(Re)Building and Planning

The Disaster Resilience Rebuilding Program consists of two components, a grant program, and a loan program.  The Resilience Rebuilding Grant (RRG) provides funding to qualifying homeowners for rebuilding homes in the wake of wildfires, high winds, floods, and other state and federally declared disasters. The aim is to promote rebuilding in accordance with high-performance building standards adopted by local communities and voluntary sustainable building elements that exceed local code requirements, including the incorporation of fire-resistant building materials and energy efficiency measures.  

The loan fund is for eligible households that do not income qualify for the grant but still require additional resources to rebuild their home. Together, this program aims to help Coloradans who have been affected by natural disasters not only rebuild their homes but produce healthier, safer, and more resilient homes throughout the state.

The first phase of this program focuses on rebuilding owner-occupied homes. Other phases will follow if funding is available. 

Program Overview

For qualifying homeowners for rebuilding homes in the wake of wildfires, high winds, floods, and other state and federally declared disasters.

First phase focus

For the first phase rebuilding owner-occupied homes will be the focus. Other phases will follow.

Application availability

Applications and additional details are being developed and will be available in August or early September.  Information will be available through the Boulder County Recovery Navigators and this website.

Partners

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs including the Division of Local Government and the Division of Housing are working together with the Colorado Energy Office on this program. 

Electrification Incentives

In addition to the grants and loans described here, additional funding is available through the Colorado Energy Office’s Sustainable Rebuilding Program, providing a $10,000 rebate for households that include an induction stove, electric water heater, and an air source heat pump in their reconstruction. 

Hazard Mitigation Funding

All grant recipients must rebuild to current building code standards for their community.  Additional funding may be available for additional mitigation measures beyond currently adopted building codes to include improvements in mitigation design elements and construction. 

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for the first phase of funding include persons who owned a home as their primary residence at the time of the state-declared disaster. Eligible property types include: single-family residences, duplexes, townhomes, and manufactured homes permanently affixed to permanent foundations and taxed as real property that sustained major or severe damage.  

The applicant must be the current subject property owner of record on the disaster date and the property must have served as the primary residence of the owner at the time of the disaster. Ownership will be verified through public records, warranty deeds and real estate tax records. Second homes are not eligible.  At this time, rental and multifamily properties are not eligible for assistance through this program.

State-declared Disasters

The first phase of this program is available to areas impacted by declared Colorado disasters since 2018 where owner-occupied housing was lost or severely damaged. Those nine state-declared disasters include:

2018 Spring Creek Fire (141)

• Costilla & Huérfano Counties

2018 Chateau Fire (10)

• Teller County                

2018 Lake Christine Fire (5)

• Eagle County                 

2019 Avalanche Debris and Flooding Risk (1)

• Hinsdale County

2020 Cameron Peak Fire (200)

• Larimer County

2020 East Troublesome Fire (401)

• Grand County

2020 Calwood Fire (24)

• Boulder County

2021 Muddy Slide Fire (8)

• Routt County

2022 Marshall Fire and Straight-Line Winds (1000+)

• Boulder County

Maximum Award

Applicants will be eligible for a combination of grant and loan not to exceed the lesser of the award determination or $50,000.

Grant and Loan Amounts

The grant and loan amount combined cannot exceed the award determination, which is based on a standard rebuilding cost for the home, less insurance received (plus the deductible), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance for rebuilding, Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance, or any other grants or federally subsidized loans received.
  

 ¹Area Median Income (AMI) varies by County. A limitation on available liquid assets also applies.

Area Median Income Table

The Area Median Income (AMI) of each of the affected counties is used to determine the maximum grant or loan amounts. Please use this table for AMI levels in counties with state-declared disasters since 2018 where residential properties were impacted.

To find your income level and eligibility take the following steps:

1. Find your county.
2. Find the column that represents your household size (including children and any non-family members who live there permanently).
3. Based on your annual income, read down the column until you get to the first dollar amount that equals or exceeds the annual combined income of all household members.
4. Follow that row to the left and the first column will indicate your AMI level (80%, 100%, 120%, 150% or greater than 150%).  This dictates how much grant you are eligible for.

All income levels are eligible for the loan pending the availability of funds.

Application

The application and list will be available in August or early September. Program staff are developing a single application and a single, comprehensive list of background documents necessary to apply for Disaster Resilience Rebuilding funds as well as other funds that may be available to those impacted by the state-declared disasters. To get started Coloradans may begin compiling the following:

• Government-issued identification, proof of ownership of the property current and back to the date of the state-declared disaster (e.g., title and/or property tax record)
• Proof of residency in the property on the date of the state declared disaster (e.g., utility bills). Proof of income for adults in the home (e.g., pay stubs, bank statements showing pay deposits, social security/disability/retirement fund statements, or self-owned business account statements)
• Home/hazard Insurance claim/disbursement letter/check (If a federally declared disaster) FEMA award/denial letter and disbursement statement
• (If a federally declared disaster, and applicable) SBA award/denial letter and disbursement statement
• Documentation of any other loans/grants/gifts received as financial assistance for the rebuilding of the home
• Documentation of rebuilding or repair cost estimates received from contractors

Additional Resources

• Boulder County Recovery Navigators site 
• Disaster Resilience Rebuilding site 
• Read the SB-206 Press Release here
• Further questions may be submitted here