Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC) is an intergovernmental agreement between Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties and their seven communities to collaborate on regional economic development. NWCDC's mission is to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, economic prosperity, and diversification through sustainable, community-led development.
A key initiative in collaboration with the Colorado Office of Just Transition (OJT)
and other key partners, NWCDC is hosting regular Opportunity Expos in Craig, Hayden, Meeker, Oak Creek, and Rangely. The events will provide information, resources, consulting, networking, and workforce solutions to help energy workers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. We will also begin having business showcases at the Opportunity Expos, where we highlight a couple of major employers so that workers understand who the major employers are in our region.
Upcoming Schedule of Opportunity Expos
Craig: April 8th, 5:00 PM-6:30 PM at the Craig Chamber; moving to the third Tuesday of the month, starting in May.
Meeker: May 13th, 5:00 PM-6:30 PM at the Meeker Chamber Business Center on the second floor of Meeker Town Hall
Rangely: June 18th, 5:00 PM-6:30 PM with location to be determined.
Hayden: Every fourth Thursday of the month from 5:00 PM-6:30 PM at the Hayden Center
We are currently organizing an Opportunity Expo in Oak Creek to serve South Routt. We partner with the OJT, Craig Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Colorado SBDC, Routt County Economic Development Partnership, Health Partnership, Colorado Rural Workforce, CHFA, Town of Hayden, Meeker Chamber of Commerce, Town of Meeker, Rangely Chamber of Commerce, Town of Rangeley, and others to host these events. Email Sasha Nelson to participate in upcoming Opportunity Expos.
Northwest Colorado Innovation Center
Bringing More Resources to Northwest Colorado!
The NWCDC established the Northwest Colorado Innovation Center (NCIC), 501c3, to provide wraparound transition services during the coal transition and inject new capital into our regional economy. The Innovation Center will be a space where various partners such as NWCDC, Colorado Office of Just Transition, and others can collaborate and coordinate the delivery of transition services to help our communities, small businesses, and workers.
The Innovation Center is recruiting committee members for the Program, Nominating, and Loan Committees. Email Christine Rambo if you're interested in participating in the important work of the Innovation Center.
2025 Economic Development Conference
EDA Denver Region, Denver, Colorado
The 2025 Economic Development Conference for the EDA Denver Region will take April 15-17, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Denver. The conference will offer plenary and concurrent sessions, four mobile workshops, and plenty of opportunities to network with peers from across the EDA Denver Region. Topics will cover housing and economic development, business attraction and retention, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program management, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), public private partnerships, energy communities and economic diversification, demystifying match requirements, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and economic development, local and regional food systems, and much more. Learn More>
Northwest Colorado Entrepreneurs in the News
A recent article in the Steamboat Pilot highlighted local entrepreneurs (below) who are transitioning from careers in the coal industry to becoming their own bosses. Read more about their entrepreneurial journeys and the many resources available to support small business startups.
Bad Alibi, a distillery started by Wade Gerber, who has worked in the coal industry for 30 years
High Altitude Geothermal, a geothermal drilling company, was started by Matt Cooper and his family. Matt has been in the coal industry for 28 years.
RC Pro Appliance, started by Clint Malvitz, a coal mining equipment operator for more than 20 years
Northwest Colorado in National Spotlight
Northwest Colorado Commissioners Melody Villard from Moffat County; Jennifer O'Hearon and Callie Scritchfield from Rio Blanco County; and Tim Redmond and Sonja Macys from Routt County travelled to 2025 NACo Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. from Feb. 28 to March 4th. The NACo Legislative Conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents.
Commissioner Villard was one of the presenters during the "BRECC Coalition: Introducing Promising Practices for Coal Communities" panel discussion. As part of BRECC’s Commitment Coalition, Villard spoke on promising practices for coal communities that were formed from their four peer exchange site visits and 12 virtual workshops.
Child Care Facility Toolkit & Technical Assistance
As part of a state program to increase the supply of child care through the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities, the State of Colorado launched a childcare facility development toolkit and technical assistance program. The toolkit contains an introductory learning series that guides users to understand the critical need for child care facilities in Colorado, highlights opportunities to support these needs, and informs key elements of design requirements, development processes, and funding sources.
