Denver offers money to businesses owned by women, minorities to improve environmental impact

How it works: The program gives local businesses money to upgrade buildings to reduce energy, waste and water, city climate action office spokesperson Emily Gedeon tells us.

The big picture: More than $600,000 in funding to eligible businesses has been provided by the program since 2022, according to Gedeon.

Zoom in: Funding recipients Whittier Cafe and Sullivan's Scrap Kitchen installed more energy-efficient dishwashers, while CADREC, an addiction treatment center, used the money to replace its windows with Energy Star-rated ones to help reduce energy use.

• Whittier Cafe owner Millete Birhanemaskel tells us she learned about the program while trying to find a way to winterize her shop.
• She used $9,905 from the program to purchase two energy-star-rated appliances that use less energy.

Between the lines: Additional eligibility requirements for businesses include:

• Having a physical location in Denver (home-based enterprises aren't eligible), projects pursuing the city's sustainability goals, and meeting federal basic standards for small businesses.

What's next: The program will start disbursing money on a rolling basis starting next month, Gedeon tells us.

• Applications are available online.