Funding & Technical Assistance

Economic Development Administration/American Rescue Plan Act $3 billon in funding available
More info on the EDA website HERE. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced $3 billion in funding opportunities for distressed and underserved communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This historic investment, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) of 2021, will support bottom-up, middle-out economic development focused on advancing equity, creating good-paying jobs, helping workers to develop in-demand skills, building economic resilience, and accelerating the economic recovery for the industries and communities hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. Local governments are eligible to apply for grant funding in each of the six programs, along with economic development districts, state agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations. The EDA is encouraging regional applications. All information on this funding opportunity, along with details about each of the 6 programs available, can be found on the EDA website HERE.

Main Street: Open for Business Grant Program
Applications are now open and accepted on a rolling basis | More info here. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) with funding from SB21-252 will support efforts by local governments and regional collaborations to engage in small business relief through “Main Street: Open for Business.” This Initiative supports façade improvements and energy efficiency projects for businesses in the state’s traditional downtowns.

The Emergency Connectivity Fund
Deadline: August 13. The Emergency Connectivity Fund is a program that will help schools and libraries provide the tools and services their communities need for remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period. The ECF program will cover reasonable costs of laptop and tablet computers; Wi-Fi hotspots; modems; routers; and broadband connectivity purchases for of campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons.

2022 DCI Colorado Challenge Accelerator Program
Deadline: August 16 | More info here. Downtown Colorado Inc. (DCI) has worked with over 34 communities to transform their challenges into opportunities. Apply early to plan for all of the possibilities of this year-long technical assistance program. The deadline for applications has been extended to August 16, 2021.

Polaris Industries: T.R.A.I.L.S. Grant Program: ATV Safety and Access Initiatives
Deadline: September 1. The T.R.A.I.L.S. Program provides support to local organizations to ensure the future of ATV riding. The grant program encompasses two main objectives—promoting safe and responsible riding, and preserving access. Funds can be used by organizations for trail development and maintenance projects, safety and education initiatives, lobbying, and other projects to increase and maintain land access. 

Funds for Arts and Community Welfare Integration in Colorado
Deadline: September 14. The RedLine Contemporary Art Center fosters education and engagement between artists and communities to create positive social change. The program provides grants for projects that utilize the arts as an integral element in promoting social justice and community welfare. Colorado artists, activists, nonprofit organizations, universities, schools, and government agencies are all eligible to apply.

Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade Opportunities
OEDIT Programs with open applications:
  • CLIMBER Loan Fund: The Colorado Loans for Increasing Mainstreet Business and Economic Recovery (CLIMBER) fund provides $250 million to small businesses with working capital loans between $30,000 and $500,000. Below-market interest rates and a 1-year deferred payment option make the program a secure recovery option for small businesses.
  • Colorado Revolving Loan Fund: This fund provides loans that help small to medium-sized Colorado businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These loans range from $5,000 to $750,000. The loans are intended to provide startup and working capital that will help create and retain jobs across Colorado.
  • Meeting and Events Incentive: This program provides $10 million for a 10% cash rebate against eligible hard costs for hosting meetings and events in Colorado that take place on or after July 1, 2021 and on or before December 31, 2022.
  • Restart Industry Associations Program: This program provides awarded tourism industry associations 75 hours of technical assistance and $10,000 of direct marketing from the Colorado Tourism Office to support adoption of the Roadmap to Recovery.

Equipment, Training, and Technology for Fire Departments Funded
Deadline: Oct. 1. The Leary Firefighters Foundation is dedicated to funding equipment, education, training, and technology for firefighters nationwide. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000. Letters of inquiry are due August 15, 2021; the deadline for invited applications is October 1, 2021. Visit the Foundation's website to review the guidelines for the Jeremiah Lucey Grant Program.

Equity and Accessibility Transportation Planning Grant Program
Deadline: August 27. The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center has announced a new funding opportunity, Equity and Accessibility: Transportation Planning Grant Program. Planning grants provide an opportunity for communities to consider current and future needs, engage older adults and people with disabilities in planning, and develop a written plan of action. Selected grantees will focus on one of two areas: Transportation Equity & Inclusion for Older Adults and People with Disabilities or COVID-19 Recovery Addressing the Unique Transportation Needs and Preferences of Older Adults and People with Disabilities. 

USDA Drought Disaster Emergency Farm Loans
Deadline: November 15 | More info here. The Emergency loan program is triggered when a natural disaster is designated by the Secretary of Agriculture or a natural disaster or emergency is declared by the President under the Stafford Act. These loans help producers who suffer qualifying farm related losses directly caused by the disaster in a county declared or designated as a primary disaster or quarantine area. Also, farmers located in counties that are contiguous to the declared, designated, or quarantined area may qualify for Emergency loans.

NEA American Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations
Deadline: August 12 | More info here. The Arts Endowment intends to make awards that will impact a broad constituency. Applications are encouraged from a variety of eligible organizations including: organizations that serve populations that are underserved such as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by ethnicity, economics, geography, or disability; organizations with small and medium-sized budgets; organizations from rural to urban communities; and organizations that may be applying for federal support through the Arts Endowment for the first time.
Training Opportunities & Events

Improving City and County Collaboration on Managing Growth
August 4, 2021, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Online | Register here.
Offered by DOLA. Regional cooperation does not mean giving up your community's autonomy. It simply recognizes that challenges like building modern infrastructure, water pollution, traffic congestion and loss of open space and agricultural land do not respect jurisdictional boundaries: regional problems require regional solutions. Hear how Yellowstone County and Billings, Montana plan for the future together.

Colorado Municipal League Special Conference
Sept. 22-24 at the Westin in Westminster, CO | More info here.

The Power of WE (Womens Entrepreneurs) Conference 
September 27 | Salida Steamplant Event Center, Salida, CO |Register here. Offered by Central Mountain SBDC. The Power of WE (Women Entrepreneurs) will offer thought provoking content, resources and tools to inspire women’s leadership development, creativity, and innovation. It will also share the many Federal, State and local funding opportunities that are available to women owned businesses and share tools and resources to access them.

Colorado Creative Industries Summit
September 30 - October 1 in Steamboat Springs | Register here | Offered by Colorado Creative Industries Office.

2021 APA Colorado Planning Conference
September 8-10, 2021 | Keystone CO | Register here.

Colorado Governor's Tourism Conference
Nov. 2 - 5 in Pueblo | Register here | Offered by the Colorado Tourism Office.

Drive, Lead, Succeed Conference
Oct. 20-22 in Steamboat Springs, CO | Economic Development Council of Colorado | More info here.
Our Annual Drive | Lead | Succeed Conferences aim to provide the knowledge, tools, and connections that are vital to foster a growing Colorado economy.

2021 State Demography Office Annual Demography Summit
November 5. This year's event will be virtual and free of charge. Save the date.
Northwest Colorado Council of Governments
Economic Development District | www.nwccog.org/edd