Aug 28, 2023

Grape industry grants available to help Colorado winemakers increase processing capacity

Colorado winegrowers can apply for the Wine & Grape Industry Processing Grant to increase their processing capacity both at the winery and in the vineyard.

Up to $250,000 will be available to producers through competitive grants, offered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) through the Farm to Market Infrastructure Program.

“This grant will help winegrowers purchase new equipment and invest in facilities to increase productivity and improve the quality of both grapes and finished wines,” Kyle Schlachter, the Broomfield, Colorado, based Colorado Wine Industry Development Board (CWIDB) executive director, said in a news release. “Winemaking is at its core sorting grapes, transforming them into wine, and then packaging and storing the finished product for purchase by wine consumers. Investing in those processes can help Colorado producers perform better in an extremely competitive marketplace.”

The grant program should increase CDA’s investment into the Colorado wine industry. While the CWIDB’s annual budget supports marketing programs, research and extension services provided by Colorado State University, the Wine & Grape Industry Processing Grant will be the single largest investment in the Colorado wine industry aimed directly at Colorado wine producers, according to the release.

Winegrowers can apply at one of three different levels. Each level has its own limits and requirements, as listed below:

• Award to one unique business or individual. Maximum individual award: $25,000
• Award to multiple businesses or individuals working collaboratively on one project. Award: up to $25,000 for each participating individual or business. Maximum award: $100,000
• One large project that would benefit the entire state’s wine and grape industry, stretching beyond one AVA or region, and would reinvest not only the initial capital outlay of the grant funds, but also a significant portion of future revenues back into the Colorado wine and grape industry statewide. Maximum award: $250,000

The program is intended to stimulate an expansion of the processing capabilities of the Colorado wine and grape industry. Colorado wineries and vineyards may apply for the Wine & Grape Industry Processing Grant to be used for agricultural processing, meaning the transforming, packaging, sorting, storage, or grading of Colorado livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, plants, or plant products. Applicants must be Colorado entities and registered in the State of Colorado, according to the release.

Applicants must submit an application for one of the levels listed above. Required information includes a detailed project description, plan, and budget. The grant application evaluation committee may request additional information upon review of the application. Application deadline is Sept. 29.

The grant program is a collaborative effort between the CWIDB and the Farm to Market Infrastructure program, both within the CDA’s Markets Division. The program aims to benefit the wine grape industry as broadly and as fairly as possible, by increasing the industry’s processing capacity.