Grantees are encouraged to use the instructions in the CWDC's 2024 State Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) grant guide to understand the terms, conditions and regulations regarding the SLFRF grant agreement.
Reskilling, Upskilling, and Next-skilling (RUN) Workers Grant
HB21-1264 allocates $25 million to Investments in Reskilling, Upskilling, and Next-skilling (RUN) Workers. Of these funds:
- $20.75 million will be allocated to Local Workforce Boards;
- $3 million will be competed out to community-based organizations through the CWDC; and
- $1.25 million will be used for outreach, promotion, the use of digital platforms, and statewide licenses.
1. $20.75 million has been allocated to Local Workforce Boards to help job seekers earn short-term credentials.
Workers, job seekers, and learners impacted by the pandemic can take advantage of RUN funding delivered through workforce centers to earn a short-term credential that leads to an in-demand, well-paying career. Participants can choose from hundreds of certificates in fields as diverse as the building trades, communications and marketing, software engineering, and project management.
If you are looking for a good job or new career, visit readytorise.me to learn more and complete a form to have someone contact you from your local workforce center to explore short-term credentials at no cost to you.
2. All combined, the organizations listed below received a total of $3 million in funding through the CWDC.
Each of the organizations listed below will use the funding to help Colorado workers reskill, upskill, and next-skill. In recognition of the unique and varied needs of Colorado’s communities, part of the funding will address priorities specific to rural areas. The Rural RUN Workers Grant is part of the larger RUN grant and supports rural organizations that facilitate or are planning to facilitate training for unemployed and underemployed Coloradans to earn industry-recognized credentials, which equip workers with in-demand skills while addressing the skills gaps many employers are facing.
Click the drop down menus to learn more about the grantees. If you are an individual interested in participating in a training program, contact your local Workforce Center or one of the community-based organizations listed below.
- RUN Workers Grant Recipients
Activate Work ($369,000)
Activate Work, a nonprofit recruiting, training, and coaching firm, will use its evidence based recruiting, training, and coaching model, Activate IT, to enable low-income job seekers to gain the necessary skills to succeed in IT careers.Blind Institute of Technology (BIT) ($242,700)
BIT, an organization that works to advance the professional opportunities for people with disabilities, will provide job preparation services, training, and credentialing to blind-visually impaired workers with the goal of placing these individuals into meaningful employment.GRID Alternatives Colorado, Inc. ($372,030)
GRID Alternatives Colorado, Inc. works to build a diverse and inclusive solar workforce by ensuring that career pathways into the renewable energy industry are accessible to disproportionately impacted communities. The organization will use this grant to equip participants with the skills and credentials they need to find a job in the renewable energy industry, and will connect these participants to employment opportunities in the field.Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC) ($56,447)
MHYC helps youth ages 18-24 advance their careers by providing paid service opportunities in career pathways in land, energy, and water conservation, construction, and health and wellness. This organization will recruit and hire young adults into their YouthBuild program. This program provides industry-recognized credential training for young people in healthcare and construction pathways.Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center (MCVSC) ($150,000)
MCVSC provides transition and employment assistance, behavioral health and wellness, supportive services, connection to community resources, and safe event space for veterans, military members, and their families. This organization will assist veterans in attaining and maintaining gainful employment through their Transition and Employment program. This program includes career counseling, mentoring, internships, networking forums, and workshops. Targeted industries include Cyber Security, Information Technologies, Healthcare, and Skilled Trades.National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement, Inc. (NIMAA) ($312,507)
NIMAA, a nonprofit education institute that trains Medical Assistants to work effectively in high-performing primary care settings, will use this grant to recruit learners and equip them with the skills and credentials they need to find a job as a medical assistant. The organization will also connect learners to employment opportunities.Solar Energy International (SEI) ($375,000)
SEI empowers its students, alumni, and partners to expand a diverse, inclusive, well-trained and educated solar electricity workforce. The organization will work with The Alliance Center, Pueblo Community College, the Community College of Aurora, and Colorado Solar and Storage Association to help individuals gain the skills and credentials they need to find a job in the solar electricity field.The Spring Institute of Intercultural Learning (SIIL) ($187,685)
Founded in 1979, SIIL is a nationally recognized provider of effective intercultural learning programs and services. Its mission is to empower people and organizations to succeed across languages and cultures. It is a nonprofit, community-based organization working to build brighter futures for individuals and foster more inclusive organizations. The organization will use this grant to connect immigrants and refugees to training and credentialing opportunities in the medical field.The Village Institute ($375,000)
