Northwest Colorado Development Council, NWCDC, is a intergovernmental agreement between Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt Counties and their seven communities to collaborate on regional economic development, economic diversification and community development to transition away from a coal-based economy.
NWCDC believes that telling our story about the region's coal transition to the rest of nation is important to elevate our need for funding and assistance. In June, Moffat County Commissioner Melody Villard hosted a network of 20 coal community leaders to tour Craig and Moffat County as part of Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) Coalition, sponsored by the National Association of Counties’s (NACo). The group visited sites and learned about our transformative projects that support quality of life, tourism, industrial infrastructure, replace jobs and the tax revenues resulting from the coal transition.
In July, Routt County Commissioner and NWCDC Chair Tim Redmond and Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Sasha Nelson represented Northwest Colorado at the BRECC Annual Conference held in Tampa, Florida. They shared the work taking place in our region to diversify our regional economy and create new jobs and met with federal leaders to discuss our needs.
These opportunities to tell our story is a direct result of NWCDC's work to elevate the issues around coal transition. NWCDC applied to NACo for peer-to-peer learning and technical assistance, allowing us to connect with federal leaders and other coal communities.
Focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
NWCDC developed a Northwest Colorado Resiliency and Recovery Transition Plan in 2023 which serves as our roadmap for the next five years. A key priority in the DOLA-funded Roadmap is diversity, equity and inclusion, ensuring all people have access to resources. Toward that goal, NWCDC is creating a Minority Business Leaders’ Network and Women Leadership Program to cultivate emerging leaders and diverse voices.
Moffat County Commissioner Melody Villard, Tim Wohlgenant, CEO of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, Curtis Esquibel of the Boettcher Foundation, and ERC Fellow Sasha Nelson who serves Northwest Colorado facilitated a Women’s Steering Committee Meeting in Craig on July 16th. The group intends to create a pilot program in the City of Craig and Moffat County that will lift up women's voices and support women leaders.
Another DEI initiative is creating a minority business and community leaders network to train and empower emerging minority leaders. This community-led effort will deploy best practices for community engagement.
RCEDP Entrepreneurship Center Managing Director
Meet the newest face at Routt County Economic Development Partnership, Aaron Walls, the new managing director for the Yampa Valley Entrepreneurship Center. Walls succeeds Randy Rudasics, who retired after 17 years of service. Aaron brings experience and a track record in the startup sector. Over the last 15 years, Walls founded three companies and — including BEERMKR, an innovative countertop craft beer brewing system. He is a mentor and lecturer at Cornell University’s eLab Student Accelerator, where he has guided over 30 companies since 2015. His involvement in Colorado’s tech ecosystem over the past decade, coupled with his experience going through the Techstars accelerator program, positions him to lead the RCEDP Yampa Valley Entrepreneurship Center.
A new workforce housing project named Meadows Apartments received $2.7 million in state funding. Formerly known as the Woodbury Park Apartments, the estimated $25 million project is a 96-unit rental apartment project for attainable workforce housing. The project is in the final stages of land procurement for five acres of private, industrially zoned land located south of downtown Craig. Colorado Outdoors is a Montrose-based, family-owned developer leading the project. Read more>
CHFA Small-scale Housing Technical Assistance
CHFA Small-scale Housing Technical Assistance Grant helps catalyze small-scale affordable housing developments by providing access to an affordable housing consultant and pre-development grant assistance. Potential small-scale projects, of 25 units or less, may apply for affordable housing planning and development technical assistance (TA) services and pre-development grants to further their work.
Housing Assistance Council (HAC) offers short-term loans at below market interest rates to local nonprofits, for-profits and government entities that are working to develop affordable housing for low-income, rural communities. Learn More>
EDA Good Jobs Challenge
The federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) promotes economic development in the nation by promoting innovation and competitiveness by preparing American regions, states, and tribes for growth and success. EDA released the Good Jobs Challenge to support regional workforce training systems in designing and implementing activities for established sectoral partnerships that place program participants in good jobs and advance industries in the federal key technology focus areas.
$25 million will be awarded through this FY24 Good Jobs Challenge NOFO. EDA anticipates awarding approximately 5-8 grantees with awards ranging from $1 million to $8 million. This NOFO aims to fortify the economic and national security of the United States and advance the competitiveness of the applicant’s region. Applicant deadline is September 27, 2024! Learn more>
Solar Manufacturing Workforce
The U.S. Department of Energy's Upskill Prize encourages the expansion of the U.S. solar manufacturing workforce by rewarding proposals that focus on high-quality employment prospects and skillsets that can be utilized for career growth. The grant could fund worker training for new workers to develop the skills they need to be successful in the solar manufacturing industry, particularly at new or expanding manufacturing facilities. It could also fund incumbent worker training to train incumbent workers with new skills needed to support the growth of solar manufacturing. Informational Webinar scheduled on August 7 at 11:00 am. Round 2 Applications due October 20, 2024. Learn more>
Safe Streets and Roads for All
This US Department of Transportation Grant supports planning and demonstration activities, as well as projects and strategies to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, personal conveyance, and other forms of transportation. This grant qualifies for Colorado LOMA match and grant writing assistance.
Main Street America and Smart Growth America have partnered with T‑Mobile to help build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities. T‑Mobile’s Hometown Grant program is investing big in small towns by awarding up to 100 towns a year with project funding — up to $50,000 each. Since the program’s start, T‑Mobile has given more than $10 million dollars to kickstart 225 community development projects across 42 states, with projects like upgrading tech at local libraries, building new hiking trails and revitalizing historic buildings.
T‑Mobile is focusing on revitalizing community spaces in towns with 50,000 people or less, and Main Street programs are encouraged to apply. The Summer Cycle applications are now open through September 30, 2024!Learn more>
El Pomar Foundation Grants
El Pomar Foundation grants fund broad categories with an emphasis on arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health, economic development and human services. The Foundation also offers special funding with focus on animals, equine, and wildland fires. Grants are accepted continuously but evaluated and approved on September 27th and December 13th. Submit early to allow 8-10 weeks prior to a Trustee Meeting for review of applications.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. 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.
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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