Mow Down Pollution Weld County Grant

Process Overview

1. Submit an application on the RAQC Grant Portal - Select the ‘Mow Down Pollution Weld County Grant’ application. If it is your first time applying for a grant with us, you will need to select create new account: RAQC Grant Portal 

2. If your application is approved, RAQC will issue a Purchase Order (PO) for your project. 

3. Purchase your equipment only after you receive the PO. Purchases made before the PO are not eligible. 

4. Recycle your gas-powered landscaping equipment and provide proof of recycling. 

5. If you are working with Ace Hardware, RAQC will reimburse the Ace Hardware store directly for the grant-funded portion after your match is paid, and all documents are submitted. Your grant award will be applied to your purchase at the Point of Sale (POS).  

6. If you choose to work with a different vendor, you will pay for the entire purchase at the POS including any taxes and fees. RAQC will reimburse your grant award to you directly after your match is paid, and all documents are submitted. 

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Participating Ace Hardware Locations:

Mile High Ace Hardware - 2800 W 104th Ave, Denver, CO 80234

Ace Hardware Longmont - 1727 Main St, Longmont, CO 80501

Windsor Ace Hardware - 1245 Main St, Windsor, CO 80550

Greeley Ace Hardware – Bittersweet - 3540 W 10th St, Greeley, CO 80634

Greeley Ace Hardware – University - 2626 11th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631

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*Please read this entire webpage before submitting your application* 

 

 

Step 1: Confirm you and your project are eligible 

Before you start the application, make sure that: 

• Your business is registered in Colorado and in Good Standing if applying as a commercial business 

• You operate or are registered in at least one of the eligible localities: Berthoud, Brighton, Briggsdale, Eaton, Evans, Firestone, Fort Collins, Fort Lupton, Frederick, Garden City, Greeley, Hudson, Johnstown, Keenesburg, Kersey, LaSalle, Lochbuie, Longmont, Loveland, Mead, Milliken, Platteville, Severance, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor 

• You commit to recycling gas-powered landscaping equipment unless you are already mostly electric

 

Step 2: Choose your vendor, equipment, and get a quote  

• Choose a vendor to purchase from, decide what eligible equipment you would like to purchase. 

• If you are working with Ace Hardware, RAQC will reimburse the Ace Hardware store you are working with directly for the grant-funded portion after your match is paid, and all documents are submitted. Your grant will be applied to your purchase at the Point of Sale (POS).  

• If you choose to work with a different vendor, you will pay for the entire purchase at the POS including any taxes and fees. RAQC will reimburse your grant award to you directly after your match is paid, and all documents are submitted.

 

Purchase limitations: 

• A minimum purchase amount of $2,000 is required. 

• No more than 50% of total purchase can be batteries or accessories.  

• No more than 50% of total purchase can be spent on any one piece of equipment. 

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Request an itemized quote from the vendor of your choice that includes: 

• The name of your business or organization  

• Name of vendor  

• The equipment details including the SKU, unit price, and price after any discounts applied   

• Retail total   

• Total after discounts applied  

• RAQC grant portion request (70% of total after discounts and pre-tax) 

• Customer cost share including tax (30% of total after discounts) 

•  You will upload this quote with your application. 

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Step 3: Gather your required documents 

Before starting the online application, collect: 

• Contact and business information (legal business name, mailing address, etc.) 

• Itemized quote for the equipment you plan to purchase 

• Colorado Certificate of Good Standing if applying as a business (coloradosos.gov/biz/BusinessEntityCriteria.do)  

• A list of your current landscaping equipment fleet   

 

Step 4: Complete and submit your application  

• Submit an application on the RAQC grant portal - Select the ‘Mow Down Pollution Weld County Grant’ application. If it is your first time applying for a grant with us, you will need to select create new account: RAQC Grant Portal 

• Enter your contact and business details. 

• Upload your quote, Certificate of Good Standing, and any other required documents or information.  

RAQC may contact you if any clarification or additional documentation is needed before finalizing awards. 

 

Step 5: Application review and award decisions 

• Applications are reviewed and competitively scored using standardized criteria, including:  

  • Geographic proximity to the area impacted by the enforcement action taken by CDPHE 

  • Operating hours 

  • Demonstration of maximum emissions reductions through the retirement of gas-powered landscaping equipment  

• Applications must receive a minimum score of 66% and meet all program requirements to move forward in the funding process. 

• Meeting the minimum score does not guarantee funding. Awards are subject to available funding and overall program requirements. 

• RAQC staff will review the application and determine award eligibility within two weeks unless further information is requested or missing from the original application. 

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The RAQC may: 

• Approve your application and issue an award 

• Offer a reduced award 

• Decline your application if it does not meet eligibility, completeness, scoring, or funding requirements  

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 Step 6: If awarded, review your Purchase Order (PO) 

 If your project is approved:  

• RAQC will issue a Purchase Order (PO) that shows your approved award amount (up to 70% of costs, with a maximum of $20,000). 

• Your PO will be available for review on your grant account. 

• Do not purchase any equipment before the PO date. Costs incurred before PO issuance will not be reimbursed. 

• You will have 45 days from the date on the PO to complete your purchase. If you do not purchase within that timeframe, your PO may be canceled. 

 

Step 7: Purchase equipment through your chosen vendor 

Once you have your PO: 

• Work with your vendor to finalize the order.  

• Save a copy of the receipt from the transaction. You will need this if you are being reimbursed directly. 

 

If working with Ace Hardware: 

• Pay your required match (30%) and any ineligible costs (such as taxes or delivery fees). 

• Your grant award will be applied to your purchase at the Point of Sale (POS).  

• RAQC will reimburse Ace Hardware directly after all required documents are submitted. 

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 If working with a different vendor than Ace Hardware: 

• Pay for the full purchase amount including any taxes and fees 

• You will be reimbursed by RAQC directly – follow the instructions in Step 9 

 

Step 8: Recycle your gas-powered equipment and keep proof  

• You must recycle at least one piece of gas-powered landscaping equipment 

• Obtain proof of recycling, either: 

  • A receipt from the recycler, or 

  • A completed RAQC Recycling Affidavit 

You are required to submit this documentation to be eligible for this grant and for your business or organization to receive reimbursement. 

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Step 9: Reimbursement Process (if working with a vendor outside of Ace Hardware) 

Send the following to mowdownpollution@raqc.org and accounting@raqc.org in one email:  

• Itemized invoice that includes:  

  • The name and address of your business or organization (this is where payment will be sent to)  

  • Name of vendor    

  • The equipment details including the SKU, unit price, and price after any discounts applied - the equipment on the invoice must match the equipment on the PO.

  • Retail total    

  • Total after discounts applied    

  • RAQC grant portion request (70% of total after discounts and pre-tax)  

  • Customer cost share including tax (30% of total after discounts) 

• Receipt from the point of sale from chosen vendor 

• Proof of recycling   

 

• Your business or organization will be connected to our payment processing system Bill.com and will need to create an account.  

• Payments are sent within 45 days of the invoice being received.   

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Step 10: Survey 

• Once your purchase has been completed, fill out the survey assigned to you in your grant account before the deadline. 

  

Need Help? 

If you have questions at any point in the process, from eligibility to documentation to working with a vendor, please email Jane Allen, Mow Down Pollution Program Coordinator, at jallen@raqc.org 

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