The Village Institute helps immigrant and refugee families in Northwest Aurora build wealth, worth, and wellbeing by bringing housing, language learning, job readiness workshops, and mental health services all under one roof. They also operate The Little Village School for Young Children right onsite. The organization will use this grant to collaborate with early childhood education (ECE) centers using a lab school practice-based model to support reskilling, upskilling and next skilling, while providing professional development to ECE center directors and teachers to increase staff capacity to practice culturally and linguistically responsive leadership.- Rural RUN Workers Grant Recipients
Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) ($225,000)
ECCLA is a state-wide early childhood systems level coordinator and leader, serving Colorado’s 34 Early Childhood Councils who represent 63 of Colorado’s 64 counties. ECCLA will use the funding to specifically target two groups: 1. Individuals already working in early care and education that would like to upskill and get certificates supporting higher positions in those programs, such as moving from an assistant teacher to a lead teacher or moving from a teacher to a director position, and 2. Individuals who would like to reskill to be qualified to work within licensed early care and education programs or in the new Universal Preschool Program as teachers or directors.Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation (PSCDC) ($100,000)
The PSCDC connects existing and new businesses to a wealth of resources based on community needs and desired outcomes. The Build Pagosa students will receive a variety of certifications tied to the building trades, including a life-time OSHA certification. The students will receive credentials in each field that can be stacked for further career advancement.
3. $1.25 million was used to fund the Ready to Rise campaign, was used for outreach, promotion, the use of digital platforms, and statewide licenses
The initial Ready to Rise campaign, a collaborative effort between Colorado state agencies, raised awareness of and connected individuals to the many opportunities available through stimulus funding. It initially ran from September 2021 to early January 2022, and 42,000 people visited the ReadytoRiseCO.org landing page from September through December 2021.
In the second phase of outreach, the CWDC and Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) focused more explicitly on enrollment in stimulus programs, with a specific focus on enrollments in Reskilling, Upskilling, and Next-skilling (RUN) opportunities available via HB21-1264. The CWDC, CDLE, and local partners worked to support COVID-19 impacted Coloradans to complete training opportunities by June 30, 2022.
Work Force Innovation Act (WIA)
HB21-1264 allocates $35 million through the Work Force Innovation Act (WIA). Of these funds:
- $17.5 million will be allocated to Local Workforce Boards, who will compete these funds out to eligible entities;
- $13.3 million will be used on statewide initiatives through the CWDC; and
- $4.2 million will be used for evaluation, implementation, and administration.
1. Local Workforce Boards received $17.5 million, which was allocated to the community-based organizations listed below.
- Boulder County Workforce Center Grantees
The Boulder Chamber Level Up Program ($249,896)
The Boulder Chamber is the region’s flagship business advocacy and support organization. The Boulder Chamber’s innovative programs help local businesses succeed while sustaining an economy that preserves Boulder’s high quality of life, including its environmental and cultural assets. They will use the funding to financially support first-generation college students who belong to groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic who cannot afford to obtain on-the-job experience through unpaid training.The Boulder Chamber Expansion of Tech Industry Program ($110,500)
This program will use its grant to recruit 400 to 500 college students from one local community college and two local school districts and connect them with opportunities to earn one or more Google Career Certificates in UX design, project management, data analytics, and/or IT support. Participants that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, including those from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, will be recruited. They will obtain a certification, gain valuable experience, and earn three credits per certificate that they can transfer to a Colorado community college, reducing future education costs while providing them with applicable job skills.- Denver Workforce Center Grantees
Mi Casa Resource Center (MCRC) ($568,000)
MCRC educates, trains, and supports youth and adults on their path to economic success committed to advancing family prosperity. The organization will use their funding to expand their “Creating Pathways to Opportunities” program, which supports participants’ efforts to enter new careers or advance their current career.Servicios de la Raza ($481,251)
Servicios de La Raza’s mission is to build and cultivate a thriving Colorado Latino community in which all members have the opportunities, and the support systems to achieve equity, self-sufficiency, and self-determination to lead a healthy quality of life. They will use their funding to create the “Self-Sufficiency, Employment, and Training” program, which will provide culturally responsive and essential human services delivery to participants.Volunteers of America ($160,000)
The mission of the Volunteers of America Colorado Branch is to identify and serve the basic needs of the most vulnerable individuals and families within the community. The organization will use this funding to educate, train, and support Veterans with significant barriers to obtain and retain employment.
