NWCCOG Economic Development District

Resources Bulletin

September 5, 2025

All Resources Bulletins are archived HERE.

Training Opportunities & Events

Strategies for Rural and Small-town Renewal: From Vacant to Vibrant

Webinar series. Across the country, small towns and rural regions are finding creative ways to spark economic growth, fill empty spaces, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs. Join the NADO Research Foundation and Deb Brown from SaveYour.Town for a three-part webinar series that will offer practical, proven strategies you can put to work immediately, whether it’s reactivating vacant buildings, launching innovative low-cost business models, or building a self-sustaining network of entrepreneurs who mentor and support one another. Webinar registration links:

• Webinar #1: “Filling Empty Buildings” (September 9; 12-1 p.m.)  
• Webinar #2: “Innovative Rural Business Models” (September 16; 12-1 p.m.)
• Webinar #3 “Self-Supporting Entrepreneurship” (September 18; 12-1 p.m.)

Navigating Small Business Strategies for Wildfire Recovery

Two sessions: September 10 at 10:00am; September 24 at 10:00am | Register here.

Offered by the Northwest Colorado SBDC. Has your small business been affected by recent wildfires? Explore creative strategies for navigating business recovery in an open discussion format with SBDC advisors Dale Jasinski and Lisa Wood. Topics can include alternate revenue streams, operational changes, financial needs, and other ways to pivot and adapt your business in the short- and long-term. Please also bring your questions and concerns.

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.

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

Community Connectors Program - Smart Growth America

Deadline: September 11 | Details here. The Community Connectors program is a free technical assistance initiative supporting small and mid-sized cities in repairing the damage caused by divisive and dangerous roads. This year’s cohort will design and implement quick-build safety demonstration projects in neighborhoods harmed by past infrastructure decisions. Three teams from small to mid-sized cities will participate in a year-long cohort from September 2025 to June 2026. All applications must be a joint endeavor between a local government unit and an organization representing the affected residents or neighborhoods. Up to $25,000 will be given to each community for the demonstration project and team participation, with at least $5,000 reserved to compensate the community-based organization co-lead for their time.

Charge Ahead Colorado Grant

Next round open Sept. 15-Oct. 17 | Details here. The grant program offers funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging throughout Colorado to encourage the adoption of EVs, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support implementation of the Colorado EV Plan. Competitive grant funding is available statewide for community, multifamily housing, workplace, or other publicly available EV charging. 

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. 

Opportunity Now Tax Credit

Pre-Qualification Questionnaire Deadline: September 16; Reservation Application Deadline: September 18 | Details here. The Office of Economic Development and International Trade is accepting applications for the Opportunity Now Tax Credit. Companies in the advanced manufacturing, clean energy, construction, infrastructure, and semiconductor industries that are investing in talent initiatives such as workforce training or skill development are eligible to apply. This program offers a refundable tax credit of up to 50% of eligible costs, including facility improvements and equipment purchases used for training. Up to $15 million in credits are available annually. Tax credits can be claimed once qualified assets are placed into service, with certificates issued from January 2026 through January 2033.

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

Five Tips for Community Leaders to Update Land-Use Codes for Positive Change

Read article here. Land-use and building code updates can encourage diverse housing options, promote affordability, improve energy efficiency, preserve existing housing, and engage the community. As community leaders struggle with the housing crisis, balancing development with environmental protection, how can they create a positive change through updated land-use and building codes? While the challenges are real, and local governments don’t have control over many macroeconomic factors like interest rates, there are tangible ways local governments can take action. Your community can use your local land-use and building codes to require or encourage development that aligns with your goals.

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.