NWCCOG Economic Development District

Resources Bulletin

February 8, 2023

All Resources Bulletins are archived HERE.

Funding & Technical Assistance

New State Program to Promote Affordable Housing Construction

More info here. Gov. Jared Polis announced Colorado’s new Innovative Housing Incentive Program which is designed to provide funding assistance for innovative housing structures, such as modular and 3D printed homes. The new program will offer grants, loans and per-unit incentives to Colorado-based, innovative housing manufacturers with 500 employees or less. This includes providing reimbursements of up to $450,000 for operating expenses, $50,000 bonus awards for producing affordable housing, up to $6,000 per built unit cash incentives and factory development loans.

Persons Who Wander Grant Program – Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Deadline: Feb. 17 | More info here. The grants will assist local governments in locating persons with medical conditions — such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, autism, and brain injuries — by encouraging county sheriffs’ departments, municipalities, and county or municipal designees to establish recovery programs and provide tools to increase the chances of saving the lives of lost and missing persons. The grant may be used to pay for equipment, technology, training, and outreach about recovery programs.

The Colorado Energy Office’s Zero Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Infrastructure Program

Will provide grants to support infrastructure for transitioning high-emitting fleet vehicles to zero-emissions in communities across the state. The Energy office is also exploring a grant program to help local governments develop eBike rebate programs for low- and moderate income individuals. Grants would likely be available this summer and require up to a 50% match. Learn more about these initiative at https://bit.ly/3XQ4QkV

The Outdoor Recreation Industry Impact Fund (ORIIF)

Deadline: Feb. 28 | All details here. This fund will support recovery efforts for outdoor industry small businesses and nonprofits, by providing reimbursement-based grants for payroll needs. The goal of this grant program is to allow outdoor recreation industry businesses and nonprofits to hire new and/or retain existing employees.

NEA 2023 Grant Opportunities

Details here. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently announced grant guidelines and application materials for Challenge America and Grants for Arts Projects (GAP).

The Colorado Resiliency Office: Planning Grants for the Microgrids for Community Resilience Program

A microgrid is a small network of electricity users with a local source of supply that is usually attached to a centralized electric grid but can function independently. The program provides grants to support electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in establishing microgrids in rural communities. These microgrids can keep electricity flowing when the electric grid goes down. Applicants can submit applications via the DOLA grants portal, https://bit.ly/2ChoDPY. More information is available on the Microgrids for Community Resilience website, https://bit.ly/3jmlmu6. The Colorado Resiliency Office will host a webinar on microgrids, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, on Feb. 14. It will provide a brief introduction to microgrids in Colorado, background on the Microgrids for Community Resilience program, and examples of community-based microgrid projects. Register at https://bit.ly/3YhE7O6.

Venture Capital for Rural Businesses thru OEDIT Venture Capital Authority

More info here. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and the Colorado Venture Capital Authority are renewing a partnership with the Greater Colorado Venture Fund to help provide investment money to rural businesses. The fund has already committed about $11 million to the program, which focuses on creating jobs in rural communities. The partnership launched the rural investment funding program in 2018 and it was recognized as the first such venture fund in the nation that focused on rural investments. The fund has raised nearly $25 million for this second round.

Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals

Deadline: March 21 | More info here. Purpose is to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and evidence-based treatment and services for individuals, youth, and families with substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorders who are experiencing homelessness. Grants will support three primary types of activities: behavioral health outreach, treatment, and recovery-oriented services; coordination of housing and services to support the implementation or enhance the long-term sustainability of integrated community systems that provide permanent housing and supportive services; and efforts to engage and connect individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders who are experiencing homelessness to resources for health insurance, Medicaid, and mainstream benefits programs.

Training Opportunities & Events

Hidden Talent: Fair Chance Hiring

Feb 14 from 9 am - 10:30 am | Free and Virtual - Register here. Offered by CDLE Northwest CO Workforce Region. Fair-chance hiring is built in the premise that everyone, regardless of their background, has the right to be fairly assessed for a role they’re qualified to fill. Not only are these practices often required by law, employers benefit from a larger talent pool, higher rates of engagement, reduced turnover and increased diversity. Learn about the benefits and protections available when considering justice-involved candidates and how employers can expand their reach by becoming Fair Chance Certified. Learn about the benefits and protections available when considering justice-involved candidates and how employers can expand their reach by becoming Fair Chance Certified.  

Small Business Development Center

Full events and workshops calendar including webinars can be found HERE.

Colorado Secure Savings & The Impact of Secure Act 2.0  

Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m. | Register here. This training will review the Colorado Secure Savings Act and its associated retirement plan mandate, as well as the various provisions of the newly enacted Secure 2.0 law. We will discuss the pros & cons of the "public option" and provide insights into the overall utility of "private alternatives" to comply with the state's 2023 mandate. Please join us to learn about valuable

federal tax incentives that are exclusively available to small business owners!  

Hayden’s Housing Model: How a Small Town is Addressing a Big Issue

Feb. 23, 12-1 p.m. | Register here. Offered by the Colorado Municipal League. In this webinar, Town of Hayden staff will cover the story of their housing model, including their objectives, strategies, and tactics as well as how their mission and vision statements guide them forward. Presented by Mathew Mendisco, Hayden town manager, and Tegan Ebbert, Hayden community development director.

Municipal Philanthropy: Lessons From City Give

March 29, 2023, 12-1 pm | Register here. Offered by the Colorado Municipal League. In 2019, the City of Fort Collins launched City Give, a formalized structure for philanthropic partnerships and charitable giving. This “in-house” approach to philanthropy allows the city to respond to strategic priorities and community needs that fall outside the city budget but are well-positioned for private funding. Presented by City Give Director Nina Bodenhamer, this webinar will cover topics ranging from charitable tax receipts to philanthropic policy from financial governance to accepting cash of real property, from how best to partner with friends groups to naming rights.

CML Legislative Update

April 7, 2023, 12-1 pm | Register here. Get the latest news on this session of the Colorado General Assembly during this webinar with the Colorado Municipal League advocacy team. You will have the opportunity to hear about potential legislation and to ask questions about issues that could affect your city or town.

EDA Denver Regional Economic Development Conference

April 10-12 | The Curtis Double Tree by Hilton | More information and register here. The NADO Research Foundation will hold a regional economic development training conference in Denver, April 10 – 12, 2023. The EDA Denver Region covers a 10-state footprint (CO, IA, KS, MO, MT, ND, NE, SD, UT, and WY). The conference is geared for Economic Development Districts, Revolving Loan Funds, and others engaged in economic development across the region. The conference will be provided with support from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) Denver Regional Office. 

2023 NWCCOG Regional Economic Summit

May 4, 2023 | Silverthorne Pavilion | SAVE THE DATE! More information to come!

2023 Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) Summit

June 1-2, 2023 in Crested Butte. The CCI Summit is the largest annual conference that brings together artists, culture bearers, creative industry entrepreneurs, arts funders, and culture workers. More than 300 creative stakeholders from over 60 Colorado cities and towns attend the summit. The two-day event offers exhibits, performances, networking opportunities, speakers, classes, and workshops. 

Colorado Municipal League Annual Meeting

June 25-28, 2023 at the Gaylord of the Rockies in Aurora. SAVE THE DATE! Scholarships available, applications due by Feb. 24, information on scholarships here.