- Larimer County Workforce Center Grantees
Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County (BGCLC) ($149,915)
BGCLC’s vision is to provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters their doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living healthy lifestyles. They will use the funding to help youth ages 16 to 18 whose families were negatively impacted by the pandemic gain the skills they need to start their careers.City of Fort Collins: Paid Internships ($149,559)
The City of Fort Collins will use the funding to connect learners with quality jobs in Fort Collins by increasing the number of paid internship opportunities in diverse fields.Cultural Enrichment Center of Fort Collins: Umoja (Unity) Tech ($42,840)
The Cultural Enrichment Center is designed to address the cultural, academic, career, and social needs of middle school and high school African American students in Fort Collins. The enrichment center is crafted in an academic cultural framework for the purpose of connecting participants with history, literature, arts, music, dance, traditions, and folklore of the African American experience. The organization will use the funding to help Black youth obtain technology-related skills by offering a certification program.Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce: NoCo Xello Strategic Initiative - Connecting Today's Businesses with Tomorrow's Talent ($150,000)
The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce will use its funding to develop new business partnerships and work-based learning opportunities for in-school youth by using Xello, a software program that helps educators guide their students as they explore career options. Their success will be measured by the number of new employers added to the Xello work-based learning network and the number of student requests, especially those made by underrepresented populations. The organization will also improve alignment between industry and education by developing new internship and apprenticeship opportunities for in-school youth, as well as expanding existing programs.Interfaith Solidarity and Accompaniment Coalition (ISAAC) of Northern Colorado: Adelante! Intergenerational Workforce Support in Latinx Larimer County ($150,000)
ISAAC of Northern Colorado is a faith-based community voice and action organization dedicated to improving immigrant justice and supporting New Americans. They will use the grant to create a scholarship and support pilot program that will assist the intergenerational Latinx immigrant workforce. The project includes creating a two-year summer paid internship fellowship program; a work authorization program to support Deferral Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals; and a scholarship program for those interested in skills-building, training, licensing and business creation, including access to language learning, offered to immigrant workers across the generations.Keep Smart Books Academy, LLC ($150,000)
Keep Smart Books Academy, LLC is an organization that provides bookkeeping and payroll training. They will use the funding to create a skills-based certificate program to help upskill and re-skill people affected by the pandemic so that they can find employment that provides a living wage. In turn, the program will help employers fill critical positions.Partnership for Age- Friendly Communities in Larimer County (PAFC) ($146,136)
PAFC fosters grassroots solutions to the challenges of a growing population of older adults in Larimer County and will use the funding to equip older workers aged 55 and older with the tools they need to obtain a job that provides a living wage by providing job seekers with job search and job coaching services and other supportive activities. The organization will also provide information to businesses about the benefits of creating intergenerational workplaces. A minimum of 200 Northern Colorado employers will be invited to attend briefings that highlight the business case for hiring older workers. Businesses attending the trainings will learn about the changing demographics, ageism in the workplace, the fact that older workers want to work longer, and the benefits of hiring older workers.Larimer and Weld County Work-Based Learning Alliance: Project Self-Sufficiency of Loveland-Fort Collins: Bringing Single Parents into Colorado’s Talent Pool (NoCo Inspire) ($150,000)
