Fund Your Meeting Accessibility Project Through SIPA GovGrants
Colorado's SIPA GovGrants program funds high-impact civic technology projects — and meeting video accessibility may qualify. Spring 2026 applications are open through April 10, 2026. Awards start at $25,000.
What Is the SIPA GovGrants Program?
The Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA (opens in new tab)) created the GovGrants program to fund innovative government technology projects that improve how Colorado residents interact with their government. The program is open to any Colorado government entity with an active Eligible Government Entity (EGE (opens in new tab)) agreement — including state agencies, cities, counties, towns, special districts, K-12 schools, and public universities.
Since the program launched in 2024, SIPA GovGrants has funded more than 80 projects totaling over $30 million (opens in new tab). Awards start at $25,000, and the average award has been approximately $400,000, with a total pool of $10–12 million per cycle (opens in new tab) — though the range is wide, and smaller-scale proposals are welcomed.
Evaluation Criteria
Mission alignment
Does the project support SIPA's mission of providing efficient, effective services through modern practices and innovative technology?
Theory of change
Have you identified a clear problem that residents face, and does your proposed solution logically address it?
Capacity to execute
Do you have a qualified team, a realistic plan, and a sound budget?
Potential for impact and scale
Is the return on investment reasonable, and could the solution grow — within your entity or across other Colorado governments?
Key resource: Review the SIPA GovGrants Program Manual (opens in new tab) before you begin. It's the definitive guide to the program's criteria and process.
Why Meeting Accessibility Is a Strong Fit for GovGrants
Colorado government entities are facing real compliance pressure on two fronts:
Colorado HB 21-1110
Requires state and local government entities to bring their digital content — including video — into conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Non-compliance can result in a statutory fine of $3,500 per violation. Learn more (opens in new tab)
ADA Title II
Mandates WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for all government web content and mobile applications. The federal deadline for entities with 50,000+ population is April 26, 2027. Learn more (opens in new tab)
For many municipalities, meeting video is an area where accessibility gaps remain. Compliance attention to date has focused primarily on websites and documents, while public meeting video — live captions, archived captions, audio descriptions, and multilingual support — often lags behind.
When meeting video isn't accessible, residents can't access:
- Council votes and the discussion leading to them
- Budget presentations and fiscal impact explanations
- Zoning and land use decisions that affect their neighborhoods
- Public safety updates and emergency preparedness briefings
- School board deliberations on policies that affect their children
- Utility rate changes and explanations of how they were determined
- Public comment periods — both what was said and how officials responded
- Maps, charts, and site plans presented on screen but never described aloud
A GovGrants application that addresses meeting video accessibility can speak to multiple SIPA priorities at once: it's resident-facing, it addresses a measurable problem, it supports legal compliance, it improves public access for underserved populations, and — if the solution works — it's directly replicable by other Colorado governments.
Compliance Crosswalk
How meeting accessibility requirements map to MediaScribe features.
| Requirement Source | Specific Obligation | WCAG Criteria | MediaScribe Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 21-1110 / ADA Title II | Captions for live video content | WCAG 1.2.4 (Captions – Live) | Real-time AI captioning for live meetings, hearings, and broadcasts |
| HB 21-1110 / ADA Title II | Captions for prerecorded video content | WCAG 1.2.2 (Captions – Prerecorded) | Automated post-meeting captioning for archived video |
| ADA Title II | Audio descriptions for prerecorded video | WCAG 1.2.5 (Audio Description – Prerecorded) | AI-generated audio descriptions for recorded meeting content |
| Title VI (Civil Rights Act) | Meaningful access for limited-English-proficiency individuals | N/A (federal civil rights obligation) | Real-time translation in 72+ languages; mobile access via QR code (no app required) |
| HB 21-1110 / ADA Title II | Content perceivable through multiple modalities | WCAG 1.1.1 (Non-text Content), 1.2.1 (Audio/Video Only) | Multi-output delivery: broadcast closed captions, in-room display transcription, mobile device captions, streaming captions |
| HB 21-1110 | Demonstrate good-faith progress toward accessibility | Colorado OIT Accessibility Rules | Built-in remediation and operational workflows that support good-faith compliance |
What SIPA Is Looking For in Your Application
SIPA's GovGrants Director Noah Kaplan and Grants Coordinator Anya Dickson-Arguello have shared detailed guidance on what makes a strong application. Here's what matters most:
Start With the Problem, Not the Technology
SIPA wants to see that you've identified a specific problem that your residents face. For a meeting accessibility project, that might sound like:
“Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing, who have low vision, or who speak a primary language other than English cannot meaningfully access our public meetings — either in person or through our video broadcasts and archives. This excludes them from participation in local government and limits the transparency that our community depends on.”
