Grants

Colorado knows successful businesses rely on well-trained employees, and the Colorado FIRST and Existing Industry programs provide funds for customized training to improve the employment opportunities for Colorado residents and enhance Colorado's competitive position among states. Authorized by the General Assembly in 1984, the Colorado FIRST Customized Training Program assists primary industry employers with short-term, fast-track training. In 1989, the Existing Industry program was created to maintain the competitiveness of the state’s existing industrial base and provide job security for Colorado workers. Since the inception of Colorado's customized job training programs, approximately 6,235 companies of all sizes have benefited from the programs and more than 105,325 Coloradans have been trained.

The programs are administered jointly by the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OED) (link to OED website) and the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) (Link to CCCS website). This partnership strengthens the programs' goals to promote and encourage the expansion and vitality of existing Colorado companies and to attract new businesses to Colorado.

Colorado Training Grant Programs

Colorado First

Incentive Program - This program is designed for companies who are relocating to Colorado or are undertaking a major expansion in Colorado. OED works with local economic development organizations to identify eligible companies. Grants are usually funded based on the number and quality of jobs created; companies must meet the program criteria. Grants are administered by the community colleges and technical colleges.
Competitive Grants - Companies adding new permanent, full-time jobs to their workforce may apply for Colorado First funds by creating a training plan and application with their local community college or technical college.

Existing Industry

Existing Industry Grants are designed to support Colorado companies who are facing technological challenges to their competitiveness and need to re-train their workforce in order to retain competitive jobs in Colorado. The application process is the same as for the competitive Colorado First Grants.

For both the Colorado First and Existing Industry programs, transferable skills training for primary industries are the target. Small and rural companies are prioritized.

Colorado Training Grant Program Benefits

The company determines the goals and objectives of the training. Each company knows its individual business and human resource needs. Productivity, profitability, expansion, and meeting new or increased competition are all goals that may be achieved via Colorado FIRST and Existing Industry Program assistance.
The company controls training content and delivery. Training programs must be designed and implemented with the direct cooperation and approval of the participating company. Partnerships with Community Colleges are encouraged for training, yet if the community college is unable to provide the needed training companies have flexibility to use its own trainers or third party trainers to meet their training needs. All training must be customized to meet the company’s specific needs.
Direct training costs are eligible for reimbursement. Eligible costs include:
a. Instructor wages, travel, and per diem allowances;
b. Development of curriculum and instructional materials;
c. Purchase of consumable training supplies;
d. Lease of training equipment and lease of training space (when not available at the company's permanent site or at the community college/area technical college).
Paperwork and red tape are minimal. All grants are applied for, coordinated, administered and monitored by local community colleges or area technical colleges to keep the company's paperwork burden to a minimum.
Company Confidentiality is maintained. OED, CCCS, and local administrators hold all of the company's proprietary information confidential.
Existing Industry address the challenges of technological advancement. When the advance of technology threatens a company’s the competitive edge, Existing Industry retraining can immediately boost productivity and allow the company to meet the challenge of a changing market. Capital investment in new equipment is enhanced by the new skills employees will receive.

Colorado Training Grant Guidelines

Training is provided for full-time, permanent jobs in primary (dollar-importing) private sector industries that have significant career ladder opportunities. Part-time, seasonal, retail, and tourism jobs are not eligible.
Preference is given to training projects in companies that are located in rural or lagging economic regions; companies must demonstrate a strong company commitment to training and request grant funds for technical, transferable skills training.
Grants are available only to companies with an average wage of more than $8.21 per hour in rural areas of the state, and $10.46 per hour in urban areas.
Health insurance must be a company benefit to all permanent, full-time employees
Training must be for transferable skills. All training must be customized for the company, and should not duplicate existing courses offered in Colorado state supported educational institutions.
Participating companies are expected to contribute money and resources to help train their employees. The company's financial investment demonstrates the company's commitment to its own workforce. Both the Colorado First and Existing Industry program require a 40% match (including cash and in-kind contributions) for all training. Grant funds shall not be used to pay wages or stipends to trainees; however, trainees’ wages may be included in the company’s in-kind contributions. For grant applications over $30,000 at least 10% of the company’s contribution must be cash.
Training sessions are designed to be job-specific and short-term, lasting only until the identified start-up, expansion, or retraining needs of the company are satisfied. These programs do not assist companies with routine or general continuing education//training requirements.
For Existing Industry grants, priority will be given to situations where training may prevent imminent layoffs or otherwise enhance worker retention.
Prior to any funding commitments, a review of financial information shall be required for companies seeking Existing Industry grants. Financial information is sent directly to the OED office, and is not seen by the college. The state holds such information confidential.
The grant process is competitive – eligibility does not constitute an agreement to award funds or a funding level commitment. These funds are subject to annual State legislative appropriations.
Grant funds are awarded on a state fiscal year basis (July 1-June 30) – all training must be completed by May 31^st of the fiscal year in which funds were awarded. No grant funds for training projects may roll between fiscal years.
A final report is required of company grantees within 30 days of completion of the training. Companies may be required to return grant funds if they fail to train the number of employees for which the grant was made. The final report shall include information confirming the completion of goals and objectives sought in the grant.

Colorado Training Grant Programs - How to Learn More

If you believe your company may be eligible for Colorado FIRST Customized Job Training or Existing Industry Job Training assistance, you may learn more about the application process by contacting your local community college or area technical college, small business development center, local economic development agency, OED, or CCCS (see contacts below). We will arrange to meet with you at your plant or office to discuss your hiring and training needs and program eligibility. You should be prepared to provide information about your company's workforce, products or service, challenges, and training needs.

Even if you don’t qualify for a Colorado First or Existing Industry training grant, your local community college or area technical college may be able to offer you a variety of customized training to help your company be successful.