The Larimer and Weld County Work-Based Learning Alliance uses the NoCo Inspire platform to align education and workforce to increase sustainable community access to work-based learning by removing barriers and sharing resources. They will use the funding to help those most affected by the pandemic including low-income single parents, BIPOC populations, women, and others gain the skills and credentials they need to find quality jobs.Colorado State University: Inclusive Training to Enhance Employment for Neurodiverse Job Seekers in Larimer County ($150,000)
Colorado State University will use this funding to revise their current work-readiness curriculum to address the pandemic / post-pandemic workplace environment with structured experiential learning opportunities for ‘employment re-entry pathways’ in the fields of STEM and Agriculture. Some of the features of this revision will include, piloting a new STEM- and agriculture-focused career and technical education program, developing STEM and Agriculture certification processes (new badges, certificates) that can be presented to employers to expedite the hiring process, and operationalizing and prioritizing fundamental knowledge and skills in the fields of STEM and Agriculture and linking learning activities to those industry-recognized competencies.- Mesa County Workforce Center Grantees
Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families (MCPCF) ($375,000)
MCPCF, a collaborative partnership established by the State, is made up of local early childhood and family-oriented organizations dedicated to strengthening systems and resources to help children and families create better outcomes. They will use the funding to help people enroll and complete an accelerated program to earn an Early Childhood Education Director’s certificate in 12 months instead of the usual two years. The program will help participants’ careers and will also address daycare centers’ skills gaps.Careerwise Colorado ($250,521)
Careerwise Colorado works with businesses to increase the number of youth apprenticeship programs. They will use their funding to expand this work.- Rural Consortium Workforce Center Grantees
Financial Health Institute: Financial and Digital Literacy ($248,800)
The Financial Health Institute creates and delivers effective, safe and fun financial education for people experiencing economic stress. As participants become more educated and gain financial/digital literacy, many of the stresses of the pandemic can be overcome and participants are much better equipped to deal with financial uncertainties and will be able to seek higher paying jobs using digital skills they gain.One Delta County: Essential Employability Skills ($49,400)
One Delta County works in partnership with public and private sectors to strengthen and diversify the economy of Delta County.The Essential Employability Skills Program will help participants grow and develop their skill set, allowing them to advance in their current jobs or seek and obtain higher paying jobs.Coal Creek Adult Education Center: English as a Second Language ($114,614)
The mission of the Coal Creek Adult Education Center is to provide high quality, professional, and affordable educational opportunities for motivated adults.This project will assist ESL students by equipping them with english speaking skills, allowing them to advance in their current jobs or seek higher paying jobs.- Weld County Workforce Center Grantees
Jobs of Hope ($207,957.94)
Jobs of Hope is a faith-based nonprofit focused on working to help men coming out of incarceration and/or gang-involvement leave behind years of legal problems. They will use the funding to equip men with addiction with the skills they need to obtain quality jobs through a program called “Men of Valor.” The program is a certified leadership program and will provide job assistance and referrals to employment services and programs funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado (IRCNOCO) ($336,138)
IRCNOCO’s work involves empowering refugees and immigrants, connecting communities, and advocating for successful integration. They will use the funding to help their clients upskill through a digital literacy program, giving them the skills they need to find quality jobs in an increasingly digital world.
2. The CWDC granted a total of $13.3 million to the organizations listed below (organized by funding opportunity).
The $13.3 million of funding has been distributed to the grantees listed below to increase capacity across the state to strengthen training programs and help additional nonprofit providers and other organizations receive public funding.
