MARCH 2026 NEWSLETTER

Northwest Colorado Development Council

Stronger Together!

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) to serve as its official fiscal agent. NCIC's 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. 

Success Story:

New Aviation Business Park Takes Flight at YVRA

The Yampa Valley Regional Airport (YVRA) is developing a new Aviation Business Park (ABP) in the Town of Hayden to support aviation-related businesses and create high-paying jobs across Routt, Moffat, and Rio Blanco Counties—an important step in the region’s coal transition. At full buildout, the 37-acre development will include five taxiways/taxilanes and 43 hangars, positioning Northwest Colorado as a hub for aviation services, training, and aviation-industrial growth.

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) just awarded $3 million for the development of one of the five taxiways/taxilanes, water and sewer infrastructure, and relocating electrical lines—critical improvements that will open access to part of ABP and enable the development of 22 new hangars by a private developer.

The Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC) played a key role in advancing the project by writing and securing four major grants, including funding from the Office of Just Transition and OEDIT at $229,000, two grants from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs at $1,595,300, and the $3M EDA grant, totaling more than $4.8 million. Routt County Economic Partnership developed an IMPLAN economic impact analysis for the project, forecasting 232 new direct, indirect, and induced jobs and an estimated $49M in economic impact from three aviation businesses projected to locate to the Aviation Business Park. 

Additionally, the Aviation Business Park will partner with Colorado Northwestern Community College's Aviation Maintenance Technology program to create internships and apprenticeships for aviation mechanics. This career pathway allows the Northwest Colorado Innovation Center (NCIC) to help transition coal miners and CNNC students into high-paying jobs.

These strategic investments, combined with strong federal, state,  regional, and local partnerships, are laying the groundwork for new private investment, business attraction, and long-term economic diversification in Northwest Colorado.

Northwest Colorado Innovation Center

Northwest Catalyst Capital 

The NCIC Northwest Catalyst Capital revolving loan fund is offering low-cost loans of up to $37,500 for entrepreneurs and small business owners in Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties. These small business loans with 5% fixed interest provide affordable smart leverage without draining your cash flow or 401K. They are also a smart alternative to maxing out high-interest credit cards to finance working capital.

Loan decisions made by a local committee are based on  a character-based lending approach, focusing on the borrower’s experience, reputation, and business potential rather than on credit scores or collateral. Using the character-lending approach opens up financing options for borrowers who might not have the collateral, financial track record, or credit history to access traditional loans. 

The revolving nature of the fund means that as loans are repaid, those dollars are reinvested into new businesses in our area, creating a sustainable cycle of economic reinvestment and local empowerment.  Reach out to christine@northwestcolorado.org or snelson@northwestcolorado.org for help in applying for these affordable small business loans. 

More information about NCIC's Northwest Catalyst capital revolving loan fund can be found here, or visit our website for more information.

Innovation Center Launches Apprenticeship Program 

Northwest Colorado employers are invited to help build the next generation of skilled workforce by participating in the Northwest Colorado Innovation Center's (NCIC) new Registered Apprenticeship initiative. NCIC launched a multi-employer and multi-sector apprentice program, in partnership with the Colorado Apprenticeship Hub. NCIC received a Colorado Apprenticeship Incentive Grant to establish new registered apprenticeships. 

Apprenticeships provide a proven, earn-while-you-learn model that allows businesses to train employees to their exact standards, improve recruitment, and strengthen their long-term workforce pipeline. Our first registered apprenticeship will train HVAC technicians, an in-demand career with an average annual salary of $72,000 in the Yampa Valley. Subsequent registered apprenticeships will be in other areas of construction, manufacturing, and business sectors. 

By mentoring an apprentice, HVAC companies can reduce recruitment costs, increase productivity over time, and play a direct role in developing local talent equipped with the technical and safety skills today’s industry demands. HVAC companies can also access state or federal tax credits to offset training costs. 

If you are an HVAC employer interested in supporting an apprentice—or simply want to learn more about how the program works—we encourage you to reach out to NCIC's Project Manager, Christine Rambo, by emailing christine@northwestcolorado.org. Please share this opportunity with other HVAC companies.

Tariff Navigation Program

Technical Assistance & Grants

Global trade policy is changing rapidly, and tariffs are creating real cost, compliance, and supply chain challenges for Colorado businesses. World Trade Center Denver, in partnership with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), has launched the Colorado Tariff Navigation Program. With grant-supported opportunities through OEDIT, eligible companies can access expert guidance and subsidized support to assess tariff exposure and strengthen supply chain strategy, and help Colorado producers remain competitive in the global marketplace.

The program offers Live Tariff Navigation Webinars where participating companies gain access to a series of live, expert-led tariff navigation briefings designed to help businesses understand the current U.S. tariff environment, stay informed on new and emerging trade policy changes, identify compliance risks and cost exposure, learn practical tariff navigation strategies, and build internal confidence in navigating tariff impacts. 

Individual support is also available, offering eligible companies personalized, expert consulting to evaluate and implement tariff navigation strategies. If you would like to participate in this program, visit the link below to complete an interest form and learn more about eligibility. Click here>

Local Infrastructure Hub Bootcamps

The Local Infrastructure Hub is a national program designed to connect cities and towns with the resources and expert advice they need to access federal infrastructure funding. Through the Local Infrastructure Hub, small and mid-sized municipalities can access a comprehensive suite of experts to apply for and implement grants, including pro-bono technical training through Bootcamps and Workshops. 

Bootcamps are multi-week, cohort-based programs that guide cities through the full application development process. Participants have access to subject-matter experts, data resources, office hours, individualized coaching sessions, and peer-to-peer learning to engage with experts and other applicants from peer cities going through the same program. Workshops are intensive, half-day sessions focused on targeted, grant-specific training. Cities will build core application skills, understand eligibility criteria, and navigate requirements related to applying for or implementing federal funding opportunities. Visit their website for more information>

USDA Wood Innovations Programs 

• Wood Innovations Grants: stimulate, expand, and support U.S. wood products markets and wood energy markets
• Community Wood Grants: funding to install thermally led community wood energy systems or to build innovative wood product manufacturing facilities
• Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance (WPIA) supports facilities that purchase and process byproducts of ecosystem restoration projects.

The application deadline for all programs is April 22, 2026 11:59 pm EST. For more information>

Colorado Forest Legacy Program 

The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) established the Forest Legacy Program (FLP) in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service to conserve environmentally, economically, and culturally important forests in Colorado. Through the FLP, the CSFS conserves forests through the establishment of conservation easements on private land or by purchasing private land for public use. Private landowners, land trust, and municipalities are eligible participants and are encouraged to learn more and apply. Applications for funding in fiscal year 2028 are due May 1, 2026. For more information>

Colorado Creates Grant

The purpose of Colorado Creates is to support arts programs, services, and activities associated with carrying out the National Endowment of the Arts strategic plan. From this funding, OEDIT has developed the Colorado Creates Grant, which provides general operating support for arts-focused organizations for the presentation of public programming. Grant awards are flat amounts based on your organization’s cash operating revenue for your most recently completed fiscal year. Please visit the link below for grant award amounts. Applications are open and close May 5, 2026 4 p.m. Learn more>

CEO E-Cargo Bike Grant Program

The Colorado Energy Office E-Cargo Bike Grant Program provides funding for the development and implementation of e-bike deployment projects in communities across the state, with the goal of shifting short- and medium-length vehicle trips to e-cargo bike trips, maximizing air quality benefits and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and piloting innovative delivery solutions.

Programs eligible to receive grant funding include commercial delivery, public shared E-cargo bikes, gig economy delivery services, and private or public E-cargo Bike Fleet. Applications are accepted on a monthly basis through May 15, 2026. Please submit applications via email to sarah.thorne@state.co.us no later than 5:00 PM MT. Learn more>

Colorado Dark Sky Certification Mentor Program

The Colorado Tourism Office and Dark Sky Colorado seek to partner with tourism destinations across the state that are interested in advancing strategies that help achieve International Dark Sky Place (IDSP) certification and enhance Colorado’s visitor experience.

The program provides up to 15 hours of on-demand technical assistance on a first come first served rolling basis through June 2026. Additionally, a series of free webinars are available online and scheduled quarterly. Successful participation will increase Colorado’s competitive edge as a destination and provide a wealth of benefits for Colorado communities. Learn more>

Grant Database, Resources, Tools, and Tips

Watch a short tutorial by clicking on the photo above, which 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 resources at the bottom of this newsletter. Click on the thumbnail above or this link. 

Grants Database and Other Grants Resources

To help our communities identify grants to support their initiatives, NWCDC hosts links to numerous federal, state, and regional grants databases on the NWCDC website. 

Grants Toolkit

In an effort to make grant writing as painless as possible, NWCDC 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 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.