NWCCOG Economic Development District

Resources Bulletin

October 23, 2023

All Resources Bulletins are archived HERE.

Funding & Technical Assistance


NWCCOG Regional Grants Navigator

NWCCOG has a Regional Grants Navigator on staff to assist with identifying appropriate grant opportunities, reviewing grants prior to submission, or helping to gather letters of support. Feel free to reach out to him for assistance: Jonathan Godes, NWCCOG Regional Grants Navigator - jgodes@nwccog.org.


Federal Opportunities


Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Program

Full Details Here. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the second round of its Thriving Communities Program (TCP) (FY 2023) to support low-resourced communities in advancing transformative transportation projects. Communities in need of free technical assistance can submit a Letter of Interest by November 15. To learn more, visit the Information for Communities webpage.  


EPA Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development

Deadline: Nov. 17 | Details here. This program will assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development, training, and career opportunities in the water utility sector.


Cooperative Watershed Management Program - deadline Dec 5th

Deadline: Dec. 5 | Details here. This program provides funding to watershed groups to encourage diverse stakeholders to form local solutions to address their water management needs. Funding is provided on a competitive basis for (1) watershed group development and watershed restoration planning, and (2) implementation of watershed management projects. Grants range from $10,000 - $300,000.


Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) - Deadline Feb 29

Deadline: Feb. 29, 2024 | Details here. Grant program for hazard mitigation activities. FEMA will extend financial assistance to eligible BRIC applicants for a range of activities, including capability and capacity-building initiatives to enhance workforce expertise, hazard mitigation projects that bolster public safety and resilience against a variety of natural hazards, and management costs, which help offset administrative expenses associated with mitigation measures and projects.


The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)

Deadline: Feb. 29, 2024 | Details here. To reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and within NFIP-participating communities. It does so with a recognition of the growing flood hazards associated with climate change and of the need for flood hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation, equity, and resilience with respect to flooding. These include both acute extreme weather events and chronic stressors which have been observed and are expected to increase in intensity and frequency in the future.


National Rural Health Policy, Community, and Collaboration Program

Deadline: Nov. 30 | Details here. U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services. Funding to identify, engage, educate, and collaborate with rural stakeholders on national rural health policy issues and promising practices to improve healthcare in rural areas nationwide. Program objectives include: 1) identifying and educating rural stakeholders about national policy issues and promising practices for rural health; 2) maintaining projects that will help support engagement of rural communities in a broad range of activities; 3) facilitating collaborations at the local, regional, state, and national levels to improve the exchange of information and promising practices that support rural health; and 4) identifying and providing information to rural stakeholders about existing federal funding opportunities or other programs relating to healthcare in rural areas.


Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) | HUD

Deadline: Dec. 4 | Details here. The SHOP Program seeks to facilitate and encourage innovative homeownership opportunities on a national, geographically diverse basis. The SHOP units must be sold to homebuyers at prices below the prevailing market price. Homebuyers must be low-income and must contribute a significant amount of sweat equity towards the development of the SHOP units. Funds must be used for land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and reasonable and necessary planning and administration costs.



State Opportunities


Local Planning Capacity Grant Program - Colorado Dept. of Local Affairs

Letters of Interest accepted Nov. 1 – Dec. 1 | Full details here. DOLA, with funding from the Statewide Affordable Housing Support Fund, has established this grant program to increase the capacity of local government planning departments responsible for processing land use, permitting, and zoning applications for housing projects. The program supports local governments’ capacity to address affordable housing, especially by expediting review, permitting, zoning, and development for which 50% or more of the residential units constitute affordable housing. Grant funds could support new staff wages, hiring consultants, implementing new systems and technologies, revising land use development codes, regional collaborations, developing future commitments, or other efforts that achieve fast track goals by 2026, as required by Proposition 123. By mid-December, DOLA will invite selected local governments to submit an application.


E-Bike Rebate Program Grants - Colorado Energy Office

Deadline: Nov. 30 | Full details here. The Colorado state government, on Thursday, made $2.5 million available with the aim of providing more opportunities to get rebates on e-bike purchases. Local governments can apply for this grant program to create their own rebate programs for low-income residents. Grants awarded by state officials will range from $25,000 to $750,000 and can be used to provide discounts at the time of sale or as a rebate after purchase.