- Evidence-based Practices
Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI) ($125,000)
CEEMI is a nonprofit focused on scaling effective, proven workforce and postsecondary programs for Coloradans in or near poverty. CEEMI prioritizes programs, services and pathways that have been (or want to be) rigorously evaluated. The organization focuses on leveraging public funds, including through advocacy, and providing technical assistance and support to state and local government agencies and nonprofits/providers in Colorado seeking to measure impact and build evidence of effectiveness. CEEMI will develop and deliver technical assistance to build capacity in targeted providers. The added capacity will enhance the awareness of evidence-based practices and lead organizations to bolster systems and approaches for program implementation and evaluation that lead to doing more of what works to improve economic outcomes for Coloradans.- Support for Grant Applications and Management
Community Resource Center (CRC) ($300,000)
CRC supports, strengthens, and galvanizes change-makers across the nonprofit ecosystem, working together to create a more equitable Colorado. CRC will provide training and grant management for nonprofits focused on Colorado's economic recovery to increase the ability of these nonprofits to access and successfully implement opportunities supported by state and federal funding.- Capacity Building
Additional opportunities have been funded to increase the capacity of the talent development network to carry out stimulus programs, including:
Employer coach (CWDC staff) ($231,294)
CWDC will add capacity to provide support to businesses in Colorado on effective ways to implement job quality and skills-based hiring initiatives.Office of New Americans Global Talent Advisor ($231,294)
This new position in the Office of New Americans will work directly with Colorado businesses to help them identify and access talent available from new immigrant and refugee populations in the state.Office of the Future Work Digital Equity Program Manager ($253,362)
This position is the recognized expert on strategies to increase digital equity across the state and represents Colorado on the national stage. This position is responsible for:Developing the state’s digital equity plan in partnership with other agencies and stakeholders providing strategic advice and policy recommendations on issues regarding digital equity, including technology literacy, affordable internet programs, and delivery of community-based digital equity services.- Career Coaching Collaborative
Career coaching have been proven to be essential for Colorado’s workers to find careers that are meaningful, high quality jobs and to empower those workers to take concrete steps to pursue jobs where their skills and interests align with labor market demand. Not only is high quality career coaching a vital resource for learners and job seekers of all ages, it is necessary for individuals looking to switch careers, explore continuing education and skill development, advance in their career, or simply take the first steps toward a fulfilling and rewarding career.
That’s why a total of $6,375,000 has been allocated from HB21-1264 to build a career coaching program, called the Career Coaching Collaborative, designed to increase Coloradans’ access to these valuable services. Today, workforce centers across the state provide career coaching services; this funding will help expand their and others’ capacity. In late 2022, a virtual service will be launched for people who don’t live near a Workforce Center or who are not available during normal working hours; a version for Spanish speakers will also be added. $3,559,760 will be applied to this expansion of services within the state’s workforce ecosystem.
The community-based organizations listed below, many of which already provide career coaching services, will use their funding to increase their capacity. To do so, they will hire a career coach who will provide services to Coloradans as a part of the larger Career Coaching Collaborative.
Activate Work ($198,375)
ActivateWork is a nonprofit recruiting, training, and coaching firm that connects employers to a diverse pool of exceptional talent. Traditional hiring processes leave valuable talent out. They help employers solve talent gaps by finding promising candidates in underrepresented communities and preparing them to excel in new careers. Their proprietary behavioral screening process, rigorous skills training, and 12 months of on-the-job coaching prepare our learners to be valuable new hires, with a one year retention rate 36% higher than the industry average. And with an average starting wage of more than $20/hour, their model is one of few proven to launch people to lasting economic freedom.Center for People with Disabilities (CPWD) ($199,640)
CPWD, a Center for Independent Living serving Boulder and North Metro areas, is a community-based, non-residential, cross-disability, private nonprofit agency that provides resources, information and advocacy to assist people with disabilities in overcoming barriers to independent living.Center for Work Education and Employment (CWEE) ($199,385)
CWEE fosters personal and professional transformation for low-income families through confidence building, customized skills training, and career advancement. CWEE’s holistic and human centered program supports low-income career seekers, most of them single parents, to train for and launch careers so they can support their families and achieve their personal and professional goals.Emily Griffith Technical College (EGTC) ($193,739)
EGTC has been at the cornerstone of workforce education in the Denver metro area for over 100 years. Current offerings include English language, high school equivalency, and continuing education classes, as well as over 20 short-term career and technical certificate programs, and 12 US Department of Labor registered apprenticeship programs.Forward Steps ($199,640)
By investing in their lives, Forward Steps supports youth and young adults facing adversity so they can reach their full potential through career and postsecondary readiness coaching, mentoring, and financial scholarship.Generation Schools Network (GSN) ($198,848)
GSN co-creates healthy school ecosystems by partnering with educators, students, families and communities to ensure every student thrives in school, work and life. Our focus in college/career readiness is to ensure that ALL students have the opportunity to access robust college/career experiences that prepare them for a successful future.I Have a Dream Foundation ($199,640)
