Notes from the CRO Director:
As we move through the fall, I want to take the time to acknowledge the multiple challenges many communities across Colorado are facing.
Our hearts go out to Nederland and communities in Southwestern Colorado as they recover from a fire and major flooding. For others, ongoing uncertainty around the federal government shutdown and changes in federal funding is creating new economic challenges. These will require creativity, collaboration and resourcefulness to navigate.
As we continue to experience and recover from these challenges together, CRO is prepared to share resources and offer technical assistance. We encourage those leading their disaster-recovery efforts to explore the Post Disaster Recovery Planning Toolkit guide for a host of resources that can support you in this work. We also encourage those working to build economic resilience to view the July 2025 Local Government Resources Call which offers strategies and approaches for budgeting in the face of uncertainty.
Be well,
Anne Miller and the CRO team
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What's New at CRO?
 CRO team and partners at the recent Strategic Growth and Land Use Roundtable.
Colorado Resiliency Framework (CRF) Update
Through September and early October, CRO hosted a series of six roundtables engaging over 140 state, local government, and community representatives as we continue the Colorado Resiliency Framework (CRF) Update.
The most recent Strategic Growth and Land Use Roundtable gathered over 20 participants at the CSU Spur Climate Hub to dive deeper into actions that reduce risk to natural hazards and strengthen community resiliency. This was just one of several focus areas that have been identified for the CRF Update.
Join the final CRF Resiliency Summit on November 13, 2025, at either 1:00-3:00 or 5:30-7:00 (register for the session that is best for you). You'll have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the draft CRF strategies developed with input from the roundtables and previous two resiliency summits.
CRO at Mountain Towns 2030
 Julia Masters (second from left) with other panelists for the energy resilience session.
Microgrids for Community Resilience Program Manager, Julia Masters, recently facilitated an energy resilience panel at the Mountain Towns 2030 Summit in Breckenridge, Colorado. This summit gathers leaders from mountain, resort and rural communities, working together to achieve carbon neutrality.
Representatives from the Town of Winter Park, the City of Aspen, and Steamboat Ski Resort shared their community’s journeys on exploring localized energy resilience approaches from microgrids to “thermal energy networks” to innovative financing mechanisms for large scale energy upgrades.
25 Years of the Disaster Mitigation Act: Now What?
 Prescribed burn near Salida.
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) established mitigation planning as the foundation for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to understand and reduce their risk from natural hazards. This landmark legislation was passed by Congress in October 2000, and today more than 25,000 jurisdictions have plans approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
On October 20, 2025, CRO Director, Anne Miller, joined an American Planning Association webinar panel made up of national, state, and local perspectives to review the progress of this law, lessons learned, and emerging practice to create more resilient communities for all. The panel also discussed the challenges and opportunities for the next 25 years.
CRO Highlights Local Government Leadership at USGBC Event
 United States Green Building Council event.
CRO’s Senior Resiliency Manager, Marguerite Harden, contributed to a panel of Colorado local government leaders advancing resiliency across the state. The event was hosted by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and shared more about LEED for Cities & Communities and the Accelerator Program, which is a no-cost virtual program meant to reduce barriers to achieving LEED for Cities & Communities Certification.
October Resilience Conversation: Stories of Resilience
 Soda Creek, Keystone
This month, we’re uplifting and celebrating examples of organizations, governments, and people who are building resilience across Colorado. Read these stories of resilience to be inspired by collaborative efforts to help Colorado communities thrive in the face of economic, environmental, and social changes.
Resiliency News
Critical Facilities Identification and Prioritization Pilot Process - Openings Available
 Ridgway's Space to Create Resilience Hub.
The Colorado Resiliency Office (CRO) and Colorado Energy Office (CEO) are looking for additional communities that are interested in improving their energy resilience to participate in a pilot of a "Community-led Critical Infrastructure and Facility Prioritization" process. Utilities are a required component of this process, but local government or other key local representatives would be the lead facilitator for this.
By going through the process, community partners will build consensus around which infrastructure and facilities projects to prioritize for energy resilience investments, such as microgrids, grid hardening, or advanced grid monitoring.
The selected pilot communities will receive between 4-12 hours of individualized support from CRO and CEO including:
- Support for the lead facilitator in going through the "Community-led Critical Infrastructure & Facilities Prioritization" process,
- Facilitation support during an in-person workshop, and
- Technical assistance and guidance during and after the prioritization process to support the community in pursuing appropriate energy resilience resources.
See the Community-Led Critical Infrastructure & Facility Prioritization Overview to find out more about this process. Please email Julia Masters for more information and to express interest.
Colorado Growing Water Smart workshop
 Xeriscape garden in Denver.
