NWCCOG Economic Development District

Resources Bulletin

October 3, 2022

Training Opportunities & Events

Summit Biz Bootcamp: 9-Week Business Development Program

Wednesday evenings starting Oct. 5 | 6pm - 8 pm | Oct 5 - Dec. 10 | More info here. rimarily virtual with some sessions in person  The Summit Biz Bootcamp is a 9-week business development program that’s powered by CO.STARTERS and brought to you by the Summit Economic Partnership. This is a program developed to help and support new and existing business owners and entrepreneurs with workshops, guest speakers, mentoring, coaching and educational classes. It's an interactive program with hands-on learning and activities. So, get ready to roll up your sleeves and focus on your business.

Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program Town Hall

Oct. 12 | Summit County Community & Senior Center, Frisco, CO |12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. |RSVP HERE

Offered by CDLE Northwest Workforce Region, NWCCOG, and the Summit Chamber.  Join the Division of Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) at our FAMLI Town Hall on October 12 at noon and learn more about Colorado's new statewide paid leave program. In-person and virtual options are available. Space is limited, so please RSVP here. ASL and ESL interpreters are available upon request with a required three business days notice. 

Planning for Retirement Webinar

October 11-12 | Virtual | No Cost | Register here. Offered by the NW Small Business Development Center. A retirement plan is a big piece of a successful & profitable business exit! Exit strategy IS business strategy, so make it your business to plan for retirement, and learn the benefits of the right plan for you & your company. This content will be relevant for both current business owners and those weighing the option of leaving behind your employer-sponsored benefits to step full-time into self-employment.

Veterans Small Business Conference

October 12 | 9am to 12pm | Virtual & No Cost | Register here

Join us for this year’s premier event for veteran entrepreneurs. The virtual, statewide 15th Annual Veterans Small Business Conference will feature expert speakers, practical training sessions and relevant exhibitors for veterans at any stage in their entrepreneurial journey.  

StartUp to ScaleUp Yampa Valley

October 14-15 | Hayden, CO (in person) | Register Here

This two-day in-person short course is presented by the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business Deming Center for Entrepreneurship and focuses on growing small businesses and organizations. This course is designed for second-stage small businesses and organizations, specifically, those looking or needing to shift out of their startup phase and into “what’s next”. Registration includes all course materials, light appetizers on 10/14, breakfast and lunch on 10/15. Early Bird: $55 (through 9/16/22)

Regular Pricing: $75

Drive, Lead, Succeed Conference - Economic Development Council of Colorado

October 19-21 | Pueblo, CO | More info here. Our conference aims to provide the knowledge, tools, and connections that are vital to foster a growing Colorado economy.

2022 State Demography Office Annual Summit

November 4 | Virtual | No cost. The 2022 State Demography Summit will be held virtually on Friday, November 4, 2022. Registration for this year's summit will be free of charge. 

Funding & Technical Assistance

ReConnect Program: Grants and Loans for Rural High-Speed Internet

Deadline: November 2 | More info here. USDA is now accepting applications for ReConnect Program loans and grants to expand access to high-speed internet for millions of people in rural America nationwide. The application deadline is November 2, 2022. For additional information, click here to learn more.

Rural Technical Assistance Program - OEDIT Rural Opportunity Office

More info here. The goal of the RTAP program is to provide fundamental education to all rural communities around selected topics of interest and then provide opportunities for mentored project development and strategic implementation to help support long-term rural economic resiliency. The program is comprised of three coordinated phases, all housed under the umbrella of the RTAP banner:

Phase 1: Education - through online modules

Phase 2: Technical Outreach - more traditional technical assistance and mentorship

Phase 3: Technical Implementation - with the potential for implementation funding

Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program

Deadline: Nov. 22 | More info here. This grant from the EPA works to change the way communities address and manage contaminated property. The Program is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. Current grant opportunities include Multipurpose Grants, Community-wide Assessment Grants, Assessment Coalition Grants, Community-wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes, Revolving Loan Fund Grants, and Cleanup Grants.

Colorado State Forest Service: Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grants

Deadline: Oct. 19 | More info here. Community groups, homeowner associations, utilities and nonprofit organizations are just some of the groups eligible to apply for grants from the $15 million funding pool.

Community Wildfire Defense Grant

Deadline: October 7. The Community Wildfire Defense Grant is intended to help at-risk local communities plan for and reduce the risk against wildfire. Goals include restoring and maintaining landscapes, creating fire-adapted communities, and improving wildfire response. Supported project types include the development and revision of community wildfire protection plans, and the implementation of projects described in community wildfire protection plans that are less than ten years old.

US Department of Transportation Reconnecting Communities Grant Program

Deadline: October 13 | More info here. The Department of Transportation's new $1B Reconnecting Communities grant program has $250M in planning grants and $750M in construction grants over the next five years. The program is interested in creative solutions to reconnect communities.

Colorado State Outdoor Recreation Grant Program is Open

Next deadline: December 31st of each year through 2025 or until all funding is allocated. OEDIT's Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC) Colorado State Outdoor Recreation Grant program – funds are made available through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Eligible entities include government bodies, nonprofits, colleges/universities, economic development organizations. More info here. Eligible projects include: Infrastructure improvements and upgrades; Marketing and event/asset promotion; Technical assistance and strategic planning; Other projects of high economic impact, particularly related to job creation and retention