The mission of the “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County (IHDF) is to empower children from under-resourced communities to succeed in school, college, and career by providing academic, social, and emotional support from elementary school through postsecondary education, along with a postsecondary tuition assistance scholarship. Our dream is a world where all children have equal access to the educational and career opportunities that will ignite their innate potential.Mi Casa Resource Center ($199,640)
Mi Casa Resource Center identifies and responds to the needs of low-income individuals and families to create pathways to opportunity. Since 1976, our comprehensive and community-focused programming has helped our participants to educational and economic success. Our Career Pathways programs trains, supports, and connects low-income jobseekers to high-demand careers that meet their personal and professional needs.Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC) ($98,854)
MHYC helps youth ages 18-24 advance their careers by providing paid service opportunities in career pathways in land, energy, and water conservation, construction, and health and wellness.Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center (MCVSC) ($192,418)
MCVSC provides transition and employment assistance, behavioral health and wellness, supportive services, connection to community resources, and safe event space for veterans, military members and their families.The Spring Institute of Intercultural Learning (SIIL) ($171,045)
Founded in 1979, Spring Institute for Intercultural LearningSIIL is a nationally recognized provider of effective intercultural learning programs and services. Its mission is to empower people and organizations to succeed across languages and cultures. It is a nonprofit, community-based organization working to build brighter futures for individuals and foster more inclusive organizations.Youth Employment Academy (YEA) ($181,990)
YEA’s mission is to serve young adults in breaking the cycle of generational poverty in Denver communities by gaining personal and economic stability through education and employment training.The initiative is supported by Radicle Coaching, LLC ($262,880), which will develop and deliver a training program that helps coaches in the collaborative align with CWDC priorities and enables them to administer the services of the Coaching Collaborative. The program will help coaches understand labor market information, equity issues and culturally aware coaching practices, the Cliff Effect, the utility and use of MyColoradoJourney, evidence-based practices, human-centered design, emotional agility, and other essential resources and skills necessary to deliver high-quality career coaching services to Coloradans.
The initiative will be promoted by Graduate! Network ($150,000), which will develop and deliver a statewide promotions campaign that attracts people to coaching services, specifically individuals from underserved populations. The additional enrollment will enhance the reach of the coaching collaborative throughout Colorado, increasing statewide understanding of the benefits of the coaching collaborative and interest in participation, especially among underserved populations.
- Trade Association Training
Trade associations are nonprofit organizations made up of a collection of businesses and/or individuals with common interests or who work in the same industry. The organizations below received funding in order to equip Coloradans with the skills they need to obtain in-demand jobs.
Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Foundation (CAMF) ($310,000)
CAMF is using its grant to design a new program that will use a combination of higher education, self-directed online training, on-the -job training, and industry-recognized credentials to upskill a new workforce for advanced manufacturing.Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) ($160,000)
CHA, the leading voice of the Colorado hospital and health system community, is using its funding to strengthen and bolster their already-proven Academy for Quality Professionals by offering a curated, in-depth, and interactive education series for all Colorado hospitals that results in the Certified Professional of Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) credentials for all participants.Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association (CHLA) ($300,000)
CHLA properties have a proven track record of employing diverse populations including low-income individuals, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and immigrants. CHLA will be delivering certified training courses to incumbent frontline employees using the American Hotel and Lodging Association's curriculum and working to expand delivery to rural counties.Colorado Technology Association (CTA) ($310,000)
CTA stewards a 25-year legacy of building a vibrant and thriving technology community in Colorado. They have been at the heart of the Colorado tech movement since 1994, providing leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs the resources they need to thrive. It will use its funding to develop a program that includes three tracks for training candidates interested in tech careers to improve labor availability.Construction Education Foundation (CEF) ($310,000)
The Colorado construction industry needs to add approximately 7,500 jobs per year for the next six years to keep up with estimated employment needs. By embracing green construction, CEF can attract young new hires through The Green Building Certificate.Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak ($300,000)
Surveys nationally and locally show the labor shortage is the number one issue affecting the construction industry and contributing to housing affordability. The Careers in Construction (CIC) program was established in 2015 by the Colorado Springs Housing & Building Association and the Associated General Contractors of Colorado. With funding, CIC will be supported at 29 schools throughout the state, and expanding into 15 new schools.Colorado Contractors Association (CCA) ($310,000)
CCA, the leading professional association for infrastructure construction professionals across the state, will use its funding to expand its reach and impact through a new training program coined the Civil Construction Bootcamp that will prepare participants for careers in the construction industry.- Regional Sector Staffing
The organizations listed below all excel at advancing and supporting sector partnerships, bringing together business leaders, from the same industry and in a shared labor market region, who work with education, workforce development, economic development, and community organizations to address the workforce and other competitiveness needs of their industry. These organizations will use the funding they received to increase capacity within regional sector partnerships by hiring a convener role to accelerate industry-led efforts.
