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Available Grants & Due Dates

Senate Bill 03-103 created a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board cash fund for the purpose of providing funding for continuing education training of Colorado peace officers, particularly small and rural agencies through grants awarded by the POST Board. The Grant program is funded by a $1 fee assessed on motor vehicle registrations. Approximately $3 million dollars is awarded through this program annually. Funds are subject to state legislative allocations. 

POST Grant Guidelines (July 1, 2023)

Available Grants

Regional & In-Service 

Regional

The Colorado POST Regional and In-Service Grant Programs are announcing the availability of funds for the training of peace officers, particularly small and rural agencies for FY24 (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). Funds are subject to state legislative allocation. The application period for both programs will be open March 1st, 2023 to March 31st, 2023. To be considered for funding, training region applicants and agency applicants must submit an application via the POST grant management database.  All applications must be submitted no later than March 31st, 2023.

The Regional Grant Program was implemented to supplement law enforcement agency training budgets. Ten (10) training regions have been established throughout the state that are responsible for applying for funds on behalf of the law enforcement agencies within their geographical location. Eligible applicants must be a local government, college, university, or not-for-profit entity for the purpose of funding peace officer training programs to law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The Regional grant program year begins July 1st and ends June 30th.

Along with the grant application, POST-designated Training Regions shall conduct and submit a needs assessment of the area or Region served that contains an executive summary, including key findings and priorities and a description of the need’s assessment process.

Agencies may contact their regional training grant coordinator if interested in receiving a training scholarship or hosting a training course. A list of training coordinator contacts may be found HERE.

Program delivery and grant administrative funds are also available. 

In-Service

The In-Service Grant Program was implemented to assist agency budgets due to In-Service training requirements. Eligible applicants are law enforcement agencies. The In-Service grant program year begin July 1st and ends March 31st.

Remember

  • Eligible use of funds includes: training, training equipment, training supplies, backfill and travel costs for both student and instructor.
  • Grants are not provided to individuals. Please see the current Colorado POST Grant Guidelines.
  • Entities which have received previous grant funding from POST have continual access to the database. For new grant applicants, click here to access the POST Grant System.
Capital Improvement

POST has set aside an estimated $250,000 for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to be awarded for the Capital Improvement Training Grant Program.

The Capital Improvement Training Grant Program is designed to improve law enforcement training facilities in Colorado. Eligible applicants are law enforcement agencies as well as the POST training regions. Projects benefiting region wide training initiatives will be prioritized.

The following must accompany the completed application:

Grant applicant must disclose the available financial and non-financial resources secured or projected to be secured for the capital project. Grant applicant must be able to provide a timeline from start to finish for project and at what stage the project is or will be at the time of the grant application. Grant applicant must provide budget details for the project including overall cost and assurance of project completion if grant is awarded.

The application will open March 1st and close on March 31st. In addition to a submitted application, applicants must make a five-minute presentation to the Grant Sub-Committee at a date to be determined in April 2023. Grant award decisions will be made by the POST Board in June 2023.
Public Safety Leadership Development

The need for leadership skills is stronger than ever. That's why the University of Denver and multiple local agencies have created a program that focuses on communication, interpersonal skills, and building trust. The Public Safety Leadership Development Program starts in July and POST will be providing grant funding, in the form of scholarships, to 25 employed peace officers who are interested in participating. 

Priority will be given to small/rural law enforcement agencies. To be considered, please fill out the Public Safety Leadership Development Grant Program Application. It must be submitted to POST by the certified peace officer’s agency at least 30 days in advance of the class. 

If an agency is awarded a scholarship, POST will notify the agency of the approval at which time the student may register, and the agency will need to pay for the training. POST will reimburse the agency after the student has completed the course. Agencies must submit the following to POST at time of reimbursement: 

Completed Public Safety Leadership Development Scholarship Reimbursement Form. Certificate of completion. Proof of payment. 

Rural & Small Agency Academy Scholarship

The POST Board has set aside an estimated $150,000 for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to be awarded for the Rural & Small Agency Academy Scholarship Program.

The Rural & Small Agency Academy Scholarship Program was developed by way of House Bill 20-1229 to provide scholarships to law enforcement agencies in rural and smaller jurisdictions with limited resources. Funding is provided to assist such agencies with the payment of tuition costs only for peace officer candidates to attend an approved basic law enforcement training academy.   

The application period runs from March 1st through March 31st of each year. Late applications will NOT be accepted. In addition to a submitted application, applicants must make a three-minute presentation to the Grant Sub-Committee at a date to be determined in April 2023. Grant award decisions will be made by the POST Board in June 2023.  

Eligible applicants MUST be a Colorado rural AND small law enforcement agency as further defined herein. 

“Rural” means an area defined or designated as rural by the Federal Office of Management and Budget.  Office of Management and Budget definition – All counties that are not part of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) are considered rural.

Colorado Map of the Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas  

“Small” means agencies that have 35 or less law enforcement officers employed at their agency.

The academy must begin and be completed within the same fiscal year the application is approved by POST.  E.g., if an agency is awarded funds in FY24, the scholarship recipient must begin and complete the academy within the same fiscal year.  Request for reimbursement for tuition costs must also be submitted within the same fiscal year, no later than June 30th, 2024. Only tuition costs are eligible for reimbursement. Additional academy fees, including but not limited to housing, book costs, athletic fees, etc. are not eligible for reimbursement.

