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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
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Funding Guide
The Center on Rural Innovation has released a Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Funding Guide to explain key sections of the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity. This guide walks internet service providers (ISPs) and their stakeholders through the information and criteria they need to know as they prepare to apply for a grant. The $42.5 billion allocation for building broadband infrastructure from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program will be transformational for rural communities with long-standing connectivity gaps.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program – U.S. Dept of Energy
Deadline: April 30 | Details here. The EECBG Program awards funding directly to local governments to implement projects that align with their goals to increase energy efficiency, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and cut overall energy use and costs. EECBG Program Funds are highly flexible; there are 14 categories of eligible uses of funds to help meet the unique needs of your community, including efficiency upgrades, electric vehicle infrastructure, and community solar.
Pension Counseling and Information Projects program
Deadline: May 18 | Details here. Department of Health & Human Services. Goal is to reduce the risk of financial insecurity by empowering individuals through information, resources, and tools. This program strives to maximize the independence of older individuals and empower them to make informed choices so that they can live well in retirement. Successful applicants will also have a recognized history of serving older people who may be economically marginalized, with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program
Deadline: May 6 | Details here. U.S. Dept. of Interior. The Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program invites proposals from eligible applicants that are invested in and capable of demonstrating emerging or deploying existing snow-monitoring technologies or use of snow-monitoring data to enhance water supply forecast skill.
Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program
Deadline: May 10 | Details here. U.S. EPA. The objective of the Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program is to accelerate and expand the strategic protection of healthy watersheds (including freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems) across the country through a cooperative agreement and subsequent subawards.
State Opportunities
Colorado Creates Grant
Deadline: May 29 | Details here. The Colorado Creates Grant helps organizations and communities create art and cultural activities through general operating support funding. Funds are distributed throughout Colorado with a focus on rural communities.
Colorado Community Revitalization Grant
Deadline: Rolling | Details here. This program provides $65 million in gap funding for mixed-use 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.
The Advanced Industry Investment Tax Credit (AITC)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis | Details here. Investors making qualified investments in Colorado advanced industry small businesses may be eligible for 25% or 35% of their investment in Colorado state income tax credit. The program has $4 million in tax credits to disburse throughout 2024.
Middle-Income Housing Authority (MIHA) Applications
Applications accepted on a rolling basis | Details here. MIHA is a special purpose authority that is independent from the state, and OEDIT assists with administrative needs. MIHA has the power to issue bonds to finance affordable rental housing projects with AMIs generally between 80% and 120%, or 140% in rural resort areas. MIHA reopened for applications on March 8, 2024 and is currently accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Colorado Office of Film, Television, and Media (COFTM) Tax Credit
Applications close Dec. 31 and is rolling until funds are utilized | Details here. In alignment with HB23-1309, the incentive program will be structured as a tax credit with applications available to review by the Economic Development Commission (EDC). Slated to run for one year, the tax credit program will allocate $5 million in film incentives to support media production within the state of Colorado. Applications close Dec. 31, 2024 and is rolling until funds are utilized.
CHFA Direct Effect Awards
Round 1: Open April 1 and closes April 26. Round 2: Open August 19 and closes Sept. 17 | Details here. CHFA is pleased to announce the dates for its 2024 Direct Effect Awards. Direct Effect Awards are an opportunity for CHFA to recognize and support Colorado nonprofits whose missions align with our work to strengthen Colorado by investing in affordable housing and community development. In 2024, CHFA is celebrating 50 years of strengthening Colorado. To help commemorate, CHFA will additionally award up to five $50,000 Direct Effect Awards in each round of 2024.
Other Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities
Latino-Owned Food Industry Grants: Fresh Food Access for All
Deadline: April 19 | Details here. The Kroger Co. Foundation and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) have collaborated to launch the ‘Fresh Food Access For All’ challenge, targeting Latino small businesses, startups, and community-serving orgs addressing food insecurity in their communities by increasing access to healthy and affordable food. Grants are in the amount of $125,000.
Union Pacific Foundation: Community Ties Giving Program
Deadline: May 31| Details here. Programs Improving Quality of Life in Railroad Communities. The Union Pacific Foundation’s Community Ties Giving Program aims to build safe, prosperous, vibrant, and inclusive communities where Union Pacific Railroad operates. Funding is provided for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes: safety, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability. Within each focus area, the aim is to support programs and organizations working to advance the diversity, equity, and inclusion of underrepresented populations.
Resources
Economic Development Week
May 6 - 10 | Details here. Join EDCC & DCI along with our state and federal program partners, OEDIT, DOLA, CWDC, Manufacturer’s Edge, USDA & EDA, as we celebrate Colorado’s #EconDev ecosystem! Webinars, social media campaigns, and individual community celebrations will pop up everywhere. Join in on the fun! More information to come...
Rural Economic Development Toolkit
See toolkit here. This comprehensive guide produced by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable is designed to help communities around the country strengthen their economies through outdoor recreation. From economic impact and public health to housing affordability, stewardship, and collaboration, the toolkit is full of new tools to help leaders thrive. This edition of the toolkit seeks to provide strategies for success sourced from communities around the country to achieve intersecting goals: healthy communities, high quality of life, robust businesses, resilient economies, and vibrant outdoor places.
April is Financial Literacy Month
Read about resources from the SBA here. Understanding your finances is key to running a successful small business. April is Financial Literacy Month and a good opportunity to connect with SBA resource partners which provide mentoring, counseling, and training to help you master the financial aspects of your business.
2024 National Small Business Week April 28 - May 4
Details here. Two-Day Virtual Summit | April 30-May 1, 2024 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. As part of the National Small Business Week (NSBW), the U.S. Small Business Administration and SCORE will cohost the NSBW Virtual Summit that includes a variety of educational webinars, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms and expert business advice from SCORE mentors.
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