Arvada Chamber of Commerce( ACC) ($217,000)
With a diverse business community of nearly 600 members in our corner, the ACC works diligently to serve local businesses and develop strategies that help the Arvada community be one of the best in the state.Boulder Chamber ($217,000)
Boulder Chamber, the region’s flagship business advocacy and support organization will use the funding to add Convener to accelerate efforts to improve communication and cooperation among companies in the region to address important workforce issues in high demand industries.Colorado Press Association (CPA) ($217,000)
CPA is the champion for Colorado print and online media. CPA is the non-profit trade association representing journalists, investigative reporters, and truth seekers throughout the state. They are a collective of more than 150 community newspapers, online news sites, and nonprofit news outlets.Colorado Technology Association (CTA) ($217,000)
CTA stewards a 25-year legacy of building a vibrant and thriving technology community in Colorado. They have been at the heart of the Colorado tech movement since 1994, providing leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs the resources they need to thrive.Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) ($217,000)
The FCCC is a champion for business, the regional economy and the greater Fort Collins area community. Owned and led by its members, the Chamber is an active and forward-focused organization of 1,200 members. Member businesses are of all sizes and types ranging from sole proprietors to large multinational corporations and from locally owned retailers to internationally renowned high tech firms. Also in the membership mix are brand new startups and longstanding companies that have been members of the Chamber since it was founded in 1904.Fremont Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) ($216,000)
The FEDC is a professional economic development organization focused directly on business attraction, retention and expansion. With an established and growing network of business, academic and governmental partners, they directly assist companies with competitive location or expansion projects by connecting them with the right people, the appropriate resources and the most meaningful and relevant information.Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce (PSCC)($199,000)
The Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce is a member-based organization that promotes and supports the local community through our various educational programs, resource and referral system, economic gardening and special event promotions. With over 400 members, the organization is known for consistently having one of the highest per capita memberships in the state of Colorado.- Small Business Apprenticeship Support
Culinarians Helping Entrepreneurial Folks (C.H.E.F.)
