Grid Resilience Grants are Open!
Resiliency Conversation: Equitable Engagement
Robust community engagement that is representative of all populations and perspectives results in projects that provide greater benefit to the community and increased buy-in among invested parties.
Learn how your community can increase public participation and improve overall outcomes.
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The Department of Local Affairs Receives Nearly $10 Million From U.S. Department of Energy to Support Economic and Workforce Development in Southeast Colorado
DOLA is among 20 nationwide applicants to receive funding from the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants to support communities in Southeastern Colorado affected by the Three Corners Connector (3CC) transmission project, with an additional $500,000 awarded by the developer of the 3CC project.
This significant investment represents a continued commitment from DOLA to support Southeast Colorado, building upon the work initiated by DOLA’s Colorado Resiliency Office’s (CRO) Roadmaps Program, and the recent DOLA Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) funding to conduct a Renewable Energy Impact Study in the region.
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Safe Streets and Roads for All 2024 Grantees Announced
For Fiscal Year 2024, the United States Department of Transportation has awarded over $1 billion through their Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant, with over $37 million going to 16 local governments in Colorado. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
- Ten out of the 16 grants in Colorado went to rural communities.
- The Town of Kersey’s application was supported by DOLA’s Local Match Program (LOMA).
- The City and County of Denver, the Cities of Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley, Pueblo, and the Denver Regional Council of Governments were awarded to conduct demonstration or other supplemental planning activities.
- Chaffee County Government, the Cities of Fountain and Longmont, and the Towns of Kersey, Paonia, Gypsum, Telluride, and Timnath, were awarded to develop new comprehensive safety action plans.
- The City of Loveland was awarded to update their comprehensive safety action plan, and the County of Gunnison was awarded to implement safety improvements along State Highway 135.
The next funding round is expected to open in early 2025. Please visit the SS4A program webpage for more information and details on the awarded projects.
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FEMA Releases National Resilience Guidance
On August 27, 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released their National Resilience Guidance (NRG). The NRG offers a unifying vision of resilience and the principles and steps all communities and organizations can take to increase their resilience in every sector and discipline.
FEMA will host a series of 60-minute webinar sessions in September and October to discuss the NRG and additional resources available to help new and experienced resilience practitioners improve their communities’ resilience. To view the document and learn more about the webinar sessions, please visit the FEMA website.
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Environmental Protection Agency Equitable Resilience Builder Tool
The Equitable Resilience Builder (ERB) is an application that supports communities in resilience planning with a focus on equity. The tool engages users in a guided process to inclusively assess local hazards, equity, and the resilience of built, natural, and social environment systems. Learn more and access this tool.
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New Wildfire Smoke Preparedness Program from CDPHE
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) new Wildfire Smoke Preparedness Program provides outreach, education, and training for local community partners on responding to wildfire smoke and its impacts on community health.
To learn about the program and resources for maintaining cleaner indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events, join the webinar on Thursday, October 3, 3 - 4 p.m. If you are interested in joining the program’s Education and Training Network, attending an online or in-person workshop, receiving periodic updates about this program, or learning how cleaner air centers can be created in your community, please complete this form.
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Free Training: Land Use, Zoning, and Individuals with Disabilities
Tuesday, October 1, 9 a.m. to noon, the Colorado Agency for Recovery Residences (CARR) will be presenting a fair housing training session at Red Rocks Community College’s Arvada Campus.
This training is specifically designed for municipalities to understand their legal obligations as they apply to housing for individuals with disabilities, including recovery residences.
Register for this free training.
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Funding Highlights
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance for FY 2024
The upcoming Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) programs support Colorado communities in reducing their long-term risks from natural hazards by assisting local officials in implementing natural disaster mitigation projects. Sub-applicants must first submit a Notice of Interest (NOI) to the Colorado Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) for a review process before submitting a full application through FEMA Grants Outcome (FEMA GO). The DHSEM accepts NOIs year-round and encourages applicants to submit their NOIs early. Please contact Deputy State Hazard Mitigation Officer, Emily Drosselmeyer for more information.
Advance Colorado Broadband
The Colorado Broadband Office launched the Advance Colorado Broadband Grant Program to deploy $826.5 million of Federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds into Colorado's broadband infrastructure and connect unserved and underserved homes and businesses. The application deadline is October 28, 2024.
Automated Permit Processing for Solar (APPS) Grant Now Open
The Automated Permit Processing for Solar (APPS) grant program is a non-competitive grant offering financial assistance to local and Tribal governments for costs associated with adopting an automated, online solar permitting platform, such as SolarAPP+ and Symbium. These platforms verify the code compliance of solar systems and issue permits instantly, saving staff time while ensuring compliance and safety.
Destination Development Mentor Program
The Destination Development Mentor Program by the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) will match up to 11 Colorado destination organizations with experienced consultants to provide expertise, resources, mentorship and capacity building to advance priority projects through June 30, 2025. Applications are due Thursday, October 24, 2024, by 4 p.m.
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) Prop 123 Programs
The Affordable Housing Finance Funds, managed by the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and administered by the Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) are accepting applications for the Land Banking and Concessionary Debt Programs.
Land Banking grants are available to eligible local or Tribal governments and forgivable loans are available to experienced non-profits to acquire and preserve land for affordable for-sale or rental housing. Applications are open until funds are exhausted.
Concessionary Debt is available to for-profit, nonprofit, local governments and Tribal government entities to support affordable housing finance. Applications close October 15, 2024. In addition, OEDIT recently announced $24 million of its Proposition 123 funding will be set aside for affordable housing projects using Colorado produced cost-effective, off site construction.
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