Training Opportunities & Events
Make Your Website Work for You
Offered by the SBDC. In this webinar we'll cover: What type of design works best for your organization; How to create a website that drives toward your business goals; How to make your website more search-friendly on Google; free Google tools that can all help you improve the likelihood that your ideal customer will find your website on Google.
Webinar on Rural Resilience and Economic Development
Offered by the National Association of Development Organizations. Many rural regions and small metros were still recovering from the Great Recession when the COVID-19 pandemic struck last year. And in places that had made progress, a lot of economic gains were wiped out as businesses closed, jobs disappeared, and entire industries reorganized. Now, as rural places seek to recover from these setbacks, communities are in a position to reset and create a strong foundation for the future, one rooted in resilience and creative ways of doing economic development.
State Demography Office Quarterly Webinar Series
Join the webinar to learn about new data tools, view a presentation of the SDO COVID map series, and be reintroduced to the ACS and Census data using data.census.gov.
Main Street Now 2021 Conference
Main Street America will host the virtual Main Street Now conference from April 12-14, 2021. Sessions will focus on recovery and resilience, equity and inclusion, and small business and entrepreneurship.
Business Model Canvas: Creating a One-Page Business Plan
Offered by the Small Business Development Center. The Business Model Canvas is a popular business planning tool for a reason: you can test your concept with a one-page business plan. This template allows you to visually map out the start to your business plan or operation revamp on a single page. The Business Model Canvas can be designed on paper, on a computer or even using sticky notes on a poster-sized model on your wall. You’ll walk away knowing which segment of your business concept to focus in on as you move to your next stages of planning.
Virtual Funder Roundtables
Offered by the Community Resource Center. This free three-hour session will provide participating grantseekers with the opportunity to connect with up to six funders throughout the morning. Nonprofits will sign up for a time block to introduce themselves with funders of their choice in a small group breakout with other organizations from the Heart of Colorado.
Funding & Technical Assistance
2021 AARP Livable Communities Challenge
Deadline: April 14. The American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) Community Challenge provides grants to fund quick-action projects to help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are accepted for projects for public spaces, housing, transportation, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity, inclusion, and more. Eligible applicants include 501(C)(3), 501(C)(4), and 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations, government entities, and other types of organizations (considered on a case-by-case basis).
EDA Build to Scale Program
Economic Development Administration Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The FY 2021 Build to Scale program fuels tech-based economic development in regional economies and is comprised of two competitions, the Venture Challenge and the Capital Challenge. The Venture Challenge seeks to support high growth entrepreneurship, accelerate company growth, and scale proven entrepreneurship support models. The Capital Challenge increases access to capital in communities where risk capital is in short supply by providing operational support for early-stage investment funds, angel capital networks, or investor training programs. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, and other political subdivisions of states.
USDA Rural Development Grant Opportunities
Rural Energy for America Program - Deadline: March 31. This program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.
Value-Added Producer Grant Program - Deadline: March 22. This program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income.
Newman's Own Awards Program: Support for Organizations Serving Military Members and Veterans
Deadline: April 22. More info here. Newman's Own, Fisher House Foundation, and Military Times are joining together in presenting $200,000 in grants to recognize nonprofit organizations that improve quality of life for service members, veterans, and their families. Applying organizations will be evaluated on their innovative quality of life improvement plans.
The Home Depot Foundation: Community Impact Grants Program
Deadline: rolling through Dec. 31. More info here. Provides support to nonprofit organizations and public service agencies in the U.S. that are using the power of volunteers to improve their communities. The Program focuses on support for organizations that serve veterans in local communities, as well as organizations that serve vulnerable and underserved communities. Grants of up to $5,000 are made in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services.
Capacity Building for Maternal and Child Health Grants
Deadline: April 9. The Emerging Issues in Maternal and Child Health program works to strengthen the capacity of organizations to respond to emerging public health issues affecting maternal and child health populations. Specific capacity building areas include data and informational systems, workforce development, and strategic partnerships. Examples of emerging issues include, but are not limited to, increasing rates of opioid and other substance use disorders, emergent environmental health threats, persistent or increasing disparities in maternal mortality, inadequate availability of and access to behavioral health services, and declining immunization coverage.
Comcast RISE Grant Program
Deadline: May 7. The Comcast RISE program will initially be available for Black business owners. Beginning November 28, 2020, all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) business owners will be eligible to apply for Comcast RISE. Comcast RISE was created to invest in the success of these critical businesses by providing valuable and practical support. Applications close May 7th.
Community Heart & Soul Seed Grants
Community Heart & Soul announced its new Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program, a funding opportunity for small cities and towns nationwide. The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides startup funding of $10,000 for resident-driven groups in communities with populations of 2,500 to 30,000 to implement the Community Heart & Soul model. The Community Heart & Soul model engages the entire population of a town in identifying what they love most about their community, what future they want for it, and how to achieve it. More info and apply HERE.
Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design Workshops
The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design™ is now accepting applications through March 12 for an opportunity to participate in local Design Workshops that address specific community challenges, and an online Design Learning Cohort program that will allow up to 15 communities. All rural communities of 50,000 or less are eligible to apply. CIRD encourages applications from nonprofits, municipal governments, and other community partners. More info and apply HERE.
Partners for Places Matching Grant Program
Deadline: March 19 | more info here. An initiative of The Funders Network. Matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties in the United States to improve communities by building partnerships between local government leaders, community-led groups, and place-based local or regional foundations. Through the program, national funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and the well-being of all residents. The current focus is on sustainable climate action and green stormwater infrastructure applications.
Laura Jane Musser Fund: Rural Arts and Environmental Initiatives Grant Programs
Rural Arts (deadline: March 10)- assists arts organizations in targeted states that offer artistic opportunities for adults and children in the areas of literary, visual, musical, and performing arts. Grants of up to $10,000 are provided to organizations in rural communities with a population of less than 20,000.
Environmental Initiatives (deadline: March 17) - supports projects that enhance the ecological integrity of publicly owned open spaces, while encouraging compatible human activities.
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program
More info here. Are you a theatrical producer, talent representative, venue promoter or do you operate a live venue, live performing arts organization, movie house or cultural institution and have been impacted by COVID-19? Eligible organizations with a reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have the opportunity to receive up to a $10 million grant under the program. Offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
