Newsletter
March 2026
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 Over 20,000 sandhill cranes migrate each March through the San Luis Valley.
NPS.gov Great Sand Dunes, Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, and San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area.
 SIPA's Grant Programs Now Open!
SIPA is proud to support Colorado governments with our grant programs. Learn about each by watching our Grants Overview webinar video and reading more on SIPA's Grants page. SIPA grant programs support Colorado governments in providing digital services that improve resident experiences and foster efficient, effective connections between residents and government.
 Apply by March 31st for projects ranging up to $10,000. You can find additional information on the Micro-Grants FAQ page, and previously awarded projects on the Current Recipients page.
 Spring 2026 SIPA GovGrants Cycle: What’s New? The Spring 2026 SIPA GovGrants cycle is open! Offered to all types of governments across Colorado, this program is dedicated to funding the innovative digital projects your organization would tackle if your budget wasn’t a constraint. This year, we have streamlined the application materials to make it as easy as possible for you to request SIPA GovGrants funding. Learn about the Spring 2026 program updates, our new budget template, and examples of past grant winners to inspire your next idea.
 SIPA Local Government Accessibility User Group
The SIPA Local Government Accessibility User Group is a new group created to foster a collaborative community among Colorado’s local government entities. Dedicated to sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices on digital accessibility, the intended goal is to help local governments - counties, towns, special districts, and public education institutions - navigate the legal and technical requirements around Colorado accessibility law while ensuring that digital government services are inclusive for all Coloradans. Meetings will be held the 3rd Friday of the month from 1:00-2:00pm, starting on March 20, 2026. To participate, please register.
If you have questions, email Josh Schroder at accessibility@cosipa.gov.
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March 25: Developing Strategic AI Competencies with AI Chatbots
AI competency is an increasingly critical skillset for the workforce. Learn how Cornflower Labs uses AI chatbot projects as a launching point for developing their clients' AI competencies such as risk mitigation, testing, and designing for impact.
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April 1: Modern, Mobile Friendly Recreation & Reservations
By bringing programs, reservations, and payments into one modern platform, Kaizen improves the resident experience while simplifying operations, consolidating systems, and driving greater engagement and use of community parks and facilities.
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April 15: Elevate Your Security Plan with the MS-ISAC
During this session, we will discuss how public sector organizations can leverage low-cost cybersecurity tools and resources from the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) to defend their organizations against cyberattacks. We will show you how you can implement the CIS Controls cybersecurity best practice recommendations that are accessible to organizations of any size, even with limited resources.
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May 13: From Website to Workforce: How AI-Powered Assistants Are Transforming Government
Colorado agencies are under increasing pressure to modernize digital services while elevating the resident experience and easing staff workload. Learn how agencies can deploy secure, government-ready, AI assistants that provide answers 24 hours a day, guide residents to the right services, reduce call volume, and generate meaningful insight into resident needs. Experience a live demonstration and walk away with practical next steps for responsible AI adoption.
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 Participants in SIPA's Regional Workshops engage in interactive exercises and discussions alongside government peers and seasoned experts. These workshops focus on critical topics that matter most to attendees, providing a collaborative learning environment. The aim is to empower participants to translate their newfound knowledge into actionable solutions, fostering positive change within their respective communities and organizations. More information here. Register today!
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April 15: Glenwood Springs with The Idea Garden & an IT Tech Panel
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April 29: Huerfano County with Istonish & CapTech
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April 30: Delta County with Mile High Cyber & Argis Solutions
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May 15: Town of Limon with Tyler Colorado & National Cybersecurity Center
 As seen at the SIPA webinar "No, You're Not Behind with AI", the pilot Colorado Learning Cohort by The Idea Garden and Scopic Analytics is delivering The AI Dialogues™ literacy training to SIPA customers for a highly discounted rate of $120 per person! The AI Dialogues™ is a unique, highly interactive AI literacy training program that has been used to train over 2,700 Colorado public servants in the last year. For details on the program content and learning outcomes, visit the Colorado Learning Cohort.
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