colfax businesses hurt by bus rapid transit construction; applications close November 10, 2026

Boulder

• City of Boulder Business Incentives: Small business grants and fee reductions
• Boulder SBDC: Strong connection to CU Boulder research and startup ecosystem
• Techstars Boulder: Premier accelerator program (investment, not grants, but worth mentioning)

Colorado Springs

• Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance: Business incentive coordination
• Exponential Impact: Military-connected startup acceleration
• Pikes Peak SBDC: Serving southern Colorado businesses

Western Slope (Grand Junction, Durango, Montrose)

• Region 10 LEAP: Economic development for the Western Slope
• Durango SBDC: Specializing in outdoor recreation and tourism businesses
• Grand Junction Economic Partnership: Business incentives and workforce development

Eastern Plains

• Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development (SECED): Rural business support
• Colorado Rural Jump-Start zones: Most Eastern Plains counties qualify
• USDA programs: Strong RBDG and VAPG participation

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Why Colorado Advanced Industries Grants Are Harder to Win Outside the Front Range Than the Website Suggests

The geographic concentration of Colorado's Advanced Industries awards is something OEDIT doesn't discuss prominently in its marketing materials. In November 2024, OEDIT approved a round totaling $5,438,734 in Advanced Industries funding. A May 2025 round approved about $7.3 million. The aggregate pattern is consistent: companies in Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs win the substantial majority of awards. That isn't a policy decision, it's an ecosystem reality. Peer reviewers come from the Front Range venture and research community. Winning companies typically have existing relationships with Colorado research institutions and have participated in accelerator programs that are themselves concentrated along the I-25 corridor.

For companies on the Western Slope or Eastern Plains, the Rural Jump-Start program is the more realistic grant target and it is often missed in broad Colorado funding guides. Rural Jump-Start zones now cover dozens of Colorado counties including Mesa, Montrose, Delta, Pueblo, Las Animas, and Fremont. OEDIT's current page says matching grants can reach up to $15,000 for businesses in standard Rural Jump-Start zones and up to $25,000 in Tier 1 Just Transition communities, which are former coal-dependent areas such as Pueblo County and parts of northwest Colorado.

What the program descriptions don't always clarify is the "export" requirement. To qualify for Rural Jump-Start, your business must export goods, services, or tourism outside the county where you're located. A local restaurant or retail operation doesn't qualify. An e-commerce company selling nationwide, a manufacturer shipping product out of state, or a tourism outfitter drawing visitors from other regions does qualify. This disqualifies a lot of businesses that would otherwise benefit from the geographic incentive. Before spending time on a Rural Jump-Start application, confirm with the sponsoring economic development organization in your county that your business model meets the export standard.

A common point of confusion is that Rural Jump-Start grants work as reimbursements, not advances. You pay expenses first, then submit for reimbursement. OEDIT's page says operating expenses are matched on a 3:1 or 25% basis: a business that spends $20,000 gets $5,000 back. Reaching the $15,000 cap takes $60,000 of qualifying spending, and the $25,000 Tier 1 cap takes $100,000. For a startup with limited working capital, that structure can be a real cash flow problem even when the grant is approved. A local SBDC can help sequence expenses across quarters to make the match workable.

The Advanced Industries Proof of Concept grant, capped at $150,000, isn't a company grant. It goes to projects that originate at an approved Colorado research institution or federal lab, with the institution applying. Choose between the two programs deliberately. If your technology is pre-prototype and still primarily inside a university lab, work with the institution's tech transfer office on Proof of Concept. If your company has licensed or built the technology and is moving toward customers, Early-Stage Capital and Retention is the company route, but its 2-to-1 cash match means you need real capital on hand.

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What OEDIT's Website Doesn't Tell You About Colorado Small Business Grants

OEDIT promotes Colorado as an innovation economy with strong business support. Here's what the website doesn't emphasize.

First, the Advanced Industries program is concentrated in the Front Range. While technically available statewide, the vast majority of awards go to companies in Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs. If you're on the Western Slope or Eastern Plains, the program works for you in theory, but the peer review panels, networking events, and ecosystem support are all centered on the Front Range. Rural companies should supplement Advanced Industries applications with USDA programs and Rural Jump-Start.

Second, the Advanced Industries calendar is fixed. Proof of Concept and Early Stage Capital and Retention open only twice a year (January to February and July to August), and OEDIT's review takes about 10 to 12 weeks. If you miss a window, you wait roughly six months. Colorado also has no state SBIR/STTR match, so don't plan R&D spending around one.

Third, the outdoor recreation industry office (OREC) is more of a networking and advocacy organization than a grant program. It provides real value through market intelligence, trade missions, and industry connections, but direct grant funding through OREC is limited. Most outdoor recreation companies get more value from general OEDIT programs and SBA resources.

Finally, Colorado's cost of living, particularly along the Front Range, eats into grant value. A $150,000 Proof of Concept grant buys less in Boulder than the same award buys in Ohio or Arizona. Factor Colorado's labor costs and real estate into your grant budgets.

The Front Range concentration in OEDIT's Advanced Industries program is more pronounced than the program website implies. Reviewers with deep Front Range networks may rate Western Slope applicants lower on "market validation" when they don't know the applicant's supply chain partners and market. Warning: if you're outside Denver-Boulder, supplement your AI application by explicitly naming Front Range partners, advisors, or investors who can vouch for your market position.

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Best Fit and Bad Fit Checklist for Colorado Small Business Grants

For statewide screening, start with the Grantsights grant database, then compare Colorado grants, export grants for small business, and clean energy business grants.

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How to Apply: Step-by-Step for Colorado Small Business Grants

For Advanced Industries Grants

1. Confirm your company is in one of the seven target industries
2. Visit oedit.colorado.gov/advanced-industries (opens in a new tab)
3. Choose Proof of Concept (research institutions) or Early Stage Capital and Retention (companies)
4. Prepare: technology description, commercialization plan, budget, matching fund documentation
5. Submit during an open application window (the next opens January 4, 2027)
6. Review takes about 10 to 12 weeks

For Rural Jump-Start

1. Check zone eligibility on the OEDIT website
2. Connect with your local economic development organization for sponsorship
3. Submit application through OEDIT with local sponsor endorsement
4. Demonstrate new business creation and job commitments
5. Approval process takes 30-60 days

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Colorado Small Business Grant Funding by Sector

Related Guides

• Colorado Healthcare Grants
• Colorado Education Grants

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Sources

• Colorado OEDIT (opens in a new tab)
• Colorado Advanced Industries (opens in a new tab)
• Colorado Rural Jump-Start (opens in a new tab)
• Arapahoe County South Metro Enterprise Zone (opens in a new tab)
• Aurora Small Business Development Center (opens in a new tab)
• SBIR.gov (opens in a new tab)
• SBA Colorado District Office (opens in a new tab)
• USDA Rural Development Colorado (opens in a new tab)
• DOE: NREL renamed National Laboratory of the Rockies (opens in a new tab)
• Colorado SB24-140 (SBIR matching bill, postponed indefinitely) (opens in a new tab)
• Colorado Energy Office (opens in a new tab)

For more on Colorado grants across all categories, see our Colorado grants guide. For SBA programs, see our SBA grants guide. For clean energy opportunities, see our grants for clean energy businesses guide.