By investing $2.15M of federal pandemic recovery dollars into Denver’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) hopes to encourage people to eat and shop locally, support neighborhood businesses, and help boost ongoing grassroots revitalization. The city’s latest grant program is now accepting applications from businesses, nonprofits, and community groups to award between $20,000 and $200,000 for qualified activities.

“While Denver’s economic recovery is encouraging overall, too many small businesses continue to face challenges bouncing back after more than two years of loss and uncertainty,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “Disparities of opportunity continue to hamper the vibrancy of our priority neighborhoods, so we’re excited to extend this call for applicants for both businesses and nonprofits to propose a wide range of business-building activation and beautification ideas to help boost the local economy.”

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City Awards $1M to Neighborhood Programs

Federal funding for nonprofits and community collaborations serving Denver’s most underserved neighborhoods, households

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) has awarded seven local community development programs $150,000 each to deliver grassroots support to underserved neighborhoods and disadvantaged small businesses in 2022. The awards have been made through the city’s annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

New in 2022, DEDO requested proposals with a program budget of at least $150,000 and programs serving residents in one or more of the agency’s priority neighborhoods (Globeville, Elyria/Swansea, Northeast Park Hill, Montbello, East Colfax, Westwood, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, and West Colfax). Applicants were highly encouraged to present a collaboration based on partnerships with other organizations, and all seven awardees included such collaborations—involving 24 local organizations in total.

“Awarding federal dollars to local organizations brings a profound pleasure in knowing that the city’s thoughtful stewardship results in tangible and positive differences for people,” DEDO Executive Director Jen Morris said. “These grants strongly embody our values of economic equity and inclusion, and as diverse as these seven projects are, they all exist to lift up Denver residents and improve the quality of their lives.”

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