Funding & Technical Assistance

COVID Recovery Funding Guide
DOLA's Division of Local Government created this funding guide to help local governments navigate the funding sources available to help with COVID recovery through the American Rescue Plan and Colorado's 2021 State Stimulus Plan. The funding sources are organized by categories of funding need and government source (federal, state).

Colorado Community Revitalization Grant
Application period: thru December 1, 2022. The Colorado Community Revitalization Grant provides gap funding for projects in creative districts, historic districts, main streets or neighborhood commercial centers. This grant will support creative projects that combine creative industry workforce housing, commercial spaces, performance space, community gathering spaces, child care centers, and retail partnerships for the purpose of economic recovery and diversification by supporting creative sector entrepreneurs, artisans, and community non-profit organizations.

Transportation Demand Management Grant Funding
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Office of Innovative Mobility (OIM) is now accepting applications for two statewide transportation demand management (TDM) funding opportunities. A total of $440,000 in funding is available to support creative trip reduction projects and programs, in line with OIM’s mission to reduce the congestion on our roads and the pollution in our air. For application materials and more information about these grants, visit CDOT's website.

The Colorado Arts Partnership Grant
Deadline: November 12 | More info here. Helps Colorado schools provide arts instruction during the school day for PK-12 students. Grants are between $2,000 to $5,000 per project. The grants support visual arts, music, theatre and drama, dance, storytelling, digital and media arts, creative writing, multi-disciplinary projects. 

Innovative Affordable Housing Strategies Planning Grant Program
Third Funding Round Deadline: December 6| More info here. Colorado Dept. of Local Affairs. Colorado municipalities and counties are eligible. The Planning Grant Program has approximately $6.8 million 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. 

EPA Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Planning Assistance
Deadline: November 22 | More info here. The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance program helps communities identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their Main Streets. A planning team will help communities bring together local residents and other stakeholders to decide on strategies and an action plan to grow the local outdoor recreation economy. 

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.

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.
Training Opportunities & Events

2021 State Demography Office Annual Demography Summit
November 5 | Online | Register here
The 2021 State Demography Summit will be held virtually this year. Registration for this year’s summit will be free of charge.

Winter Startup Celebration with local entrepreneurs in Summit County
November 11 | 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Beaver Run Resort, Breckenridge | Get free tickets here
Join OpenSnow's Joel Gratz to celebrate our local entrepreneurs and business owners who have graduated from the Summit Biz Bootcamp program powered by CO.STARTERS. Together, we want to inspire others to connect and support each other as they launch or grow their own initiative or business in Summit County. Be a part of building and cultivating our entrepreneurial ecosystem and meet some of the most dynamic local business leaders and innovative entrepreneurs in Summit County.

Grand County Economic Summit
November 12 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | River Run Resort in Granby | More info and register here
2020 and 21 have been challenging for mountain employers. Join us to understand the data behind "why" and learn ways to adapt your business.

Steamboat Springs Chamber Economic Summit
November 12 | 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Colorado Mountain College | More info and register here
The Steamboat Springs Chamber and the Economic Development Council present the 27th Annual Economic Summit focusing on Economic Health. This event will deliver practical, thought-provoking, and timely content in the form of an economic checkup using self-diagnosis to prepare for the future. The summit will evaluate local demographics and economic measures and consider the effect of housing on the economy, as well as look at the future of work and the development of talent and leadership pipelines.

SBA and Public Private Strategies Institute Webinar Series
Next Session: November 10 at 12:00 MT; Topic: Community Navigators and Supporting Women Business Owners | Register here. This series will cover resources to help small businesses grow and thrive. 

Reimagining Resilience: Prepared Systems
November 16, 2021, 11:00 a.m.| Online | Register here
Register for this free webinar series that focuses on community resilience through the lens of leadership, economy, quality of life, environment, and physical infrastructure, leadership and governance.

Planning for Innovation in Transportation Webinar
November 19, 2021, 11:00 a.m.| Online| Register here
The Transportation Planning Division (TPD) presents a session that will demonstrate the variation in, and breadth of the impact of, innovation in transportation.
Northwest Colorado Council of Governments
Economic Development District | www.nwccog.org/edd