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Office of Just Transition Newsletter
September 30, 2024
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Coal Transition Worker Updates
RFA Closing Dates Extended Through October
Financial Counseling Services Funding Opportunity
The Office of Just Transition is seeking proposals from qualified firms, organizations or individuals to provide financial education, coaching, and counseling, specifically for employees who are facing job loss as a result of the eventual retirement of coal plants and mines in Colorado. The focus of counseling should be to help workers, along with spouses and family members, prepare thoughtfully to mitigate the impact that a job transition may have on their financial wellbeing.
Title: Financial Counseling Services Grant
Close Date: 10/31/24
Solicitation Number KOJT 2025-003
To apply for this grant, you must register on BidNet Direct
Peer Support Program Funding Opportunity
The Office of Just Transition is seeking proposals from qualified firms or individuals to design, implement, and manage a Peer Support Program specifically for employees who are facing job loss. This program aims to provide emotional, practical, and networking support to help affected individuals transition smoothly and successfully into new opportunities.
Title: Provision of Peer Support Grant
Close Date: 10/31/24
Solicitation Number KOJT 2025-004
To apply for this grant, you must register on BidNet Direct
Colowyo Coal Worker becomes first Rural Jump-Start Participant in Moffat County
The Governor's Office recently announced that High Altitude Geothermal, LLC is the first geothermal company and the first Moffat County company to join the Office of Economic Development and International Trade’s Rural Jump-Start (RJS) program. Through the RJS program, businesses can qualify for tax relief and operating grants. These incentives are intended to support regional economic and workforce development activities that expand local business, create new good-paying jobs, and create more diversified and strong local economies.
High Altitude Geothermal LLC was founded by transitioning mine worker Matt Cooper and his wife Kristine Cooper. Matt and Kristine have been working closely with OJT’s Coal Transition Navigator, Jennifer Pieroni, to identify opportunities for their business. According to the Coopers, Pieroni has been instrumental in connecting them with industry experts and business resources. "We would not have been able to move so quickly in this start-up if it weren’t for Jennifer. She is phenomenal!" said Matt Cooper.
Read the full press release
Email Transition Navigator Jennifer Pieroni at jennifer.pieroni@state.co.us.
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Public Policy
OJT Launches a Policy and Funding Committee
OJT recently held the first meeting of its newly launched, combined policy and funding committee. The informally structured committee will engage in issue identification, research, partner collaboration, strategy development, and, where appropriate, policy engagement. The committee will examine federal and state issues related to coal transition communities, economic diversification and business development, worker-related transition issues, and, of course, funding to assist the communities and workers. Email Terri Livermore for more information.
Joint Budget Committee Visits the Yampa Valley
On September 16, 2024, members of the Colorado General Assembly’s Joint Budget Committee, along with some of their staff members, traveled to Craig for a roundtable regarding economic transitioning and support for coal communities. Two members, Representatives Shannon Bird (chair) and Emily Sirota, appeared in person, while Representative Rick Taggert and Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer joined via video. The Craig roundtable was the first stop of a northwest and west slope swing with several additional planned stops, including one at the Yampa River. Officials from Moffat County and the City of Craig gave short presentations regarding the progress and challenges of transitioning a region away from a coal-based economy, a primary economic driver for this region. Wade Buchanan, the OJT Director, responded to several questions regarding OJT’s role in assisting the region, the utilization of state funding in providing assistance, and the role the state can and needs to play in this transition moving forward.
It’s Sunset Review Time for the Just Transition Advisory Committee
When the legislature created the Office of Just Transition, it also created the Just Transition Advisory Committee. As is typical, the Advisory Committee was subjected to a five year review called a Sunset Review. Almost unbelievably, we are now at that five year review. During a Sunset Review, the Department of Regulatory Agencies examines the board, commission or committee to determine whether or not it is still necessary to achieve the goals outlined in the enabling legislation and, in some cases, what changes need to be made. In the case of an Advisory Committee, such as the committee advising OJT, the only decision made during the Sunset Review is whether or not the advisory committee should be continued. If the recommendation is to continue the committee, a bill will be run during the 2025 legislative session to authorize the committee's continuation. The review is currently in process with the final report anticipated on October 15. Check back to see what happens!
Information from the Regulatory Front
Two utilities, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, a cooperative wholesale provider, and Xcel Energy, an investor-owned retail provider, are phasing out their coal-fired power plants by the end of this decade due to changing market conditions and climate-related policy decisions. Many decisions for this process occur at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) through the Electric Resource Planning (ERP) process. Through separate ERP processes, both Xcel and Tri-State have committed to providing substantial community assistance to the communities in which their power plants have operated for decades. Look for more details in a coming soon blog post!
Additionally, Tri-State received the good news that they were a finalist for their New Empowering Rural America (New ERA) funding grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. This grant will help propel Tri-State forward in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions while continuing to provide electricity to their customers.
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OJT/OEDIT Community Assistance Grant Updates
Town of Rangely Small Business Support
The Town of Rangely was awarded a $500,000 grant to support its RARE Program (Retain, Attract, Rebuild, and Expand). The program will provide start-up, expansion and retention assistance for new and existing businesses, consistent with the community’s transition plans. This will include technical assistance and training, capacity building, small business grants and a pitch competition for local start-ups.
