Enterprise Fund
Supporting Local Businesses and Building Community Resilience
Fund Description
At the Chaffee County Community Foundation, we recognize that our local businesses are facing unprecedented challenges that threaten the vitality of our entire community. The financial impacts of the past few years have been severe, both at the local and statewide level, and are predicted to continue to be challenging as we head into the Summer Tourist season. We recognize our small business owners are struggling to weather the storm and face challenges to positive growth.
In response, the Chaffee County Community Foundation is taking a bold new direction to better support our local business community and build a stronger, more resilient Chaffee County for all. This shift in our approach is a critical part of our ongoing vision of a resilient Chaffee County where residents, nonprofits, businesses, and governments are thriving, interconnected, and well resourced. Our mission is to act as a catalyst to inspire positive change through the power of community philanthropy to enrich the lives of all people in Chaffee County.
The Chaffee County Community Foundation Board of Directors is fully committed to this new strategic focus. We are exploring a range of innovative partnerships and initiatives designed to provide direct assistance to local, small businesses that are providing a defined community benefit. Tools being explored include offerings such as microloans, bridge grants, and business expansion grants, all funded through the generous charitable giving of our community.
This new focus will work directly with key local partners such as the Central Mountain Small Business Development Center and be complementary to existing resources available to the local small business community. As Chaffee County is designated as a rural enterprise zone and is currently experiencing climate related disruptions to economic vitality, this effort is critical to our local resilience. Our approach builds on our existing nonprofit capacity building efforts and grantmaking, without detracting from those core programs. Our goal through this new initiative is to empower local businesses, foster innovation, and position Chaffee County for long-term prosperity.
The Chaffee County Community Foundation is actively seeking donations and partnerships to seed and grow these new initiatives. We invite the community to join us in this important work by making charitable gifts to the Enterprise Fund and helping to build the resources our local businesses need to thrive.
Interested parties are encouraged to contact Betsy Dittenber, Executive Director at Betsy@chaffeecommunity.org or 719-204-4565.
Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient Chaffee County that works for everyone.
current funding opportunities
Enterprise Growth Grants
Up to $35,000 available for local, for-profit, small businesses that are tied to the economic vitality of Chaffee County (jobs, services, etc.) that are facing financial barriers to growth. An ideal grantee is one who is operating a thriving small, local business that has an opportunity for significant growth in services. Applicants must demonstrate that the requested funding will provide a community benefit, and benefit to the owners is incidental. It is important to note that the grant awards, while charitable in nature, will be considered as taxable revenue to the business if awarded. Applicants must be in compliance and in good standing with all federal, state and local laws to be considered eligible. Examples of eligible uses may include:
Expansion of services that address community needs
Infrastructure or equipment that enables increased service capacity
Investments that expand critical local services
Adaptations that strengthen economic resilience in response to changing environmental or economic conditions
Grants will be made in alignment with IRS regulations TG 3-3: Exempt Purposes – Charitable IRC Section 501(c)(3), Charitable Purpose F.5: Combating Community Deterioration, Treasury Reg. 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(2). https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5781.pdf
It is expected the funding will award 2-3 grants depending on the request received with a minimum of $1,000 and a max request of $25,000.
PROCESS:
Application: Applicants will be asked to complete an eligibility questionnaire. If the applicant meets the eligibility criteria they will have access to apply for the full application. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the full information including the required attachments before starting their application. Please reach out to us at grants@chaffeecommunity.org with any questions or to confirm if your project is eligible.
Application Questions
Application FAQ:
First Step: Create a profile for your business in the grant portal. You can login at anytime to create a profile.
2nd Step: Once your profile is complete navigate to the “APPLY” button on the top left of the portal screen. This will list all applications that are open. Select “ELIGIBILITY QUIZ” to get started.
3rd Step: If you are eligible, you should navigate back to the “APPLY” button and look for the “2026 Enterprise Growth Grants” to start the application.
Timeline: Grant requests will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. If awarded, grant funds must be spent within 12 months of receipt.
Review: Applications will be reviewed within 2 weeks of submission by CCCF Staff for compliance with program criteria. Recommendations for funding will be approved by the CCCF Board of Directors.
Awards: Awardees will receive a restricted grant agreement under which they agree to comply with IRS expenditure responsibility including holding and tracking the charitable funds separate from general business funds and regularly reporting on use of the funds in compliance with the approved request.
Criteria: Applicants must demonstrate the following
Business growth offers a defined community benefit (i.e. increase services, increase in jobs, prevent community deterioration, sliding scale fee structures to service all income levels, etc.)
Grant investment community benefit outweighs the private benefit to the beneficiaries
Strong demonstrable capacity to leverage funds for attainable growth (Business Plan/Proforma)
Eligibility:
Must independently own and operate a small, local for-profit business with a physical non-residential space within Chaffee County. Commercial building ownership or lease required.
Business must meet the definition of small business: Independently owned, $5 million or less gross revenue and 100 or fewer employees in the most recent 12 months, primary physical location(s) in Chaffee County.
Must be in compliance and in good standing with all federal, state and local laws
The project proposal must be directly connected to local economic vitality with a strong plan for success. (Example - local jobs, serving residents, diversification of business, providing critical service)
Applicants must have a demonstrated financial need or barrier to growth.
Eligible use of funds must directly tie to the community benefit and financial growth of the business, Examples of eligible uses might include:
Expansion or improvement of physical space directly related to increase in services and/or financial growth of business
Furniture, Retail Infrastructure, Equipment investments directly related to increased community benefit
Other expenses are directly tied to community benefit and business growth.
Ineligible use of funds:
Working Capital
Purchase of Retail Inventory
Salaries, wages and bonuses
Public or common space improvements
Future Program Exploration:
CCCF is currently exploring more tools to support the local business community. We expect more information to be available by June 2026.
Microloan Program: In partnership with Small Business Development Center, and local lenders, CCCF can host a cash collateral fund to expand local lenders abilities to offer small local businesses access to credit ranging from $1,000-$5,000 for 24 month loans.
Bridge Grants: Specifically designed to address small, local businesses (for-profit and non-profit) that are facing financial hardship due to current economic situation and climate related disruptions and require support to sustain existing services. Designed to prevent economic deterioration.