Denver Business Impact Opportunity (BIO) Fund
Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO)
Up to $15,000
Construction-impact grants for Denver small businesses
City of Denver grants of up to $15,000 for small businesses in eligible retail, food service, arts, and other service industries that are experiencing revenue losses due to nearby city-funded construction projects. Businesses must be within 350 feet of an active DEDO-designated construction zone and demonstrate at least 20% revenue decline during the construction period. Current round serves the East Colfax BRT corridor; next round will cover an adjacent zone. Technical assistance included.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Amount range
- $7,500 – $15,000
- Realistic amount
- Most businesses that qualify receive the full tier amount ($7,500 or $15,000). The amount is formula-based by revenue ti…
- Deadline
- Rolling during designated application window per corridor round. Current round (East Colfax Colorado Blvd–Roslyn) is closed. Next round (Roslyn–Yosemite) opening TBD. One-on-one assistance available through DEDO.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- CO
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- Business must be located within 350 feet of a current DEDO-designated BIO Fund construction zone
- Annual gross revenue between $30,000 and $5,000,000
- Operating for at least 6 months prior to application date
- Located in the City and County of Denver and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State
- Must demonstrate a 20% or greater revenue decline attributable to the construction period (verified via financial documentation)
- Must remain operational at the current location (cannot be planning to move or close)
- Eligible NAICS codes: Retail Trade (44–45), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Accommodation and Food Services (72), Other Services (81)
Hard requirements
- Minimum $30,000 annual revenue
- Maximum $5,000,000 annual revenue
- Location restriction: Within 350 feet of a DEDO-designated BIO Fund construction zone in Denver
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Working capital and operating expenses (rent, utilities, payroll) to offset revenue losses during construction
- Marketing and signage costs to attract customers despite construction access disruption
- Minor improvements to maintain operations during construction impact
Ineligible expenses
- Capital improvements or permanent renovations
- New equipment purchases not related to construction-impact operations
- Businesses outside eligible NAICS codes (manufacturing, professional services in NAICS 54, financial services)
- Businesses with annual revenue below $30,000 or above $5,000,000
- Businesses with less than 6 months of operating history
How to apply
-
1
Verify your address is within 350 feet of the current construction zone
Contact DEDO directly or visit denvergov.org/DEDO to confirm your address falls within the eligible corridor segment for the current round. The zone changes as BRT construction progresses; being close is not enough — the 350-foot rule is strictly enforced.
-
2
Document your revenue decline
Prepare financial statements or bank statements showing at least 20% revenue decline during the construction period compared to the same period in the prior year. DEDO accepts monthly bank statements, POS reports, or tax documents as evidence.
-
3
Submit application during the active round window
Complete the DEDO online application when the relevant corridor round is open. Provide business documentation (Colorado SOS good standing, NAICS code, revenue figures) and revenue decline evidence.
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4
Receive award and technical assistance
DEDO and community partners (The Fax Partnership, Mile High United Way) review applications. Approved businesses receive a grant check and are connected to technical assistance resources.
Award amount is formula-based — you get $7,500 or $15,000 based on your revenue tier, not competitive scoring. The main bar is proving you're in the zone and have experienced ≥20% revenue decline.
Deadline & timing
Each BIO Fund round targets a specific corridor segment. Rounds open and close as construction zones progress. Businesses outside the current 350-foot zone are ineligible for the current round but may qualify in a subsequent round as the zone moves. Monitor denvergov.org/DEDO for round announcements.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.