Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC) is an intergovernmental agreement between Moffat and Routt Counties and seven other 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.
NWCDC established a 501c3 rural development hub called Northwest Colorado Innovation Center (NCIC). Its mission is to support entrepreneurs, small businesses, and workers in the tri-county region of Northwest Colorado. Through business coaching, incubation, workforce training, and its Northwest Catalyst Capital microloan fund, NCIC helps launch and grow businesses that drive regional prosperity.
(Northwest Colorado Innovation Center - Concept Rendering Only)
NCIC to Anchor the Craig Business & Industrial Park
Innovation Center Delivers Workforce Training & Business Incubation
The new year brings more good news as Northwest Colorado Innovation Center solidifies a partnership with the City of Craig through a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to establish NCIC's new permanent home at the Craig Business and Industrial Park. The MOU was approved by the City Council at its January 13th Meeting.
The Innovation Center is envisioned to be a one-stop shop for economic diversification, workforce development and training, and community development services. It will serve as a hub for a regional incubator network with "spokes" joining other business centers in Hayden, Meeker, and other future locations.
Serving as the fiscal agent for the Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC), NCIC will provide the following services:
Business Retention and Expansion Program, offering one-on-one, in-person business coaching to support startup and small business growth
Access to capital through Northwest Catalyst Capital MicroLoan Fund
Workforce training, including establishing registered apprenticeships
Business incubation at the Craig Industrial Park, and support to other connected business centers
Community development through project management and grant writing for NWCDC members
NCIC Hiring its First Executive Director
Are you a visionary, compassionate, and innovative leader interested in helping Northwest Colorado diversify its economy, transform its workforce, and drive place-based investments in the region? NCIC is looking for someone interested in making a transformative impact.
The NCIC was established in 2024 by the Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC) to support economic development, entrepreneurship, small business development, workforce development, and community development.
NCIC is offering a salary range between $75,000 and $100,000 (commensurate with experience) plus benefits, professional development, and relocation support. Learn more about the position by clicking the link. Apply by sending a resume and cover letter to Christine Rambo by emailing christine@northwestcolorado.org.
RFP Issued for Apprenticeship Coordination
NCIC is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants or consultancy firms to provide apprenticeship coordination services. The selected consultant or consultancy will administer, coordinate, and support NCIC’s multi-employer, multi-sector Registered Apprenticeship Program in compliance with federal and State of Colorado requirements. This is a two-year contract with the potential for renewal for another one-year term. Learn more>
Download RFP- 2026-WD-1: Apprenticeship Coordination Services, which outlines the scope of work, expectations, and submission requirements and guidelines for a consultant or consultancy to respond with a proposal. The deadline to submit by email to christine@northwestcolorado.org is February 20, 2026 by 5:00 pm MT.
Other Key Project Dates
Submit questions in writing to Christine Rambo, NCIC Project Manager, by February 9, 2026 at 5 pm MT at christine@northwestcolorado.org
Finalist interviews: the week of February 23, 2026
Final contractor selected by the week of March 2, 2026
Routt County Economic Partnership's ERC Fellow Becomes a Certified Economic Developer
ERC Fellow Sasha Nelson of Craig, Colorado, received her Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) as part of the national Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) program.
Sasha was hosted by the Routt County Economic Development Partnership (RCEDP).
“Sasha’s achievement is a significant professional milestone and reflects her commitment to promoting economic prosperity in our community,” said John Bristol, RCEDP Executive Director. “With these credentials, Sasha is even better equipped to support local entrepreneurs and help grow new businesses in Northwest Colorado.”
Through the IEDC ERC program, Sasha has been able to support NWCDC's Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program, offering entrepreneurial and small business consulting.
Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI)
Closing Soon!
The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) program is designed to help rural communities comprehensively diversify their local economy and create a more resilient Colorado. Municipal and county governments are eligible to apply and can pass funds through to some partners as defined in the application instructions. Projects that will be funded include plans, construction, programs, and capacity building and should fall into one or more of the following categories:
Job creation and retention
Capacity building
Economic resilience
Support of entrepreneurial ecosystems
The REDI grant cycle will close February 4, 2026. Learn more>
Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant (EIAF)
Closing Soon!
DOLA's Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant (EIAF) program assists political subdivisions that are socially and/or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels. The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) administers this grant program to promote sustainable community development and increase the livability and resilience of communities through strategic investments in asset-building activities.