Agencies must have the scholarship recipient sign an agreement (Exhibit B - provided by POST) which requires the individual attending the approved law enforcement training academy to agree to repay the POST Board if the individual does not meet House Bill 20-1229 requirements stated as follows:

  • Completion of the academy certification; 
  • At least three (3) years of employment by a Colorado law enforcement agency in a rural and small jurisdiction after attending and successfully completing the approved basic law enforcement training academy.

POST will track the scholarship recipient for three (3) years after they have attended the academy to ensure they continue to meet the requirements of the scholarship grant.

The Rural and Small Agency Academy Scholarship application is available here.

If a grant is awarded, the Exhibit B as referenced above will be sent through DocuSign to the scholarship recipient for signature. The Exhibit B must be signed by scholarship recipient prior to the start of the academy.

Agencies are eligible to submit for reimbursement to POST once the student has completed the academy.  Agencies must submit the following to POST at time of reimbursement: 

  • Completed Rural & Small Academy Scholarship Reimbursement Form;
  • Proof of payment of tuition costs;
  • Academy certificate of completion (POST will reimburse the agency for tuition costs upon the date of academy training completion, even if they have not passed all their testing sections or received their certification). 
Very Small Agency Backfill 

The very small agency backfill program is meant specifically for agencies with 10 or fewer peace officers. The program can be used to backfill for certified officers, as well as sworn detention officers. Larger agencies will be given consideration on a case by case basis. This program is designed to assist very small agencies with schedule coverage so their staff can attend law enforcement training. POST will help qualifying agencies contact larger agencies that are willing to provide staff coverage, whether within or outside of their jurisdiction. POST has made available both an Interagency Agreement and Intergovernmental Agreement template which can be used by agencies if they choose. These are general-use templates created by the State Controller's office.

POST will reimburse the providing agency up to $50/hr for each hour their staff works under this program, which includes benefit costs. Additional funds may be requested in order to cover travel time, lodging costs and mileage for officers providing the backfill.

To be considered for funding the following must be completed and submitted to POST as soon as possible, but no less than 30 days in advance of the training:

Completed short application (agencies requesting backfill). W-9 form (agencies providing the backfill). EFT form (agencies providing the backfill).

Agencies wanting to reimburse their own employees overtime for coverage should request funding from the In-Service Grant Program or submit a request to their training region.

Additional Non-POST Grant Opportunities

Allowable Grant Expenses 

Student

Travel costs for students traveling for official training are eligible and include commercial transportation, air fare, registration costs, tuition, parking, public transportation, computer connection fees, mileage, per diem and lodging.

Backfill

The provision of personnel resources to fill the position of a law enforcement officer, who is traveling to or from, attending or conducting training, is allowable. Actual salary and overtime, not to exceed $50 per hour, is allowable.

Peace Officer and Professional Trainer Instructor Fees

Instructor fees, per diem, travel costs (in and out of state) and lodging are allowable costs to compensate instructors who conduct training for law enforcement agencies.

Training Supplies

Supplies are items that are expended or consumed during the course of the training class such as targets, ammunition, simunitions, printing, manuals, field guides, etc. These materials are allowable costs.

Equipment Purchases 

The purchase of equipment which facilitates training is allowable. Examples include, but are not limited to: firearms and driving simulators, ammunition, simunitions, track car maintenance, shooting range and drive track upgrades and improvements, on line training subscriptions, etc.

Additional details are available in the POST Grant Guidelines

Grant Application Due Dates

Grant applications for the following grant programs are open March 1-31 of each year:

  • Capital Improvement Grant Program
  • In-Service Grant Program
  • Regional Grant Program
  • Academy Scholarship for Rural and Small Agencies Grant Program

Grant applications for the following grant programs are open until all available funding has been awarded:

  • Public Safety Leadership Development Grant Program
  • Very Small Agency Backfill Grant Program

Applications are reviewed by the Grant Subcommittee in April and final decisions are made by the POST Board by June 30 of each year.

Report Due Dates

Regional Grantees

Regional grantees shall submit Progress, Financial, and Final Progress reports using the POST Grant Database. These reports (not including Equipment Inventory and Disposition Form) will be assigned to the Regions via the database approximately two weeks prior to the due date. A report must be submitted for every calendar quarter, including partial calendar quarters, as well as for periods where no grant activity occurs. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if these reports are delinquent.

Report Period Report Type Due Date
July 1st-September 30th Progress and Financial October 7th
October 1st- December 31st Progress and Financial January 7th
January 1st -March 31st Progress and Financial April 7th
April 1st-June 30th Final Progress and Final Financial July 7th
July 1st-June 30th Equipment Inventory and Disposition Form June 30th
In-Service Grantees

In-Service grantees are only required to submit an Equipment Inventory and Disposition Form.

Report Period Report Type Due Date
July 1st-June 30th Equipment Inventory and Disposition Form June 30th

Unexpended Balance

Grantees shall inform POST in writing no later than March 31 of each yearof the status of any potential unexpended balance. Grantees' failure to notify POST of any unexpended balance may result in the reduction or termination of future awards.

Note

For questions about grants & grants management, please use the following e-mail: