Media Contact: Brett McPherson | 303-656-7464
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) have announced 16 regional teams, representing 169 rural communities, as participants in the Colorado Rural Resiliency and Recovery Roadmap program.
The Colorado Rural Resiliency and Recovery Roadmaps program (“Roadmaps Program”) provides technical assistance for regional teams of rural communities to drive economic relief, recovery, diversification and long-term resilience. This program is funded by a $2.3 million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant.
The Program is a partnership comprised of DOLA, OEDIT, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), along with the nonprofit Community Builders, and consists of three stages:
- curriculum to connect the regional team and assess the current situation of the communities
- roadmap planning and strategizing
- implementation matchmaking
The Program, in addition to the $2.3 million EDA grant, received $869,723 in matching funds from the state and is expected to create more than 100 jobs and up to $50 million in private investments.
“We are excited to have the 16 regional teams identified and begin working with them,” said Katharina Papenbrock, Deputy Director of Rural Opportunity at OEDIT. “The economic impact of COVID-19 was especially felt in Colorado’s rural communities, where it exacerbated existing challenges for key industries, businesses and the local workforce. This grant allows us to match our rural communities with the right resources and programs within OEDIT and our partners so that they can advance and realize their short- and long-term economic resiliency strategies.”
“The Roadmaps Program is coming at a time when our local governments need to swiftly recover from the impacts from COVID-19. The pandemic has shown that we can govern and do business in a new way. These Roadmaps will help ensure coordination regionally, strategically and efficiently, in order to maximize once-in-a-lifetime stimulus dollars that are flowing into Colorado communities,” said DOLA Division of Local Government Director Chantal Unfug.
The 16 regional teams, and the communities they represent, are (lead applicant is the name of the team, partners follow):
Town of Center (Partners: Saguache County, Town of Saguache, Town of La Jara, Town of Center, Town of Del Norte, Upper Rio Grande Economic Development, Center Consolidated School District, Action Lab 360, San Luis Valley Housing Coalition)
Clear Creek County (Partners: Clear Creek County, Gilpin County, Grand County, Town of Estes Park, Town of Nederland, Town of Lyons)
Costilla County Economic Development Council (Partners: Costilla County, Town of San Luis, Town of Blanca, Costilla County Economic Development Council, Fort Garland Revitalization Committee, Costilla County Conservancy District)
Eagle County (Partners: Eagle County, Pitkin County, Town of Vail, Town of Avon, Town of Minturn, Town of Eagle, Town of Gypsum, City of Glenwood Springs, Town of Carbondale, Town of Basalt, Town of Snowmass Village, City of Aspen, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Economic Development District, Vail Valley Partnership, Aspen Chamber Resort Association, Basalt Chamber of Commerce, Northwest SBDC, Northwest Area Workforce Center, Beaver Creek Resort Company)
City of Fruita (Partners: Mesa County, City of Fruita, City of Grand Junction, Town of Collbran, Town of Debeque, Town of Palisade, Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce, Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, Palisade Chamber of Commerce, Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Grand Junction Business Incubator Center, Downtown Grand Junction Partnership, Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority, Colorado Mesa University, Mesa County Valley School District 51, Debeque School District, Plateau Valley School District 50)
Gunnison County (Partners: Gunnison County, City of Gunnison, Town of Crested Butte, Town of Mt. Crested Butte, Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism and Prosperity Partnership, Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley, Gunnison Valley Health, Gunnison Watershed School District)
Town of Limon (Partners: Lincoln County, Cheyenne County, Kit Carson County, Town of Limon, Town of Hugo, Town of Genoa, Town of Arriba, Bovina, Karval, Punkin Center, Town of Cheyenne Wells, Town of Kit Carson, Arapahoe, Wild Horse, City of Burlington, Town of Bethune, Town of Flagler, Town of Seibert, Town of Stratton, Town of Vona, East Central Council of Local Governments, Prairie Development Corporation, Kit Carson Rural Development, Cheyenne Economic Development, Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation, Burlington Economic Development, Hugo Main Street, Lincoln County Tourism Board, East Colorado SBDC, Burlington Workforce Center, Karval Community Alliance, Lincoln Health, Cheyenne County Public Health)
Morgan County (Partners: Morgan County, Logan County, Yuma County, Washington County, Sedgwick County, Phillips County, City of Fort Morgan, City of Brush!, City of Sterling, City of Holyoke, Town of Haxtun, City of Wray, Town of Akron, Town of Otis, Morgan County Economic Development, Logan County Economic Development, Phillips County Economic Development, Sedgwick County Economic Development, Yuma County Economic Development, Fort Morgan Chamber of Commerce, Logan County Chamber, Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, Haxtun Chamber of Commerce, Wray Chamber of Commerce, Yuma Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Colorado Workforce Center, Fort Morgan School District, Brush School District, Haxtun School District, Holyoke School District, Idalia School District, Wray School District, Liberty School District, Northeastern Junior College, Haxtun Health, Melissa Memorial Hospital, Wray Hospital & Clinic, Centennial Mental Health, Northeast Colorado Health Department)
Montezuma (Partners: Montezuma County, Dolores County, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Town of Mancos, Town of Dolores, City of Cortez, Town of Dove Creek, Town of Rico, Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado, Dolores County Economic Development Corporation, Dolores Chamber of Commerce, Cortez Chamber of Commerce, Mesa Verde County Tourism, Colorado State University Extension, Colorado Workforce, Axis Health System, Southwest Health System, Pinon Project, United Way)
Pitkin County (Partners: Pitkin County, Eagle County, Garfield County, City of Aspen, Town of Snowmass Village, Town of Basalt, Town of Carbondale, City of Glenwood Springs, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, Aspen Chamber Resort Association, Basalt Chamber of Commerce, Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, CDLE, Aspen Institute - Hurst Community Initiative, Alpine Legal Services)
Region 10 League for Economic Assistance and Planning (Partners: Ouray County, San Miguel County, Hinsdale County/Town of Lake City, Dolores County, San Juan County, City of Ouray, Town of Ridgway, Town of Telluride, Town of Mountain Village, Town of Silverton, Town of Rico, Region 10, Region 9, Dolores County Development Corporation, San Juan Development Association, Lake City DIRT, Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway Program, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service)
South Central Council of Governments (Partners: Huerfano County, Las Animas County, City of Walsenburg, City of Trinidad, South Central Council of Governments)
Southeast Council of Governments (Partners: Baca County, Bent County, Crowley County, Kiowa County, Otero County, Prowers County, Town of Springfield, City of Las Animas, Town of Ordway, Town of Eads, City of La Junta, City of Rocky Ford, City of Lamar, Town of Holly, Southeast Council of Governments, Southeast Business Retention Expansion and Attraction)
Summit Prosperity Initiative (Partners: Summit County, Park County, Lake County, Town of Blue River, Town of Breckenridge, Town of Dillon, Town of Frisco, Town of Silverthorne, Town of Alma, Town of Fairplay, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Economic Development District, Summit Chamber/Summit Prosperity Initiative, Leadville Lake County Economic Development, Summit Foundation, Freeport McMoRan, Colorado Mountain College, Copper Resort Association, Keystone Neighbourhood Company)
City of Steamboat Springs (Partners: Routt County, Moffat County, Rio Blanco County, City of Steamboat Springs, Town of Hayden, Town of Oak Creek, Town of Yampa, City of Craig, Town of Meeker, Town of Rangely, Steamboat Springs Chamber, Craig Chamber of Commerce, Meeker Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Mountain College, Colorado Northwest Community College, Yampa Valley Housing Authority, Main Street Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Mountain Village Partnership)
Upstate Colorado (Partners: Upstate Colorado Economic Development/Northern Colorado Regional Economic Development Initiative, City of Fort Collins, City of Loveland, Town of Timnath, Town of Wellington, Town of Berthoud, City of Brighton, City of Dacono, Town of Eaton, Town of Erie, City of Evans, Town of Firestone, City of Fort Lupton, Town of Frederick, Town of Garden City, Town of Gilcrest, City of Greeley, Town of Grover, Town of Hudson, Town of Johnstown, Town of Keenesburg, Town of Kersey, Town of Lochbuie, Town of Mead, Town of Milliken, Town of Platteville, Town of Raymer, Town of Severance, Town of Windsor)
About the Department of Local Affairs Division of Local Government
DOLA’s Division of Local Government (DLG) has been a strong voice for local governments across Colorado for over 50 years, and believes that strong local communities create a strong Colorado. DLG advocates for self-reliance, local empowerment, resilient practices and strong local leadership, which leads visioning, goal setting to strengthen, and economic development. DLG knows the strength of a community relies on strong building blocks to create long-lasting stability and an environment in which every resident can thrive. The Division of Local Government provides strategic expertise, advocacy, and funding to strengthen Colorado. The division promotes local problem solving, informs decision making and invests in communities.
About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works with partners to create a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth. Under the leadership of Governor Jared Polis, we strive to advance the State’s economy through financial and technical assistance that fosters local and regional economic development activities throughout Colorado. OEDIT offers a host of programs and services tailored to support business development at every level including business retention services, business relocation services, and business funding and incentives. Our office includes the Global Business Development division; Colorado Tourism Office; Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office; Colorado Creative Industries; Business Financing & Incentives division; the Colorado Small Business Development Network; Colorado Office of Film, TV & Media; the Minority Business Office; Employee Ownership Office; and Rural Opportunity Office.