Funding & Technical Assistance

Colorado Tourism Office: Tourism Marketing Matching Grant Program
Deadline: September 23 | More info here. This grant program awards funding to eligible applicants for projects that promote the state as a tourism destination. Additionally, these grants may be used for marketing projects that support better destination management such as educating visitors on how to recreate responsibly. Changes to the Marketing Matching Grant program for fiscal year 2022 include: Increased the amount of funding available for grant awards to $750,000 (more than what has ever been allocated for the program; in FY 2020, we awarded $392,250 to 19 recipients); The maximum grant award amount has been raised to $40,000 from $25,000; The required match has been lowered by 50% and is now a 2:1 match versus a 1:1 match in previous years. For example, if you request a grant of $40,000, you need to have at least $20,000 in other funding.

Community Heart & Soul Seed Grants
Deadline: Rolling | More info here. The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides $10,000 in funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to start the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization.  

Economic Development Administration/American Rescue Plan Act $3 billon in funding available
More info on the EDA website HERE. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced $3 billion in funding opportunities for distressed and underserved communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This historic investment, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) of 2021, will support bottom-up, middle-out economic development focused on advancing equity, creating good-paying jobs, helping workers to develop in-demand skills, building economic resilience, and accelerating the economic recovery for the industries and communities hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. Local governments are eligible to apply for grant funding in each of the six programs, along with economic development districts, state agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations. The EDA is encouraging regional applications. All information on this funding opportunity, along with details about each of the 6 programs available, can be found on the EDA website HERE.

Main Street: Open for Business Grant Program
Applications are now open and accepted on a rolling basis | More info here. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) with funding from SB21-252 will support efforts by local governments and regional collaborations to engage in small business relief through “Main Street: Open for Business.” This Initiative supports façade improvements and energy efficiency projects for businesses in the state’s traditional downtowns.

Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade Opportunities
OEDIT Programs with open applications:
  • CLIMBER Loan Fund: The Colorado Loans for Increasing Mainstreet Business and Economic Recovery (CLIMBER) fund provides $250 million to small businesses with working capital loans between $30,000 and $500,000. Below-market interest rates and a 1-year deferred payment option make the program a secure recovery option for small businesses.
  • Colorado Revolving Loan Fund: This fund provides loans that help small to medium-sized Colorado businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These loans range from $5,000 to $750,000. The loans are intended to provide startup and working capital that will help create and retain jobs across Colorado.
  • Meeting and Events Incentive: This program provides $10 million for a 10% cash rebate against eligible hard costs for hosting meetings and events in Colorado that take place on or after July 1, 2021 and on or before December 31, 2022.
  • Restart Industry Associations Program: This program provides awarded tourism industry associations 75 hours of technical assistance and $10,000 of direct marketing from the Colorado Tourism Office to support adoption of the Roadmap to Recovery.

Equipment, Training, and Technology for Fire Departments Funded
Deadline: Oct. 1. The Leary Firefighters Foundation is dedicated to funding equipment, education, training, and technology for firefighters nationwide. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000. Letters of inquiry are due August 15, 2021; the deadline for invited applications is October 1, 2021. Visit the Foundation's website to review the guidelines for the Jeremiah Lucey Grant Program.
Training Opportunities & Events

Tapping Hidden Talent Pools: Age Friendly Workplaces
August 24 | 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | Virtual | Register here
Offered by CDLE. Learn how recruiting older workers can benefit your business • Become an age-friendly certified workplace • Understand how to find, recruit and retain older workers

State and Federal Funding: Maximizing the Opportunities
Aug. 25 | 10 - 11:30 a.m. | Register here
Offered by the Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC). EDCC has partnered with our State and Federal partners for an informational session that highlights all the funding programs being administered, timelines and deadlines, and ways your community can maximize the funding resources to power your community’s comeback. Speakers:
  • Pat Meyers, Executive Director, Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT)
  • Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director, Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC)
  • Kate Guibert, Rural Prosperity Manager, Colorado Resiliency Office – CO Department of Local Affairs (DOLA)
  • Trent Thompson, Colorado and Utah Representative, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA)

National Small Business Week
September 13-15 | Virtual Summit | More info and register here. Join the SBA September 13 – September 15, 2021, for the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit to learn new business strategies, meet other business owners, and chat with industry experts. This free online event will include educational webinars, updates on resources for small businesses and a networking chat room for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Leading Edge: Interactive Strategic Planning Series to Grow your Business
9 weekly sessions | Sept. 2 - Nov. 2 | $250 | More info and Register here
Offered by the Northwest Colorado Small Business Development Center. Sessions include What do you want your business to do for you?; SWOT, Competitive Analysis; Marketing; Legal Aspects; Cash Flow; Financial Statements; Ratios and KPIs; Funding; Presentations and Celebration!

Demystifying Entrepreneurship
Oct. 22 - 23 | Hayden, CO | $55 | More info and register here
Demystifying Entrepreneurship presented by the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business Deming Center for Entrepreneurship provides an introduction to entrepreneurship and is geared toward anyone considering launching their own business or improving their existing small business. Taught by Erick Mueller & Eric Bruno, entrepreneurs and award-winning professors at the Leeds School of Business, this two-day in-person short course will impart a framework and toolkit in order to develop sought-after products and services, avoid pitfalls and succeed at entrepreneurship.

Colorado Municipal League Special Conference
Sept. 22-24 at the Westin in Westminster, CO | More info here.

The Power of WE (Womens Entrepreneurs) Conference 
September 27 | Salida Steamplant Event Center, Salida, CO |Register here. Offered by Central Mountain SBDC. The Power of WE (Women Entrepreneurs) will offer thought provoking content, resources and tools to inspire women’s leadership development, creativity, and innovation. It will also share the many Federal, State and local funding opportunities that are available to women owned businesses and share tools and resources to access them.

Colorado Creative Industries Summit
September 30 - October 1 in Steamboat Springs | Register here | Offered by Colorado Creative Industries Office.

2021 APA Colorado Planning Conference
September 8-10, 2021 | Keystone CO | Register here.

Colorado Governor's Tourism Conference
Nov. 2 - 5 in Pueblo | Register here | Offered by the Colorado Tourism Office.

Drive, Lead, Succeed Conference
Oct. 20-22 in Steamboat Springs, CO | Economic Development Council of Colorado | More info here.
Our Annual Drive | Lead | Succeed Conferences aim to provide the knowledge, tools, and connections that are vital to foster a growing Colorado economy.

2021 State Demography Office Annual Demography Summit
November 5. This year's event will be virtual and free of charge. Save the date.
Northwest Colorado Council of Governments
Economic Development District | www.nwccog.org/edd