Notes from the CRO Director: Launching the Colorado Resilience Community of Practice
The CRO has a long history of facilitating peer-to-peer communication for local governments and partners around timely resilience and recovery-related topics. For example, the Wildfire Peer Exchange launched during the 2020 wildfires in Colorado and continued for four years as practitioners supported each other in addressing complex wildfire recovery needs. Other successful CRO-led peer exchanges have been around the topics of COVID recovery and extreme heat.
To complement these event-specific forums, we are excited to facilitate a “Colorado Resilience Community of Practice” private LinkedIn group that will launch on Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day!). If you’re a practitioner or researcher advancing resilience or sustainability here in Colorado, we encourage you to join in the conversation to share resources, solutions, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration alongside resilience leaders across the State. Search LinkedIn for the "Colorado Resilience Community of Practice" (on or after the launch date) or email Marguerite Harden to get started.
Be well,
Anne Miller and the CRO team
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What's New at the CRO?
Help Inform the 2025 Colorado Resiliency Framework Update
We are in the beginning stages of updating the Colorado Resiliency Framework, an action plan for how the State of Colorado will adapt to current and future conditions and reduce vulnerabilities to disruptions. We are seeking input from local governments to help shape our actions and the Local Government Survey on Resilience Planning was sent to Colorado municipal and county managers this week. Didn't receive the survey? Please contact Shayle Sabo, Resiliency Program Manager.
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Congratulations to the Climate Resilience Challenge Awardees!
The latest Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) Climate Resilience Challenge awards were announced in March for projects that advance cutting edge climate work and align with multiple goals, including climate adaptation and climate mitigation solutions. The following climate resilience projects were awarded:
- $1.8 million to Grand County for their Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Headquarters/Resilience Hub
- $1.8 million to Wray for construction of their Civic Center/Resilience Hub
- $800,000 to Golden for their LEED Platinum police and municipal building
- $360,000 to Winter Park for a Climate Action Plan and a microgrid for their public works facility
Since November 2023, the Division of Local Government has awarded $36.5 million to 25 projects across the state for this initiative – six planning grants and 19 implementation projects. Although the Climate Resilience Challenge set-aside will not be funded in the next round, these types of projects are encouraged to apply through the regular Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) grant cycles.
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CRO Joins Climate Workshops with CWCB
Marguerite Harden (pictured, center), CRO’s Local Resilience Manager, presented at the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in Pueblo earlier this month. CWCB is hosting another Climate Workshop next week to showcase climate work that the State is engaged in.
These workshops include a tabletop exercise to help build strategies for statewide action to address impacts identified in the recently updated Climate Change in Colorado Report.
Image: Marguerite Harden (center), CRO’s Local Resilience Manager, shares about CRO programs at the CWCB Climate Workshop in Pueblo.
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CRO Speaking at ULI Resilience Summit, May 15, 2025
Anne Miller, CRO Director, will be joining an opening keynote panel at the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Resilience Summit on May 15, 2025, in Denver. The session, "Preventing the Next Palisades Disaster: Learning from Colorado Wildfires," will explore lessons learned that have shaped Colorado's approach to protecting communities and property from the rising threat of intensifying fires in urban and developed areas.
April Resilience Conversation: Continuing to Plan for Colorado's Future
 We are excited to kick off our planning update for the 2025 Colorado Resiliency Framework this spring! In this month’s Resilience Conversation, we talk about how this is managed and what can be expected in this Framework update.
Resiliency News
Mancos Sets Example in Economic Resilience Planning
The Town of Mancos was featured in The Journal as an example for other Southwest Colorado rural communities seeking to fortify their downtown and strengthen their resilience through economic development, future planning, and workforce development.
The Town's participation in CRO’s Camp Resilience program sparked action to successfully apply for a Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) and to pursue additional steps toward building resilience. This community is also considering leveraging DOLA’s Main Street Program as a way to work toward these goals.
Opportunities to Get Involved
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Events
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) are offering a series of online and in person events to introduce their new 2025 Strategic Plan and to share everything partners need to know to apply for a GOCO grant going forward. They are also hosting a roadshow to share what’s new, check in with partners, and learn about opportunities in your communities.
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Regional Recovery Symposiums
Each Regional Recovery Symposium is a day of disaster recovery-centric training geared towards emergency managers and those who have a role in disaster recovery at the local level. Training topics will provide fundamentals to build recovery preparedness for communities across Colorado. Speakers include subject matter experts from the local, state, and federal level. Agenda topics include a Disaster Recovery Assistance Panel, Local Recovery Lessons Learned, Introduction to Recovery Planning, Debris Management, and FEMA Individual Assistance & Public Assistance.
North West Region
When: May 1, 2025, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Miller Ranch Community Center, 25 Mill Loft St, Edwards, CO 81632
Register for the North West Region event
Central Region
When: May 15, 2025, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Ute Pass Cultural Center, 210 E Midland Ave, Woodland Park, CO 80863
Register for the Central Region event
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Funding Highlights
Proposition 123 Local Planning Capacity Grant Opens May 1, 2025
The next funding cycle for the Proposition 123 Local Planning Capacity (LPC) grants will open May 1, 2025, and close on Friday, May 30, 2025, at noon. This funding supports local government implementation of Proposition 123 requirements including fast track review and planning efforts that advance affordable housing strategies or projects. These funds are only available to those local and Tribal governments who have filed a commitment and are eligible for Proposition 123 funds.
Partners in the Outdoors Grant Program
This program offered through Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides grant funds to assist partners across the state in advancing and balancing outdoor recreation with conservation in Colorado. Applications are due May 5, 2025.
Host a CivicSpark AmeriCorps Fellow
Applications to host a CivicSpark AmeriCorps Fellow are now open for the 2025-2026 service year through May 15, 2025. Fellows support a wide range of community planning needs including but not limited to public health, disaster preparedness, economic development, and housing and homelessness.
Colorado State Forest Service Rural Grant Navigator Program
The Colorado State Forest Service is now accepting applications for the new Rural Grant Navigator grant program. Non-governmental organizations that provide assistance to rural Colorado communities applying for federal or state grants related to wildfire mitigation and preparedness are eligible to apply. Applications will be accepted through May 2, 2025, and $237,000 is available in the funding pool for this round of grants.
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