Craig Business and Industrial Park
A $1,051,000 grant award has been approved for the City of Craig to purchase property for a new business and industrial park. The property is accessible to both the Union Pacific rail line and 1st Street in Craig. The City will partner with a private developer to begin the master planning process immediately after the property is purchased. The plan is to construct a large flex space facility on the east side of the property, while leaving the remaining land that can be purchased/subdivided. This layout allows for the most flexibility with building and land availability while also constructing the infrastructure in the most efficient manner. The project has also been awarded $2.5M in Congressionally Designated Spending for horizontal infrastructure costs.
Yampa River Corridor Project
Construction of a new boat ramp at Loudy Simpson Park located just south of Craig has been substantially completed. The boat ramp was one of the grant project outcomes in OJT's $317,916 grant to Moffat County for Yampa River Corridor improvements. Along with funds from multiple other sources, the OJT grant was used as a match to obtain a $3.3 million EDA construction grant. Moffat County estimates that the improvements will stimulate 249 new jobs and $31.5 million in new private investment in the community across a range of business sectors.
 Trent Thompson, EDA; Melanie Kilpatrick, City of Craig; Melody Villard, Moffat County Commissioner; and Wade Buchanan, Office of Just Transition.
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Grant Writing Resources
OJT Grant Writing Assistance for Coal Communities
OJT is providing grant writers at no cost to help coal communities apply for state, federal and private foundation grants.
OJT's grant writing assistance program was piloted over the past year in the West End and in Delta County. OJT grant writers assisted West End and Delta County communities with the submission of six grant applications that have led to awards totaling over $2M.
Please contact Cassie Mason (cassie.mason@state.co.us) for more information or submit a grant writing assistance request form.
Other Grant Resources
The new Energy and Climate Federal Funds Officer in the Governor's Office seeks to maximize federal funding for rural Colorado, particularly focusing on ARPA, IRA and IIJA funds. Contact Dallas Blaney to set up an appointment.
The IIJA and IRA Grant Writing Assistance Program through the Governor's Office provides free technical assistance and grant writing for federal IIJA and IRA grant applications.
Local Match Grant Program (LOMA): Colorado Counties, Municipalities, Special Districts, and federally recognized tribes who have or intend to apply for a federal IIJA program that requires a non-federal match can apply for local match grant match support.
The Just Transition Fund is offering grants of up to $100k to local organizations to submit competitive federal applications for transition projects that advance equitable and inclusive local economies.
- Support for application-ready projects, including hiring a grant writer and helping identify funding programs your project is eligible for and reviewing the federal proposal before submission.
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Other Funding Opportunities for Coal Communities
Coal Transition Communities may request request OJT assistance to apply for these opportunities.
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Upcoming State Grant Opportunities
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Colorado Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Regional Partnership grants for regional collaboration and conservation and recreation planning opened September 3. Fishing is Fun grant applications to improve angling opportunities in Colorado open in October 2024.
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GOCO Land Acquisition, Community Impact, Planning & Capacity, And Stewardship Impact Grants
- Cycle Opens October 24, 2024
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CDOT Revitalizing Main Street (RMS) enhances active transportation safety and strengthens the connection of people to main streets and central economic hubs.
- Grants of $10,000-$250,000
- Deadline: October 30, 2024; December 18, 2024
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CDOT Office of Innovative Mobility (OIM) Grants: provides grants to private, public, non-profit, and local agencies to fund innovative mobility and electrification solutions in the state of Colorado.
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CDOT Safe Routes to School: Infrastructure grants to improve the built environment for students to walk and bike to school.
- Deadline: November 4, 2024
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OEDIT Community Business Preservation Program is intended to help Colorado communities preserve the businesses that make them unique and are important to their residents.
- Grants of $10,000 to $50,000 per business in a selected community
- Deadline: January 19, 2024
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DOLA Microgrids for Community Resilience grant is designed to build community resilience regarding electric grid disruptions through the development of microgrids. Grants for planning, construction (generation), and construction (storage/controller)
- Planning Grant Application Deadline: December 4, 2024
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DOLA Local Planning Capacity grants supports local governments’ capacity to address affordable housing, especially by expediting development review, permitting, and zoning of affordable housing.
- Applications Period September 1 -30, 2024.
Private Foundations
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Anschutz Family Foundation provides grants of $5,000-$10,000 for general operating or program/project requests for various program areas including community & capacity building and low-income housing, among others.
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Colorado Health Foundation has a various October 2024 and February 2025 grant program deadlines for projects that advance health equity.
- T-Mobile Hometown Grants awards up to $50,000 for shovel-ready projects that foster local connections, like technology upgrades, outdoor spaces, the arts, and community centers.
- Fall: Applications open July–September
- Winter: Applications open October–December
Federal Funding Opportunities
- Browse the IWG's Funding Opportunity Clearinghouse for a comprehensive list of federal funding opportunities for Energy Communities.
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EPA Community Change Grants Program for local community partnerships to reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. $2B available. Open until November 21.
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Colorado Office of Just Transition
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
633 17th Street, Suite 1200
Denver, CO 80202 |
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