NWCCOG Economic Development District

Resources Bulletin

August 4, 2025

All Resources Bulletins are archived HERE.

Training Opportunities & Events

Redevelopment and Revitalization: Land Bank 101

August 14 | Virtual | Register here. Offered by the National Organization of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation. Land banks can be powerful tools for redevelopment and revitalization of distressed properties and communities. Communities can use these tools to help work towards addressing common issues like downtown revitalization, boosting housing supply, and reimagining vacant and/or abandoned properties. Join the NADO Research Foundation’s Economic Development District Community of Practice as we hear from Brian Larkin, Director of the National Land Bank Network, at the Center for Community Progress on an intro to regional land banks.

Revive + Thrive: Collaborative solutions for safer, stronger business districts

August 22 | Register here. Offered by Downtown Colorado, Inc. Join us for a dynamic summit focused on real-world solutions to the most pressing challenges facing Colorado’s downtown districts. Connect with BID leaders, policymakers, urban planners, and community advocates to share best practices and transform obstacles into opportunities.

Spanish Language Small Business Conference

August 21 | Denver | Register here. This event provides a unique opportunity to learn new strategies, connect with peers and mentors, and foster business growth. Importantly, the entire conference will be conducted in Spanish, creating a comfortable and effective environment for attendees to communicate and learn in their native language. This celebration of entrepreneurship aims to strengthen local economic growth by promoting knowledge sharing, fostering collaboration, and supporting business development. The conference is presented in partnership with the Colorado Latino Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Enterprise Fund.

MTN2030 Summit

October 7-8 | Riverwalk Center, Breckenridge | More info here. Hosted by the Towns of Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Frisco, Blue River, Dillon, and Keystone along with Summit County. The 2025 event will continue to emphasize collaboration and model replicable climate solutions implemented by many communities across the Mountain Towns 2030 movement, and will will celebrate some of the most impactful mountain community climate successes.

Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) Annual Conference

Oct. 26-29 in Pueblo | More info here. The EDCC will host its annual  

Drive | Lead | Succeed Conference at the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo, 

Colorado. The conference unites leading industry influencers and thought leaders 

to exchange valuable insights. It will introduce innovative tools and solutions 

to address pressing economic issues within Colorado’s professional economic 

development community, and it will facilitate the flow of fresh ideas among 

Colorado’s foremost economic development professionals, business and non

profit leaders, and government officials. Elected officials can register for the same 

discounted rate as EDCC members, and the council is extending the early bird 

registration rate to July 15. 

GovCon 2025: Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference

October 22-24 | Colorado Springs, CO | Details here. The Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference is an annual three-day event for tourism professionals and industry leaders to learn and network. Participants assess current activities and find new approaches to market the state, locales, and businesses. Speakers from throughout the country will challenge and inspire attendees. 

Colorado Governor's Tourism Conference Professional Scholarship

Details here. Helps tourism professionals attend the Colorado Governor's Tourism Conference (Gov Con) in October in Colorado Springs. The scholarship includes conference registration and hotel. 

Tax Increment Finance Summit

October 24 | Pueblo. Save the date, more to come! Offered by Downtown Colorado, Inc. DCI is pleased to convene delegates from across Colorado for DCI's Annual Colorado Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Summit to discuss how to use TIF to attract investment to drive the vision set by the community.

2026 Community Builders Training for Local Leaders

Feb. 10-12, 2026, Grand Junction, Colorado. Details here. This award-winning training engages teams of community leaders in an intensive, 3-day workshop that combines practical learning with team development and facilitated action planning. Teams identify a specific local community development challenge, and leave with a commitment to working together and a realistic action plan.

Small Business Development Center

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

Funding & Technical Assistance

Join the Care for Colorado Coalition

Details here. The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) and Leave No Trace founded the Care for Colorado Coalition in 2020. Now an alliance of more than 200 statewide organizations, state/federal agencies, local governments, destinations and outdoor recreation and tourism businesses, the coalition is dedicated to educating Coloradans and visitors on how to protect the state’s extraordinary natural and cultural resources. As a Coalition Partner you will receive access to marketing assets, communication materials and educational resources to help you educate visitors and residents on how to enjoy Colorado respectfully and responsibly. You are eligible to become a Coalition Partner if you are a local government, tourism-related or outdoor recreation organization or association, destination marketing and/or management organization, chamber of commerce or travel-related business.

U.S. EPA Brownfields Grants Webinar

August 26 & 27 | Free | Details here. This comprehensive workshop will focus on U.S. EPA Brownfields Grants for FY 2026, including Multipurpose Grants – Unlock funding through combined annual appropriations and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds (guidelines anticipated: September 2025); Assessment Grants – Secure resources for environmental assessments with BIL and annual funding (guidelines anticipated: September 2025); Cleanup Grants – Learn how to access BIL and annual funding for brownfield cleanup efforts (guidelines anticipated: September 2025).

Accessible Travel Program

Deadline to apply: October 9 | Details here. The Accessible Travel Program, a program in partnership with Wheel The World, aims to amplify accessible spaces in destinations across Colorado. This innovative program aligns with the CTO Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan, demonstrating Colorado’s commitment to providing welcoming, inclusive and accessible experiences for everyone. Up to four destination marketing organizations (DMOs) will be selected to participate. Selected destinations will be paired with a tourism consultant that will serve as their lead point of contact throughout the duration of the program.

National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) Community Rides Program

Deadline: August 29 | Details here. RTAP Community Rides grant program is intended to develop or strengthen transportation partnerships and the capacity of rural transit programs. Successful projects will increase access to critical needs like employment, healthcare, education, healthy food, social services, or recreation. 

Colorado Affordable Housing Financing Fund

Supports land banking, equity, concessionary debt, and modular-built financing. To be eligible, affordable housing projects seeking support from the Affordable Housing Financing Fund must be located in a jurisdiction that has completed a Proposition 123 Local Government Affordable Housing Commitment with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs − Division of Housing. Learn more here.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant (ADUG) Program

First Funding Cycle open Aug. 1 - Aug. 29 | Details here. The Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant (ADUG) Program enacted by HB24-1152 will provide grants to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) Supportive Jurisdictions for activities that promote the construction of ADUs.

Bolger Foundation: Capital Grants to Strengthen Communities

Deadline: September 1 | Details here. The Bolger Foundation offers U.S. nonprofits grants for capital projects. Funding supports initiatives in conservation, underserved populations, health (including mental health), community, and education. Eligible expenses include construction, building improvements, capital equipment, furnishings, and other one-time physical needs. The foundation’s goal is to empower organizations that make a lasting community impact and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities.

Colorado CHIPS Community Support Program

Deadline: September 30 | Details here. The application window for Cycle 4 of the Colorado CHIPS Community Support Program is officially open, The Evaluation Committee will make final award decisions by December 31, 2025. This program is a suite of three grants that are available to local and county governments; regional economic development organizations; and consortia led by those governments and organizations to identify, develop, and market local assets that are relevant to the semiconductor and advanced industries ecosystems.

Resources

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Trail Map for Rural Development

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) released their Trail Map for Rural Development in America, which was inspired by rural recreation communities across the country and informed by ORR's National Leadership Forum on Rural Development that was held last fall. The Trail Map identifies core opportunities for leading agencies, nonprofits, philanthropies, and business leaders focused on economic development to ensure that rural America flourishes through access to the outdoors.

Colorado Department of Local Affairs Local Community Funding Guide

The Division of Local Government (DLG) created this comprehensive resource to help local governments and nonprofit community organizations navigate the funding sources available through a variety of Federal and State programs. While not an exhaustive list, this guide is updated frequently as new information is available.