NWCCOG Economic Development District

Resources Bulletin

September 22, 2025

All Resources Bulletins are archived HERE.

Training Opportunities & Events

2025 Small Communities Workshop

October 16 | Colorado Mountain College | Breckenridge, CO | Register here. 

Do you work in, work with, or serve a small community? Please join the Department of Local Affairs Division of Local Government (DOLA-DLG), the Colorado Municipal League (CML), Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI), and the Special District Association (SDA) for the annual Small Communities Workshop, hosted in beautiful Breckenridge. This workshop is open to entities statewide, and covers important issues facing Colorado's small communities (serving populations of 10,000 people or less); Hear from experts on housing solutions, infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI); Discover emerging themes and gain insights, resources and strategies that entities serving small communities can use every day. 

2025 State Demography Summit

November 7 | Arvada Center | Register here. The State Demography Summit is a one-day conference that offers attendees the opportunity to learn about the most current population and economic estimates and forecasts for the state, its regions, counties, and municipalities.

Statewide Sessions Scheduled for 50+ Workers, Seeking to Improve Programs and Policies for Older Job Seekers

Oct. 20 | 1 pm – 3:30 pm | Western Colorado Listening Session | Virtual | Register here.

The Colorado Commission on Aging (CCOA) Workforce Subcommittee, the Office of the Future of Work, and iAging want to hear from you. Whether you are working, seeking a

job, making a career switch, or returning to the workforce after a sabbatical or retirement, your insights can help make a difference. We will use your feedback to promote policy and program changes to improve opportunities for older adults to secure and retain work. The results of the listening tours will be reported in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's Longevity Talent Report and Colorado's MultiSector Plan on Aging.

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.

What Grantmakers Think About AI Webinar

Oct. 6 | 12 pm | Free | Register here. Curious whether AI belongs in your grantwriting process? You’re not alone—funders’ perspectives vary widely, and no universal standard exists. Still, you can prepare yourself to navigate the variety of situations you might face. Join this webinar to learn about real-world AI policies from grantmakers and funders, plus strategies to navigate unclear or restrictive guidelines.

Colorado Municipal League District 15 Meeting

Oct. 9 | 5 pm - 7:30 pm | Uptown on Main in Frisco| Register here. CML looks forward to seeing members at the District 15 fall meeting to share ideas, build connections and strengthen our municipalities.

2025 Annual Tax Increment Finance Summit

Oct. 23-24 | Pueblo, CO | Register here. Offered by Downtown Colorado, Inc. Join Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) and our partners in Colorado Tax Increment Finance (TIF) as we celebrate what is working and strategize for the next phase of public-private partnership to attract and focus investment in Colorado that drives the vision set by the community. The 2025 Colorado TIF Summit will be an interactive discussion for the Colorado URA community and hosted by the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority (PURA).

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. 

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

Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program - Deadline Extended to Oct. 3

New Deadline: Oct 3 | Details here. Grants for this program are exclusively available to certified ADU Supportive Jurisdictions and approximately $1.6 million in grant funds are available. Please reach out to staff if you plan to apply, have submitted your report, and are waiting for a response from Department of Local Affairs' CDO staff.

SBA New Loan Program for Small Manufacturers

Details here. The U.S. Small Business Administration recently launched its first-ever loan program dedicated to supporting America’s small manufacturers. The 7(a) Manufacturer’s Access to Revolving Credit (MARC) Loan Program will offer working capital for small businesses engaged in manufacturing, specifically designed to provide maximum flexibility and minimal red tape.

Local Government Childcare Planning Grant

Deadline: September 24 | Details here. The program, enacted by HB24-1237, provides grants to local governments to promote the development of new family and commercial child care facilities. The Childcare Planning Grant Program provides funding to: Retain consultants or related professional services to assess child care needs (including equity considerations), or to make changes to its policies, programs, development review processes, land use codes and related rules and regulations to promote child care facility development. The intent of the program is to fund planning work to adopt a qualifying strategy listed in the menu of best practices to support childcare, or an innovative option not currently on the list as approved by program staff. 

Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation | Kroger Company

Deadline: December 5 | Details here. An initiative of The Kroger Company, funds programs that eliminate hunger and waste in communities. They support nonprofits, innovators, and local organizations that improve food access through mobile pantries, transportation for food banks, and expanded SNAP enrollment. The Foundation also backs initiatives providing school breakfasts, helping homeless individuals gain skills and housing, and promoting nutrition education with healthier food options. 

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.

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.

Resources

A Smart Growth Approach to Housing

Details here. This resource by Smart Growth America provides insight on the importance of communities working to make it possible for everyone to have access to a home that supports them at every stage of life. That means more types of housing, in the right places, at prices people can afford. Smart Growth America works to tackle the root causes of our housing challenges by focusing on three things: the types of homes available, where they’re built, and how much they cost. This approach enables more options—like duplexes, townhomes, and apartments—in walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods close to jobs, schools, and transit. Read entire article here.

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.