Training Opportunities & Events

Summit Biz Bootcamp: Start or Grow Your Business
9-week session starting Oct.6. More information and apply HERE.
Join the CO.STARTERS 9-week program and get the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn business ideas into action. This program is presented by the Summit Prosperity Initiative, part of the Summit Chamber.

Small Business Resources for Preparedness, Relief, Recovery, and Resiliency
September 29 | 12:00 p.m. MST | Register here. Offered by the SBA. During this webinar, you will: learn more about COVID EIDL and how you can take advantage before December 31, 2021; Discover tools and resources you can use to start and grow your business; Have your questions answered by SBA leadership and small business experts; Get an update regarding programs and recent policy announcements made by the Biden-Harris Administration.

Good Jobs = Good Business: How Job Quality Drives Better Business Results
September 30 | 9-11 a.m. | Virtual | Register here. Join Workforce Experts from Aspen Institute along with partners from Pacific Community Ventures, in an event that will discuss tools and techniques aimed at small businesses for improving job quality and driving business performance. The presentation will feature the Aspen Institute's Job Quality Tools Library and PCV's Good Jobs Good Business Toolkit.

Talent in a Tough Market: Businesses share tips and tricks for hiring in a challenging labor market
October 19 | 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Virtual Event | Register here. Offered by Northwest Colorado Workforce Center. Between the housing crisis, upheavals in childcare affordability and availability and a labor shortage, available workers are at a premium. Understand the causes of the labor shortage, hear best practices and trends in recruiting from Aryn Schlichting of Mountain Careers and learn what's working from local businesses who have found success in hiring.

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.

How to Spend $500 Million in Coronavirus Funds for Colorado Housing Needs
October 18 | 1:30-3:00 p.m. | Online | Register here
Please join The Honorable Steven Woodrow, State Representative (District 6) Colorado General Assembly and Cathy Alderman, Chief Communications & Public Policy Officer, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, who will discuss the state legislation that was enacted earlier this year that funds "programs or services that address housing insecurity, lack of affordable and workforce housing, or homelessness..." 

Building Outdoor Communities Digital Conference
October 13th and 14 from 10am-2pm MST | More info and register here. The Building Outdoor Communities workshop will feature leading voices on the ins and outs of building a sustainable, dynamic outdoor recreation economy that benefits local communities and visitors alike.

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

Grand County Economic Summit
November 12 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | River Run Resort in Granby
Everyone is welcome! Details coming soon. Save the Date!

2021 State Demography Office Annual Demography Summit
November 5 | Online | Registration opens Oct. 4
The 2021 State Demography Summit will be held virtually this year. Registration for this year’s summit will be free of charge. They are planning to offer Continuing Education credits for Real Estate Appraisers and Real Estate Brokers.
Funding & Technical Assistance

Hazard Mitigation Grant Opportunities
Colorado communities have a unique opportunity to reduce their long-term risks from natural hazards with assistance from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA). This document from the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. provides information on all of these funding opportunities. More information on these funding opportunities can also be found here: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation.

Affordable Housing Development Incentives Grant Program
Administered by DOLA's Community Development Office. CDO is pleased to announce that the Incentives Grant Program guidelines have been posted. Qualifying communities (i.e., those that have adopted at least three strategies from the menu of qualifying strategies listed in the guidelines document) can apply for funds to support affordable housing development projects directly or through programs that support affordable housing development or long-term preservation. Join an informational Zoom meeting to hear more Incentives Grant Program details and ask questions:
  • Q&A Meeting 1 - Thursday October 7, 12-1 p.m. ; Meeting ID: 823 5812 8962; Passcode: 623799
  • Q&A Meeting 2 - Friday October 8, 10-11 a.m.; Meeting ID: 818 2446 1812; Passcode: 035537 
  • Q&A Meeting 3 - Tuesday October 12, 3-4 p.m. ; Meeting ID: 858 2247 5275; Passcode: 957674

Innovative Affordable Housing Strategies Planning Grant Program
Second Funding Round Deadline: October 25 | more info here. Email questions to christy.wiseman@state.co.us. The Planning Grant Program has approximately $6,816,000 in funding available to local governments to help them understand their housing needs and adopt policy and regulatory strategies to qualify for the Incentives Grant Program. Planning Grants can fund data collection (e.g., housing needs assessments) paired with strategic policy and regulatory updates to remove barriers and incentivize affordable housing at the local level.

Colorado Growing Water Smart Technical Assistance Grants
Deadline: October 15 | More info here. The Sonoran Institute is now accepting applications for the next round of Technical Assistance funding for Colorado Growing Water Smart teams. All past Colorado teams are eligible to apply, including those who have received technical funding in the past. Learn more about the opportunity and how to apply.

Charge Ahead Colorado Grants
Deadline: October 18 | More info and apply here. The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has re-opened the Charge Ahead Colorado application for electric charging stations.  Workplaces, multifamily buildings, and tourist destinations are strongly encouraged to apply.  

Colorado Creative Corps ARP Grant Program
Deadlines: Cycle A - Nov. 1; Cycle B - Jan. 13, 2022 | More info here. This program will provide grants for artists and artist collectives that complete specific, definable projects that connect artists and organizations to local initiatives. Projects will require an organization or community partner and must be completed by June 30, 2022. No matching funds are required, and the grant can pay for a portion or all of the costs of the project. Grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. 

Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program
Deadline: December 1 | More info here. Supports the expansion of broadband Internet access, connectivity, and digital inclusion. Examples of supported activities include the purchase of broadband Internet access service or any eligible equipment, or to hire and train information technology personnel; to facilitate educational instruction and learning, including through remote instruction; to operate a minority business enterprise; or to operate a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience Grant Program (EJ4Climate)
Deadline: November 14 | More info here. EJ4Climate is dedicated to addressing climate resilience. This program will provide grants to community-based organizations to deliver environmental justice and advance local solutions to adapt to climate change. For the inaugural grant cycle, the CEC is calling for initiatives that 1) support community resilience to climate change and climate-related impacts; 2) yield tangible, equitable benefits for local communities by addressing or adapting to climate change impacts; 3) consider local knowledge and transform that knowledge into an innovative action or solution; and 4) build partnerships that respond to community-identified challenges. Funded projects could include addressing extreme weather impacts, transitioning to clean energy and/or transportation systems, or utilizing traditional ecological knowledge to address climate change impacts. Nonprofit organizations, non-governmental organizations, environmental groups, community-based associations, and communities are eligible to apply.

Colorado Arts Relief Grant
The Colorado Arts Relief Fund provides $15.5 million for the second round of funding to support arts, cultural and entertainment artists, crew members, and organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program previously provided $7.5 million in early 2021 in its first round of funding. Applications are open. This fund has two separate grant applications, one for businesses and organizations and one for individuals. You may only apply for one. If you are unsure which one you qualify for, please review the eligibility requirements. 

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.
Northwest Colorado Council of Governments
Economic Development District | www.nwccog.org/edd