The Strategic Innovation grant is an $8 million initiative for Utah-based nonprofit or for-profit organizations with projects that improve air quality in the state or more efficiently utilize or conserve water resources.

Interested organizations must provide a project description, expected and measurable goals and objectives, a budget, and a timeline. Grant recipients must coordinate or partner with the Utah Division of Air Quality or the Utah Division of Water Resources in implementing their projects. Funded projects will also undergo periodic review for the duration of the project by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, the Institute of Land, Water, and Air at Utah State University, or the Bingham Research Center at Utah State University.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be registered with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code.
• Have a physical location in Utah.
• Propose a project in Utah. 

Preference is given to companies demonstrating their project idea is novel and could be scalable or replicated elsewhere in the state.

Our office will also prioritize projects that demonstrate a funding match from a private entity.

The anticipated funding limit is $1,000,000 per project. Requests that exceed that amount will be considered, however, prospective grantees may be asked to amend the requested amount and scope of work to abide by the award ceiling set by the office. Final award amounts will be made at the discretion of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.

Note: If a company was previously awarded a Strategic Innovation grant and the office has not approved its final report, it may receive less consideration for an FY24 proposal.

The application portal opened June 30, 2023 at 9 a.m. MDT and closed on July 13, 2023 at 5 p.m. MDT.

For questions regarding this grant, email econgrants@utah.gov.