Define Your Theory of Change
SIPA uses a straightforward framework: “If we [implement this solution], then [this change] will occur in our community.” Your theory of change should connect your accessibility project directly to a resident-facing outcome — not just a compliance checkbox.
Use Outcome-Based KPIs, Not Output Milestones
This is where many applications fall short. SIPA distinguishes between:
- Outputs (project milestones): “Captioning system installed.” “Staff trained.”
- Outcomes (measurable changes): “90% of public meetings will include real-time captions within six months of deployment.”
SIPA provides a KPI Refinement Worksheet (opens in new tab) that walks you through developing strong KPIs.
Name Your Team
The application requires you to identify individuals for five roles: Executive Sponsor, Product Owner/PM, IT Director, Finance Contact, and Data Monitoring/Reporting Contact. This is scored. Leaving roles unnamed weakens your application.
Show a Path to Sustainability
If SIPA funds Year 1 of your accessibility implementation, your application needs to explain how your entity will fund Year 2 and beyond. For a subscription-based solution, that means identifying the budget line or funding mechanism that will sustain the service after the grant period.
Consider a Phased Approach
SIPA's committee has looked favorably on proposals that start with a focused pilot and plan to scale based on demonstrated outcomes. A phased approach also aligns well with SIPA's quarterly reporting structure and the program's interest in scalable, replicable solutions.
Are You Ready to Apply for SIPA GovGrants?
Use this self-assessment to gauge your readiness before starting your application.
Use this checklist to assess your readiness before applying.
Sample KPIs for a Meeting Accessibility Project
Use these as starting points. Adapt them to your municipality's data, meeting volume, and community demographics.
| KPI Type | Outcome Metric | Sample Success Target |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Percentage of public meetings with real-time captions | 95% of regularly scheduled public meetings include live captions within 6 months of deployment |
| Target | Multilingual caption access | Captions available in the top 3 non-English languages spoken in the municipality within 9 months |
| Baseline | Accommodation requests related to meeting access | Reduce formal accommodation requests by 40% within 12 months, measured against the prior 12-month baseline |
| Target | Audio description availability for archived video | 100% of archived meeting recordings include AI-generated audio descriptions within 12 months |
| Baseline | Resident engagement with meeting video content | Increase average meeting video views by 20% within 12 months of captioning deployment |
| Target | Post-meeting accessibility satisfaction | At least 70% of surveyed viewers report a positive experience with captioned meeting content |
| Target | Staff operational readiness | Non-technical staff operate the captioning system independently for 100% of meetings within 90 days of training |
How MediaScribe Fits a GovGrants Application
MediaScribe (opens in new tab) is an AI-powered accessibility platform built specifically for government meeting video. It provides:
Real-time captioning for live meetings, hearings, and broadcasts
72+ language translations for live and archived content, supporting Title VI obligations
AI-generated audio descriptions for archived video, meeting WCAG 1.2.5 requirements
Mobile caption access via QR code — no app download required
In-room display support and broadcast caption insertion
Built-in remediation and operational workflows for compliance
Why It Matters for Scoring
Resident-facing
Captions, translations, and audio descriptions serve the public directly.
Low barrier to adoption
Minimal training required — a strong signal to evaluators that your team has the capacity to execute.
Scalable
Supports configurations from single-room deployments to multi-venue, multi-channel operations.
Replicable
A successful implementation in one municipality can serve as a model for others.
Measurable
Accessibility improvements produce concrete, reportable data — exactly what SIPA's evaluation committee wants to see.
“MediaScribe was exactly the service we needed — it's user-friendly, accurate, and actually digestible for a small facility like ours.”
