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Colorado Resiliency Office Newsletter -  November 2024

Notes from the CRO Director:

Image: The CRO team at their fall retreat. Left to right - Marguerite Harden, Shayle Sabo, Matthew Jacobs, Kate Guibert, Julia Masters, and Anne Miller.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to express gratitude for living in Colorado, and for all the people across the state with whom we are honored to work alongside.

As the CRO team gathered for our annual strategic planning retreat on a snowy, fall day earlier this month, we reflected on what we’ve accomplished together and our ongoing efforts to address the many challenges ahead. We remain steadfast in our dedication to advancing our vision for a long-term, adaptable, and vibrant future for all Coloradans!

We look forward to your engagement as we update the Colorado Resiliency Framework in 2025 and shape our priority strategies for the next five years.

Read on about CRO highlights this month including the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) annual report and program outcomes of the 16 regional Resiliency and Recovery Roadmaps in rural Colorado.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Anne Miller & the CRO Team

The Future is Bright

Matthew Jacobs, Recovery Program Manager, speaks to a captive audience of third grade students at the International School of Denver about how humans adapt in response to natural disasters.

Microgrids in the News

The U.S. Department of Energy highlighted a big win for the Town of Estes Park, Colorado in their recent video on grid resilience!

Using funding from the Microgrids for Community Resilience Program, the Estes Park Storage and Microgrid Project will install a 5-megawatt battery on a feeder line, supporting critical community infrastructure, including Estes Valley Fire Protection District and Estes Park Community Hospital, during blackout events. This will also provide grid support during normal operations.

Remember, Round 4 of the MCR Construction and Planning Grants is open through December 4, 2024.

2024 REDI Annual Report Published

The Rural Economic Development Initiative Grant Program (REDI), which is designed to help rural communities comprehensively diversify their economy and strengthen their resilience, released their 2024 report highlighting how funds were used and the community benefit provided.

The next REDI grant cycle will be open February 12 - March 12, 2025.

Resiliency Conversation: Resiliency Roadmaps Implementation Grants Project Updates

Image: OEDIT Director Eve Lieberman (front center) and Resiliency Program Manager Marguerite Harden (back right) pose with members of the Southeast Roadmap Team gathered in Ordway, CO, in April 2024.

The Department of Local Affairs Colorado Resiliency Office (DOLA-CRO) recently released program outcomes after closing out their three and a half year Resiliency Roadmap Program, which resulted in the creation of 842 jobs and formation of $9,386,882 in capital.

Learn more about the program and the Roadmaps teams’ progress on their community projects, which foster a regional approach on top-priority strategies related to housing, recreation, workforce and economic development, transportation, community engagement, and brownfields remediation.

Resiliency News

CRO partner wins the Economic Development Achievement Award  Congratulations to Stephanie Gonzales, the Executive Director of the Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development, for winning the Economic Development Achievement Award last month. Stephanie has been a close collaborator with the CRO, having led the Southeast region through the development of their COVID Recovery and Resiliency Roadmap process and partnering on the successful $10M Department of Energy Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grant Program. We're proud to partner with such inspiring and dedicated local partners like Stephanie!

The New State Climate Policy Dashboard: Meet the All-in-One Research Tool

The Climate Xchange has released a new all-in-one research tool that supports how climate advocates and practitioners can research climate policy. Users can compare policies across states or view the complete landscape of policies in a specific state.

Intergovernmental Roles and Responsibilities in Disaster Resilience

Since 2022, the National Association of Counties (NACo), with the support of the Pew Charitable Trusts, hosted a series of intergovernmental roundtable discussions on disaster resilience. The 2024 roundtable focused on current and potential approaches for funding. All reports and associated findings from the roundtables can be found on NACo’s website.

Opportunities to Get Involved

Applicants Wanted - Colorado Energy Code Board The Colorado Energy Code Board (ECB), a joint initiative between the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), is working to fill five vacancies on the 21-seat board to serve for the remainder of the development of the State's model low energy and carbon code, which is expected to run through June 2025. This is a great opportunity to help effectively implement House Bill 22-1362 concerning the reduction of building greenhouse gas emissions in a manner that best meets the needs of our great state.

Colorado Energy Office Releases Draft Request for Information for Gas Planning Pilot Community Projects

The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has released the draft Request for Information (RFI) for Gas Planning Pilot Community Projects for comment, as required by HB 24-1370, Reduce Cost of Use of Natural Gas.  The final RFI, timeline, and instructions on how to respond will be available on the CEO website no later than December 1, 2024.

Changes to Local Government Resources Call 

For the new year, the  Division of Local Government will be making changes to the Local Government Resources Call, with the November 20 call being the final call of 2024.

After taking a break in December to accommodate the holiday season, we will return on a bi-monthly schedule on Wednesday, January 15 at 11 a.m., with topics and programs that support local governments beyond funding navigation. 

We will continue to provide DOLA and partner agency updates to local communities before diving into the webinar. Topic announcements coming soon!

Funding Highlights

EIAF Now Open

The Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund’s (EIAF) next round of funding is now open for applications. Applications due December 2, 2024. 

Colorado Energy Office Energy Code Adoption and Enforcement Grant 

The Colorado Energy Office Energy Code Adoption and Enforcement Grant cycle is open through December 20, 2024. This grant helps municipalities and local governments offset the cost of adopting updated energy codes.

Next Cycle Colorado Application Now Open! 

NextCycle Colorado, a program of the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise (C3), is searching for teams with innovative solutions for end markets in Colorado. This program is designed to promote circular economy-based ventures and foster innovation in sustainable design, reuse, repair, compost, recycling, or material recovery solutions for end markets in Colorado. Applications are due by December 4, 2024.

Round 3 Application Primer Released for Community Wildfire Defense Grants

Fire Adapted Colorado (FACO) worked with State partners including the Colorado State Forest Service to prepare a webinar and an application primer to help communities prepare for the next round of Community Wildfire Defense Grants, expected to open before the end of the year.

Resources for Local Governments

Local Government Resources Call

January 15, 2025 | 11 a.m. | 2025 topics to be announced! 

State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Office Hours 

3rd Thursday of Each Month | 3 p.m. | Register for SLFRF Office Hours

Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) Office Hours

3rd Thursday of Each Month | 2 p.m. | Register for IIJA Office Hours

• Local Community Funding Guide
• Capacity Building Resources for Local Communities
• Local Match Program
• Colorado Local Technical Assistance Program (Road and Bridge Agencies)

We Want to Hear from You! 

Your successes are our successes and we would love to shout them from the rooftops. Share your stories of resilience, project updates (especially with DOLA partners), exciting Federal and state grant awards, or testimonials from DOLA workshops and events to be featured in DOLA newsletters and social media.

Visit the Colorado Resiliency Office at CoResiliency.com