Tier I (up to $200,000) and Tier II ($200,001 to $1,000,000) applications are accepted, and assistance to Coal Communities has been integrated into this funding for Tier 1 Communities. The application period closes February 13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Learn more>
Colorado Community Revitalization Tax Credit
The Community Revitalization Tax Credit (CRTC) program will provide up to $50 million in available tax credits for capital projects supporting the creative industry. Eligible projects can apply for tax credits of up to $3 million crediting up to 25% of the total eligible expenses of a project. Eligible projects are mixed-use capital improvement projects within a creative district, a historic district, or a neighborhood commercial center or a main street that involves the construction, rehabilitation, conversion, remodeling, or other improvement of one or more buildings, structures, or facilities for uses that support creative industries and creative industry workers. This includes affordable housing and live-work spaces for such workers and creative-use performance and exhibition spaces.
Eligible Applicants: businesses, corporations, and non-profits
Eligible Expenses: infrastructure, capitalized assets, tenant finishes and creative use of furniture, fixtures and equipment.
DOLA's Local Planning Capacity Grant Program's intent is to increase the capacity of local government planning departments to address affordable housing, especially by expediting development review, permitting, and zoning. Grant funds can support increasing planning department capacity to advance local affordable housing goals, implement strategies to increase the number of affordable units built, and to achieve Prop 123 commitments.
By mid-February, interested applicants must schedule a pre-application meeting with LPC Program Manager Robyn DiFalco in order to access the grant application form online. The application deadline is Thursday, February 26 at 12:00 pm. Learn more>
DOLA Community Schoolyards Grant Program
The Community Schoolyards Grant Program's core mission is to address existing inequities in underserved and underfunded schools and communities, particularly those impacted by mineral and mineral fuel development. By transforming traditional school grounds into accessible, park-like environments, the program aims to foster hands-on learning, enhance health and well-being, strengthen local ecological systems, and create vital social opportunities for both students and the broader community.
This program offers a single grant opportunity that encompasses both the planning and design (up to $150,000) and capital construction phases (up to $850,000) for innovative community schoolyards. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide up to 25% of the total project budget available as matching funds at the time of application. For projects with a total budget equal to or exceeding $1,000,000, a 25% local match is required. The application period opens March 2 and closes April 1, 2026. For application instructions and more information, click here>
USDA Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps U.S. agricultural producers enter into value-added activities that generate new products from raw agricultural commodities, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income through enhanced product value and market reach. These grants support either:
Planning activities up to $50,000 (e.g., feasibility studies, business and marketing plans)
Working capital needs up to $200,000 (e.g., processing, packaging, advertising, inventory, and salaries)
Eligible applicants include:
Agricultural producers (including harvesters and steering committees)
Agricultural producer groups
Farmer- or rancher-cooperatives
Majority-controlled producer-based business ventures
Applicants must demonstrate that they own and produce more than 50% of the raw commodity and will retain greater revenue from the value-added product than from the raw commodity alone. The application window is open and will close April 15, 2026 1:00 p.m. EST. Learn more>
Colorado Circular Communities Fund Mini Grants
The Colorado Circular Communities (C3) program provides three tiers of funding based on the project’s budget, scope of work, and anticipated effect on building a circular economy in Colorado. Mini Grant awards are up to $50,000 for projects that can be completed quickly with contract terms shorter than than six months.
Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, equipment and supplies, signage, outreach/education, event space fees, marketing/promotion for outreach events or workshops, repairs, and contractual labor expenses directly related to the project execution. Purchases must directly relate to actions and goals that will be completed within the contract timeframe.
Eligible applicants include municipalities, tribes, counties, and cities and counties, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, public and private schools. Applications are continuously open and may be submitted directly through the website. Please visit this link to access the application, Mini Grant Guidelines, and for more information>
CDOT Office of Innovative Mobility Seed Grant
The Colorado Department of Transportation's Office of Innovative Mobility (OIM) Grants offer funding for local government and nonprofit organizations to make transportation efficient and to expand access throughout the state by conducting research, deploying new technologies, analyzing data, and piloting new programs.
Transportation Management Organization (TMO) Seed Funding Grants ($20,000-$200,000) provide resources for new TMOs programs to form in currently underrepresented areas of the state. The TMO Seed Funding Grant is now open on a rolling basis. For more information>
CLCT’s Colorado State Grant Database
CLCT's Colorado State Grant Database is a maintained grant database that is updated every two weeks. There are currently 42 active state grant opportunities in the database. Please note they have transitioned to a new platform that will require you to create an account or log in to an existing account in order to view the database. Sign up for the newsletter to receive comprehensive upcoming grant notifications. Sign up here>
Grant Database, Resources, Tools, and Tips
Watch a short tutorial above, guided by Emily O'Winter, NWCDC Grant Manager, who walks you through the grant resources found on the www.northwestcolorado.org website. NWCDC developed a full complement of resources to help you find and write an effective grant. Learn how to navigate the grants database, access the grants toolkit for templated content, join the monthly Grants Workgroup to hear from funders, or hire a professional grant writer from our Grants Collective. More about these resource at the bottom of this newsletter. Click on the thumbnail above or this link.
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.
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