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Resources & Training

Funding & Technical Assistance
Grants to Address Opioid and Other Substance Use
Department of Health and Human Services. Deadline: January 15, 2019.
The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program supports treatment for and prevention of substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder, in rural counties at the highest risk for the disorders. Support is provided for planning efforts to strengthen organizational and infrastructural capacity to address these issues. More info here.
Grants to Enhance Rural and Urban Programs in Colorado
Anschutz Family Foundation. First application deadline for 2019: January 15, 2019. More information here. The Anschutz Family Foundation supports rural and urban nonprofit organizations throughout the state of Colorado that assist people to help themselves while nurturing and preserving their self-respect. The Foundation encourages endeavors that strengthen families and communities and advance individuals to become productive and responsible citizens. There is a special interest in self-sufficiency, community development, and programs aimed at the economically disadvantaged, the young, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
 
Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program 2019
Deadline: January 31, 2019. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others, are soliciting applications for the 2019 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration program. This program will award approximately $1.7 million in grants, and seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support. Projects may include a variety of ecological improvements along with targeted community outreach, education and stewardship. For more information, visit: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/five-star-and-urban-waters-restoration-grant-program

 

Deadline: January 31, 2019. Partners for Places, an initiative of the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, is a matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. Through the program, national funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being of all residents. The application deadline is January 31, 2019. Visit the Funders’ Network website for more information.
 
Microgrants for Technology

Do you have a project that puts more information or services online for your constituents? Are you a local government with a big or innovative public-facing project? Do you have broadband issues? The Statewide Internet Portal Authority’s (SIPA’s) Micro-Grant Program can help! Since 2010, SIPA has awarded nearly $1 million in micro-grants in an effort to give back to Colorado communities. Grant applications will be reviewed for innovation; be sure to check all of the criteria (bit.ly/2RT7btD) as some information has changed. Applications are due Jan. 18.

School Access for Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program
The School Access for Emergency Response program (SAFER) enacted by SB18-158 provides funding for interoperable communication hardware, software, equipment maintenance, and training to allow for seamless communications between existing school communications systems and first responder communications systems. Grant recipients may use the money received through the grant program to deliver training programs to teach effective communications with first responders in an emergency, to implement an interoperable technology solution to provide or upgrade a system for effective communication with first responders in an emergency, to maintain, improve, or provide interoperable communications hardware or software, and for any necessary radio system capacity expansions where school loading has been determined to have a significant impact on public safety system loading.
Schools ( school district/public school/charter school/board of cooperative services) and public safety communications system owners may apply. Next available funding cycle planned for 2019 – more info here. 
Farm Bill includes funding for Rural Broadband through ReConnect Program
More information here. Congress has passed the 2019 Farm Bill allocating new funding for rural high-speed broadband. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), municipalities, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers, and telecommunications companies may apply for funding through the new ReConnect Program to connect rural areas that currently have insufficient broadband service. USDA will make available approximately $200 million for grants (applications due to USDA by April 29), as well as $200 million for loan and grant combinations (applications due May 29), and $200 million for low-interest loans (applications due by June 28). Projects funded through this initiative must serve communities with fewer than 20,000 people.  with no broadband service or where service is slower than 10 megabits per second (mbps) download and 1 mbps upload. Approved projects must create access speeds of at least 25 mbps upload and 3 mbps download. Priority will be awarded for projects that propose to deliver higher-capacity connections to rural homes, businesses, and farms. Visitreconnect.usda.gov/s/ for more information.
EPA Brownfields Program: Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grants
Grants offered by the Brownfields Program can be used to address sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) and petroleum. The proposal submission deadline is Jan. 31. Information on all grants can be found online here.
Program Addresses Mental Illness: Department of Health and Human Services
More info here. The Statewide Consumer Network Program seeks to improve efforts to address the needs of adults with serious mental illness by developing or expanding peer support services, peer leadership, and peer engagement strategies statewide. The application deadline is December 24, 2018.
Funds Available for Pre-Disaster Mitigation: Federal Emergency Management Agency
More info here. The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program provides support to state, local, and tribal governments to implement and sustain cost-effective measures designed to reduce the risk to individuals and property from natural hazards, while also reducing reliance on federal funding from future disasters. The application deadline is January 31, 2019.
 
National Endowment for the Arts – Art Works Grant Program
Deadline: February 14, 2019 – more info here. NEA encourages applications for artistically excellent projects that address any of the following activities: Honor the 2020 centennial of women’s voting rights in the United States (aka the Women’s Suffrage Centennial); Engage with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic or Latino organizations, or the Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian arts; Celebrate America’s creativity and cultural heritage; invite a dialogue that fosters a mutual respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all persons and groups; Enrich our humanity by broadening our understanding of ourselves as individuals and as a society. Matching grants generally will range from $10,000 to $100,000.  
Colorado Municipal League Legislative Workshop
February 14, 2019 at History Colorado in Denver – More info and register here. 

Plan to attend the CML Annual Legislative Workshop. Municipal officials from across the state will gather to discuss key municipal issues before the 2019 General Assembly, CML’s legislative program, and what municipal officials can do to influence the legislative process. CML will host an open house reception for state legislators and all attendees following the workshop at the CML offices.

2019 Saving Places Conference – Colorado Preservation, Inc.
February 4 – 7, 2017 at the Sheraton Downtown Denver. More info and register here.
The 2019 Saving Places® Conference will focus on The Next Generation of Preservation: A CALL TO ACTION which will explore the changes, threats, challenges, and successes of the preservation movement along with the communities and leaders working to move it forward. You can expect over 80 engaging sessions, workshops, and tours. AIA and APA credits available including a Preservation Leadership Training offered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute’s Annual Conference: Western Places/ Western Spaces: Designing for the Future
March 7-8 at the University of Denver
The theme is disruption and how to plan for an uncertain future full of unknown changes to business practices, new technologies, and disasters. This year’s program will look at disruptive influences in housing, transportation, natural resources management, and urban planning, as well as how communities across the West are meeting this challenge. To learn more and register, visit www.law.du.edu/rmlui.
Water in the West Symposium
March 13-14 in Gaylord Resort & Conference Center, Aurora, CO
Join leaders from diverse disciplines to dive deep into water issues affecting the region and to explore innovative solutions to water challenges. Hear from nationally renowned speakers and learn about the efforts of various sectors in leveraging research, innovation, education, and creative policies to address the most pressing global water issues. For more information, visit nwc.colostate.edu.
21st Century Energy Transition Symposium
April 1-2 at the Grand Hyatt in Denver, CO
Hosted by Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory and its partners University of Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, and National Renewable Laboratory. This event will be of interest to those in all sources of the energy industry; environmental researchers and scientists; venture capitalists and philanthropic organizations; energy-related organizations; entrepreneurs; federal, state, and local governments; regulators; utilities; and students and faculty. Visitcercsymposium.org/symposium-2019 for more information.
Downtown Colorado Inc. Annual Conference: “In the Game”
April 9 – 12, 2019 in Aspen
Join DCI and downtown champions from around the region as we focus on harnessing national, state, and local resources to expand our toolkit and understanding of creating vibrant downtowns. Early Bird Registration available until Monday, January 28, 2019. Register here.
Save the Date!  2019 NWCCOG Regional Economic Summit
Thursday, May 2, 20019
The second annual summit will once again be held at the Silverthorne Pavilion on Thursday, May 2, 2019 Save the Date!!
Save the Date! 2019 Colorado Creative Industries Summit
May 16-17 in Salida, Colorado