“MediaScribe's been really consistent and faster than most live captioners. As far as feedback from the clerk of the board, she's been super happy.”
Grant Budget Alignment
MediaScribe's pricing is structured to fit government budget cycles and GovGrants requirements:
- Live captioning subscriptions start at approximately $10,000/year
- Audio description capabilities start at approximately $4,000/year
- Combined accessibility suites are available for broader deployments
- Hardware (on-premises gateway appliance, displays, QR signage) can be budgeted as direct project costs
- Training and implementation support are included
A typical GovGrants budget for a meeting accessibility project might include the MediaScribe subscription, display hardware, network infrastructure improvements, QR code signage for public meeting spaces, staff training time, and measurement/reporting tools — all within the $25,000+ GovGrants range.
Application Timeline and Key Dates
Spring 2026 cycle — key milestones from preparation through post-award.
- 1
- 2
Now
Review the Program Manual, Applicant Worksheet, and Budget Template
- 3
- 4
Now–Deadline
Identify your team, draft your narrative, prepare your budget
- 5
April 10, 2026
Application deadline (Spring 2026 cycle)
- 6
~2 months post-deadline
SIPA staff intake and evaluation committee review
- 7
~3 months post-deadline
Board approval and award decisions
- 8
Post-award through ~3 months
Onboarding, grant agreement finalization
- 9
Post-execution
Quarterly reporting begins
View timeline as a table
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Now | Confirm your EGE agreement status with SIPA |
| Now | Review the Program Manual, Applicant Worksheet, and Budget Template |
| Now | Watch the Pre-Application Webinar Recording |
| Now–Deadline | Identify your team, draft your narrative, prepare your budget |
| April 10, 2026 | Application deadline (Spring 2026 cycle) |
| ~2 months post-deadline | SIPA staff intake and evaluation committee review |
| ~3 months post-deadline | Board approval and award decisions |
| Post-award through ~3 months | Onboarding, grant agreement finalization |
| Post-execution | Quarterly reporting begins |
SIPA GovGrants Application Resources
From SIPA
- SIPA GovGrants Program Page (opens in new tab) — Overview, links to all materials, application form
- Program Manual (opens in new tab) — The definitive guide to eligibility, criteria, and process
- Applicant Worksheet (Optional) (opens in new tab) — Guided questions for your narrative
- Budget Template (Required) (opens in new tab) — Excel format, required for submission
- KPI Refinement Worksheet (opens in new tab) — Guidance on developing outcome-based KPIs
- Grant Agreement Template (opens in new tab) — Review before applying; request redlines if needed
- GovGrants FAQ (opens in new tab) — Common questions about eligibility, timeline, and process
- EGE Agreement Portal (opens in new tab) — Confirm or establish your eligibility
- Pre-Application Webinar (February 2026) (opens in new tab) — Watch before you write anything
- Contact: Noah Kaplan, SIPA GovGrants Director — noah@cosipa.gov
From MediaScribe
- KPI Cheat Sheet for Accessibility Projects
- Proposal Language Guide for Meeting Accessibility
- Phased Implementation Timeline Template
- HB 21-1110 × ADA Title II Compliance Crosswalk for Video
- MediaScribe Platform Overview (opens in new tab)
- MediaScribe Pricing (opens in new tab)
- ADA Title II Deadline Guide (opens in new tab)
Don't Miss the Micro-Grant Window Either
If your project is smaller in scope — say, display hardware for in-room captions, QR code signage for meeting spaces, or a staff training initiative — the SIPA Micro-Grant program (up to $10,000) may be a fit. SIPA typically opens Micro-Grant applications annually; check the link below for the current window and deadline.
Learn More About SIPA Micro-Grants (opens in new tab)Let's Talk About Grant Fit
We're not grant writers, but we've spent years in government video operations and understand firsthand the challenges your team is navigating. We can help you think through project scope, budget structure, and how MediaScribe fits your specific implementation.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal or grant application advice. Program details, deadlines, and requirements may change — verify all information through SIPA's official resources (opens in new tab) and consult qualified legal counsel regarding accessibility compliance obligations. MediaScribe is not affiliated with SIPA and does not guarantee eligibility or award outcomes.