C.H.E.F. creates opportunities by providing culinary training, restaurant education, mentorship, and leadership development for individuals experiencing addiction, homelessness, or involvement in the justice system.Chef Ann Foundation
Chef Ann Foundation is dedicated to empowering schools with the tools, training, resources, and funding they need to serve meals.Early Connections Learning Centers
Early Connections Learning Centers is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high quality early care and education for ALL children. Since 1897, their work to provide high quality early childhood education has positively impacted thousands of children and families in the Pikes Peak region. ECLC will be developing a new RAP and formalizing an already-established work-based learning program.Environmental Consulting Services
ECS is a privately owned company engaged in the development and implementation of stormwater management compliance. ECS's proactive approach to its projects is to facilitate compliance from the conception to the completion of projects. ECS takes holistic strategies taking into account the financial, safety and schedule based goals of each project.Fleet to Force
Fleet to Force (FTF) is a veteran focused workforce solutions provider that creates pathways of employment for military veterans and the companies who support them. FTF provides information for investing in veterans, and designs custom workforce solutions, aligning participants with federally funded initiatives and championing them through the approval process. FTF provides weekly check-ins and training on the administrative and reporting requirements, and advises on all local, state and federal opportunities.High Altitude Holistic Pets
Holistic Yoga School Studio
Founded in 2012, Holistic Yoga School provides life-enriching classes, workshops, retreats and trainings. Special attention is devoted to creating safe and comfortable environments for students to learn about yoga, meditation and other holistic practices.Jeremy's Garage, LLC
Jeremy's Garage offers automotive repair services to Pueblo, CO and surrounding areas since 2008. Jeremy's Garage is developing a new RAP in the electric vehicle (EV) automotive tech occupation. The garage will upskill incumbent Master Technicians to be EV certified and provide training for participants to mentor incoming apprentices.Remarkable Brands, LLC (R+R Head Labs)
R+R Head Labs provides barbering services performed by just-impacted expert barbers and other returning community members committed to making a better world around them. R+R is is expanding an existing RAP in barbering and working to redefine the barbershop experience, infusing it with purpose, while providing elevated, expert, and hyper-personalized hair care services.Revolutionary Media Group LLC
Revolutionary Media, LLC is an interactive performance marketing firm that utilizes best in class media channels to acquire prospects and provide media services for its clients across multiple interactive platforms. Revolutionary Media provides a full suite of marketing services to manage and execute all aspects of their clientele’s marketing strategy.TechNation Careers
TechNation provides technology training programs for New Americans with bi-lingual instructors in partnership with Regis University helping to craft programs designed to make students successful in the workforce. For most, the cost of all training supplies, tests and certifications is provided through Federal funding plus a laptop, if needed.Two Octobers
Two Octobers was founded in 2010 with a desire to be a great place to work: where workers could do their best work and where we were really making an impact on the businesses and non-profits we're serving. As a B-Corp certified company, they worked with the Colorado Department of Labor to develop standards for a digital marketing apprenticeship that meets the requirements of the USDOL Registered Apprenticeship program for a fully qualified digital marketer.- Vital Careers
Montessori Intergenerational Learning Communities
MILC incorporates concepts of Montessori Preschool and Montessori Inspired Programming for Aging and Dementia under one roof; creating programs which children, youth, and aging adults participate in ongoing services and/or programming concurrently at the same site. Participants interact during regularly scheduled planned intergenerational activities, as well as through informal encounters. The benefits of intergenerational learning go far behind the time spent together and has the potential to change outcomes for both the children and aging adults.Vail Valley Works
Vail Valley Works encompasses professional development, work-based learning, nonprofit resources, diversity, equity, and inclusion and mental wellness initiatives. They are committed to listening to, and collaborating with, the business community in order to provide the most relevant, timely and innovative programming available.Trendlines Colorado
Trendlines serves as a creative partner to expand career pathways for underserved populations through design thinking, program development, and program scalability. By working with school districts to help modernize curriculum, optimize advising practices, and expand graduation pathways, Trendlines helps create a more equitable and effective school experience for students. They also work to identify promising workforce training programs that are helping break cycles of poverty by connecting people to high-wage careers.Goodwill of Colorado
Goodwill of Colorado offers a wide selection of customized, innovative and supportive programs and services for individuals, families and businesses - whether seeking care for loved ones with developmental or aging challenges, looking for personal job assistance or advancement, or wanting to bolster their business with professional staffing and administrative support.
3. $4.2 million will be used for evaluation, implementation, and administration.
$4.2 million will be used to evaluate the efficacy of stimulus programs and to use lessons learned to inform future funding allocation.
- Evaluation Grantee
Actus Policy Research (APR) ($1,491,678)
APR seeks to improve the effectiveness of social programs and policies through evaluation, research and analysis, and technical assistance. APR works with policymakers to gather and analyze the information needed to learn if their programs achieved what they are intended to achieve. APR will be creating and executing an evaluation of the entire portfolio of the CWDC's HB21-1264 activities to determine the effectiveness of the programs and to inform future funding decisions.