Technical assistance facilitated by Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) is designed to support project teams and partnerships in the planning stage of their child care facility to understand best practices, successful approaches to development and engage with a network of peers to ensure the highest level of quality and sustainability possible. Applications for the Technical Assistance Cohort are now open and close April 7, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. MST. Apply today
CHFA Direct Effect Awards
CHFA’s Direct Effect Awards recognize Colorado nonprofit organizations whose missions align with CHFA’s work to strengthen Colorado by investing in affordable housing and community development, including supporting affordable home ownership and rental, economic development, education, health, mobility, and energy. Awards typically range from $5,000 to $30,000. Meet with your local CHFA representative, Margie Joy, if you wish to apply. Eligible nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations include public housing authorities, cities, counties, and local municipalities. The application for round one will open April 1st and close April 30th. Learn More>
Federal Community Project Funding
Community Project Funding is requested on behalf of constituent organizations by members of the U.S. House of Representatives as a direct earmark to their communities. Congressman Joe Neguse has released his Interest Form. If you are interested in applying for a CPF in FY26, please complete the interest form. Entities who complete this form will receive an email with information regarding guidance and deadlines once it is available. Currently, the House Appropriations Committee has not issued any guidance on this year’s Community Project Funding program, including any deadlines, eligibility criteria, or whether the program will be available at all for the FY26 cycle.
Gorham/McGee Early Learning Fund
The Denver Foundation is offering $5,000 grants to qualified nonprofits to apply for funding from the Gorham/McGee Early Learning Fund to support programs that further the education of children aged 0-12 by focusing on literacy, nature and the environment, or the arts, including visual arts, music, and theater. The fund typically awards four grants. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or have a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsormust connect with the mission of the Gorham/McGee Early Learning Fund and be located in and do work in Colorado. The program opens on 04/01 and closes on 05/15. Learn more>
YVEA Operation Round Up
Yampa Valley Electric Association created Operation Round Up to support organizations that align with YVEA's goals of supporting positive environmental impact, educating and growing civic-minded, safety-conscious, and engaged members of all ages, and positively impacting the communities it serves. The program offers $2,500 grants. Organizations must be tax-exempt non-profits or community groups without tax-exempt status but that operate as non-profits. Non-secular religious programs and activities will be considered for large community impact. Application deadlines are 5/15 and 10/15 of each year. The Operation Round Up board usually meets within 30 days of the deadline. Learn more>
CPW Shooting Range Development
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Shooting Range Development (SRDG) Program focuses on establishing new shooting ranges and expanding or improving existing ranges across Colorado. CPW will offer grants for a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum to be determined by the review and approval process to develop safe, accessible ranges for recreational shooters, hunters, and archers and to help pass on important outdoor recreational traditions to future generations. Eligible applicants include county and local governments, existing shooting ranges, recreational shooting organizations, police departments, educational groups, park and recreation departments, archery clubs, landowners, school districts, and others. The grant deadline is 4/11/25. Learn more>
Grants Database and Other Grants Resources
To help our members sort through the massive volume of grants from state, federal and philanthropic funders, NWCDC is maintaining a Grants Database, curated to support our priority areas: clean energy, economic development, transportation, affordable childcare, and community development. The database is hosted on the NWCDC website. NWCDC Grants Manager Emily O'Winter has prescreened these grants for relevancy. The database is a living document that we will be updating constantly as we find new resources that support our Roadmap strategies. For technical support, you can click this link to email Emily O'Winter.
Grants Toolkit
In an effort to make grant writing as painless as possible, NWCDC Grant Manager Emily O'Winter has created a Grants Toolkit, which includes templated responses for the most often asked grant questions, as well as data sources. Browse the Grants Toolkit now for core language and other resources.
Northwest Colorado Grants Collective
Looking for more support? The Northwest Colorado Grants Collective is a partnership with the Northwest Colorado Development Council and the Yampa Valley Community Foundation to create a list of grant professionals to increase grant writing and management capacity for regional nonprofits, local governments, and businesses interested in hiring grant writers to support developing proposals for federal, state, and local grants. Check out the Grants Collective
You are receiving this email newsletter from the Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC) because you are a member or a partner or have signed up for more information. The NWCDC is an intergovernmental agreement between Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties and their seven communities to collaborate on regional economic development.
Upsize Marketing Strategies, 1500 North 19th Street, Monroe, LA 71201, United States, 3185570609