Microgrids for Community Resilience Program - Colorado Resiliency Office/DOLA

Deadline: Nov. 16. The Department of Local Affairs, through the Colorado Resiliency Office, is announcing new funding opportunities designed to build community resilience through minimizing electric grid disruptions. Three types of grants are being offered:

Construction/Implementation Grants for Microgrids | Planning Grants | Construction/Implementation Grants for Microgrid-tied Generation


Community Business Preservation Program

Applications open now through Jan. 19, 2024 | Full details here. Office of Economic Development & International Trade. Provides grants, as well as training and consultation support, to groups of geographically proximate and culturally similar businesses that are facing displacement pressures and that hold cultural, social, or historical significance in Colorado. Main streets, corridors, or otherwise geographically proximate groups of businesses will be selected and then provided grants and technical assistance to two to six businesses within each of those communities.


Other Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities


Community Vitality & Challenge Program: 2024 Colorado Challenge Accelerator Program

Full Details Here. Downtown Colorado, Inc. invites all Colorado Communities to get involved with their exciting enhanced programming, which includes Six months of training and guided project development; Access to one on one support and regular peer meetings; Compare regional and peer communities; Access funding and resource opportunities. It's free and everyone is welcome. If you are interested in any of the above, we ask that you complete a baseline assessment to help us understand your readiness (all readiness levels are welcome). Join us October 25 at 9 AM for the first session in our educational series: Developing and Investment Ready Project. Register Here.


Resources


No-Cost, Confidential, 1-on-1 Business Consulting offered by SBDC

The Northwest Small Business Development Center offers, at no charge, the opportunity for you to meet with a business consultant who can devise an action plan to progress your small business. Areas of consulting can include but are not limited to: business plan development, marketing strategy, registration and licensing, start-up and financing preparation. We will match you with a consultant whose experience and expertise can best assist you. Consulting is free, confidential, and tailored to your business. Register here.


National Veterans Small Business Week: Oct. 30 - Nov. 3

Join SBA and Public Private Strategies Institute for a webinar on Thursday, October 26 at 12:00 p.m. MT to learn about National Veterans Small Business Week, October 30-November 3, 2023, and how to prepare for Small Business Saturday, November 25, 2023. Resources for Veterans Small Business Week can be found HERE.


Training Opportunities & Events


Emergency Preparedness Trainings

Nov. 2 - 4 | Summit County Community & Senior Center | Full details and register here

These trainings are brought to you for FREE in partnership with NWCCOG Vintage, University of Colorado' Center for Inclusive Design & Inclusion, and the Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy & Financing.


2023 State Demography Summit

Nov. 3 | Register here. In person at Arapahoe Community College and virtual option. The State Demography Summit is a one-day conference offering attendees the opportunity to learn about the most current population and economic estimates and forecasts for the state, its regions, counties and municipalities. Plenary sessions present the most current population estimates and forecasts, migration trends, and discuss implications for housing, planning, policy, business, and public services. Expert economists from across the state discussed the near-term outlook for Colorado’s economy and thoughts about the state’s long run competitiveness.


2024 Colorado Business Economic Outlook Forum

Dec. 4 | 12:30 pm - 5 pm | Grand Hyatt Denver | FREE - Register here. Offered by the CU Leeds Business Research Division. Curious about forthcoming changes to Colorado's economy? Join us for this free half-day program to gain valuable insight into Colorado's economic future as well as forecasted industry-specific impacts. 


Webinar: Field Based Rural Placemaking

November 2 | 12 pm MT | Register here. Offered by the Aspen Institute. Join the discussion, hosted by the Housing Assistance Council, to learn about concrete placemaking strategies and takeaways relevant to rural communities of every size, even the most isolated and least resourced.


Webinar: Rural Housing   

November 6 | 9 a.m. MT | Register here. This webinar will feature rural sociologist Ben Winchester and SaveYour.Town cofounders Becky McCray and Deb Brown who will discuss demographic changes and what to do about them, creative ways to tailor housing solutions locally, and converting existing buildings into new housing through adaptive reuse.


2023 Hayden Business Pitch Competition

Nov. 4 | Details here. Applications due Oct. 23. Eligibility: Be a New Business (began operation in 2023 or have yet to begin operation) or be an Existing Business that is pitching a Business Expansion Concept (this concept must include a significant change in operations). The Business must be located in Hayden (within the Hayden RE-1 School District). Your business could win capital funding. 


Small Business Development Center

Full events and workshops calendar including webinars can be found HERE.

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




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