The Sonoran Institute and the Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy are now accepting proposals from Colorado Growing Water Smart workshop participants for follow-up technical assistance to integrate water and land use planning. This request for proposals is open to all Colorado communities that have participated in a Growing Water Smart workshop, with preference given to participants of the October 2023 workshop with Colorado River District and April 2025 workshop with Colorado River District and Southwestern Water Conservation District.
Please send your submission to growingwatersmart@sonoraninstitute.org by Friday, October 31, 2025 by 5pm MDT.
More than $5.3 Million Awarded to Communities for Mitigation Projects
 Erosion blanket and riprap by a creek.
In August, 10 local governments were awarded $5,348,577 in natural disaster mitigation grants from the Colorado Natural Disaster Mitigation Enterprise (NDME). These projects will support landslide mitigation, fire mitigation, water security improvements, and watershed restoration to strengthen community resilience to natural hazards and climate change. The funding to support this work comes from a two-dollar fee on every property insurance policy in Colorado (established through House Bill 21-1208).
Funding Highlights
NEW: Transit Oriented Communities Infrastructure Grant Program
The pilot round application for the Transit Oriented Communities Infrastructure Grant Program (TOCI) opens on October 27, 2025 (applications close December 12, 2025). This program will offer funding to local governments for the purpose of upgrading infrastructure and supporting regulated affordable housing in Transit Centers and designated Neighborhood Centers within certified Transit-Oriented Communities.
Prospective applicants may indicate their interest in applying by answering this Transit Oriented Communities Infrastructure Grant Program (TOCI) Interest Form. Potential applicants also must schedule a pre-application meeting with the TOCI Program Manager and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) technical assistance team.
Off-System Bridge Grant Program (Colorado Department of Transportation)
The Off-System Bridge Program (BRO) funds major structure replacement or major rehabilitation on Poor or Fair off-system structures as selected by the Special Highway Committee (SHC). An SHC selected replacement or major rehabilitation project requires a minimum 20% match from the successful Colorado county or municipal applicant. Applications are open through November 7, 2025.
COSWAP Workforce Development Grant
The Department of Natural Resources-Executive Director's Office is pleased to announce $6.8 million available for the 2025 Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) Workforce Development Grant. COSWAP is a state-funded program designed to support wildfire risk reduction in Colorado to protect life, property, and infrastructure by providing supported, entry-level, hands-on experience and training opportunities for individuals interested in wildfire mitigation and forestry. This is a two-year grant that will be offered every other year. Please apply by November 3, 2025
Events
Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) Drive|Lead|Succeed Conference
October 26 - 29, 2025 | Pueblo | Register for Conference
The Drive|Lead|Succeed Conference is geared towards nurturing the growth of Colorado’s economy by offering essential resources. This conference unites the industry’s top influencers and thought-leaders to forge a brighter future for Colorado’s economic landscape. This includes two speakers from DOLA- State Demographer Kate Watkins, and Sam Albrecht, Director, Office of Regulatory Oversight, who will each be presenting during plenary sessions.
Peer Exchange for Colorado’s 2025 Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC) Implementation
November 5, 2025, 2 - 3 p.m. | Virtual | Register for CWRC Peer Exchange
The Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), in partnership with the Division of Local Government’s (DLG) Colorado Resiliency Office (CRO), hosts a monthly Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC) Implementation Peer Exchange for adoption of the recently released CWRC. Please register to attend and receive peer exchange-related email updates. The November topic will cover “Communications and Public Education” as it relates to Code implementation.
NOTE: The Peer Exchange is for implementing agencies and partners only.
2025 State Demography Summit
November 7, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Arvada Center | Register for Summit
The State Demography Summit is a one-day conference that offers attendees the opportunity to learn about the most current population and economic estimates and forecasts for the state, its regions, counties, and municipalities. Please register before October 31, 2025.
Best Practices for Federal Grant Applications
November 12, 2025, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Akron | Register for Seminar
The Northeast Colorado Association of Local Governments (NECALG) and the Governor’s Office of Federal Funding and Strategic Initiatives (OFFSI) are hosting a seminar on successful grant strategies for local governments.
This session will feature insights and practical strategies from experts who have helped communities across Colorado successfully navigate the federal grant landscape:
- Amy Broughton, Senior Principal, Stantec – Best Practices for Federal Grant Applications
- Snow Staples, Department of Local Affairs – Overview of the Local Match Assistance Program (LOMA)
- Alyssa Dinberg, Governor’s Office – Grant Writing Support Resources and Opportunities
How to Participate:
- In-person attendance is at 125 E 2nd Street, Akron, CO 80720, and is reserved for communities within the NECALG region.
- All Colorado local governments are encouraged to participate virtually through the provided meeting link.
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