All Resources Bulletins are archived HERE.
Funding & Technical Assistance

Innovative Affordable Housing Incentives Program Final Round 
Letters of intent due Sept. 1 | More info here. The Community Development Office is partnering with DOLA's Division of Housing to provide grants to local governments through the Housing Incentives Grant Program. This grant program can help cover tap fees, infrastructure, parks/playgrounds and other needs and amenities that support the affordable housing project. Projects are encouraged to provide community benefits (e.g., covering tap fees or infrastructure costs for an affordable housing project and/with a child care center, for example). A small portion can be used for needs and amenities in the neighborhood where the affordable housing development is located.

Innovative Affordable Housing Solutions - Planning Grant Program
Final Funding Round Deadline October 5th, 2022. More information available HERE. Before applying to either program (i.e. Incentives or Planning), we strongly encourage you to reach out to the 1271 team for guidance. Please contact the Program Manager, Mitch.Hendrick@state.co.us. with any questions. 

Rural Economic Development Initiative Grants
Next grant cycle opens Sept. 1 and closes Sept. 30 | More info here. The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) program is designed to help rural communities comprehensively diversify their local economy and create a more resilient Colorado. The most successful applications to this program are those from counties with less than 50,000 people, and from communities with fewer than 25,000 people. Projects that will be funded include plans, construction, programs, and capacity building. All applications must create and retain jobs, either direct or indirect. Projects should fall into one or more of the following categories: Job creation and retention; Capacity building; Economic resilience; supports entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Partners for Places Mini Grants
Deadline: Sept. 15 | More info here. Mini grants are available to help local governments, place-based funders, and frontline community groups build relationships, align around project ideas and ideally develop a proposal that centers racial equity in water, sustainability, and/or climate action work. Applicants can receive up to $20,000, which can be used to hire experts and/or to bring together local government water and/or sustainability department leaders, local funders, and frontline community groups and must include an equity expert. Apply by emailing materials found here to Ashley Quintana (ashley@fundersnetwork.org), with the subject line “Partners for Places Application from [Location]" by September 15.

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.

Arts in Society Grant Program
Deadline: August 29. More info here. Colorado Artist Grant, administered by RedLine, Arts in Society (AiS) is a grant program supporting cross-sector work through the arts across Colorado.

Fish and Wildlife Service: Grants for Habitat Protection on Private Land
Deadline: Sept. 30. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance in the form of cooperative and grant agreements to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of federal trust resources. Priorities include complementing activities on National Wildlife Refuge System lands, improving habitat for species at risk and federally designated species, and supporting five-year strategic plans to identify focal species and focal areas in which to invest limited resources.

Bridge Investment Funding
Deadline: September 8 | More info here. The program, part of the Federal Infrastructure law, will provide $12.5 billion over five years, with nearly $2.4 billion available in Fiscal Year 2022 to help plan, replace, rehabilitate, protect, and preserve some of the nation’s largest bridges. This competitive grant program comes on top of more than $27 billion in formula bridge funding the U.S. Department of Transportation announced earlier this year. This investment will help ensure that some of the nation’s most important bridges remain operational, support local economies, strengthen our supply chains, improve safety, and create good-paying jobs across the country.

Colorado State Outdoor Recreation Grant Program is Open
Next deadlines: September 30th, and 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

Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant (EIAF)
Deadline for next round: September 1 | More info here. Colorado Dept. of Local Affairs. The purpose of the EIAF Program is to assist political subdivisions that are socially and/or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels. Funds come from the state severance tax on energy and mineral production and from a portion of the state's share of royalties paid to the federal government for mining and drilling of minerals and mineral fuels on federally-owned land.
Training Opportunities & Events
 
Northwest Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) - August Workshops
View all here. These are all No Cost.
  • Thinking Ahead: Planning for a Recession |August 23|11 am- 12 pm | Online - Register here
  • HR Checkup for Small Businesses | August 25 | 11 am - 12 pm | Online - Register here

Leading Edge - Northwest Small Business Development Center
Sept 8 - Nov. 3 | Thursday Evenings 6pm- 8 pm. More info and register here. Does your business need focus? Join us for a 10-week deep-dive into the functional areas of your business and come out with clear direction.

AARP Housing for People of All Ages Workshop
September 21-22 | Online | Register here. Join AARP Livable Communities and other housing experts for a free online workshop about the ways communities nationwide can provide safe, affordable housing options for people of all ages, life stages, backgrounds, incomes, and abilities.
American Planning Association 2022 Policy and Advocacy Conference
September 28-29 | Online | Register here. Register for this inclusive conference that will provide guidance on the latest legislative policies and strategies, education on emerging and important topics, and opportunities to connect with other planners.

Mountain Town 2030 Conference in Breckenridge
September 20-22 | More info here. Mountain Towns 2030 is an annual gathering where mountain and outdoor community stakeholders convene and collaborate on climate solutions as an effort between mountain towns moving toward a goal of having zero net carbon emissions by 2030.

Rural Philanthropy Days
Sept. 13-15 |Hayden and Steamboat Springs| More info here.
Offered by Community Resource Center. The 2022 Northwest Rural Philanthropy Days conference is an exciting opportunity for nonprofit professionals, funders, community leaders, distinguished speakers, and elected officials to exchange knowledge and expand professional networks across the region from September 13-15. 

Outdoor Industry Summit
September 19 | 8am to 5pm | Salida Steamplant Event Center| Register here.
Offered by Central Mountains SBDC. Businesses, community organizations and engaged citizens in the Central Mountain Region (and around the state) are invited and encouraged to attend. Topics will include Sustainable Business Development; Stewardship Education and Advocacy; Leadership for the Future Grounded in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Resources and Tools to Educate and Protect our Public Lands While Still Promoting Tourism and Outdoor Adventures to All.

October 20-21, Denver, CO
CML's Annual Mayors' Summit
October 20-21 | Denver, CO. Registration opens soon for CML's annual event bringing together mayors from across the state to discuss critical issues facing their communities and share new and unique ideas.

FAMLI Workshop
Oct. 12 | Summit County Community & Senior Center |12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Save the Date! Registration info coming soon. Offered by CDLE Northwest Workforce Region, NWCCOG, and the Summit Chamber

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