Program Summary
The Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program - now Opportunity Now Colorado – is an $85 million grant program creating transformative change for Colorado's workforce.
Opportunity Now Colorado allows Colorado to fund both new and proven programs that “seed transformative change” specifically through intentional alignment and collaboration between Colorado’s secondary, post-secondary, and workforce ecosystems focused on enhancing the economic mobility of Colorado’s learners and earners and thereby helping Colorado’s communities recover from COVID-related economic disruption.
Enacted by HB22-1350, the program seeks innovative solutions to meet Colorado’s workforce needs through industry and education collaboration.
For important updates please sign up for the mailing list and check out opportunitynow.co to access grant information, important upcoming dates and events.
Overview
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OEDIT division:
OEDIT has formed a Steering Committee that will provide guidance in the development of the grant application and execution process. The steering committee will consist of leaders from business, K12 education, postsecondary education, and workforce development. We have eight members of the committee and one advisor. OEDIT is proud to announce the following individuals that are members of or advisors to the steering committee:
K12 Advisor
- Patty Quinones: Retired St. Vrain Deputy Superintendent
2-yr College Representative
- Landon Pirius: President, Red Rocks Community College (RRCC)
4-year College Representative
- Scott Shrake: Assistant Vice President for Strategy, Colorado State University (CSU)
Nonprofit Representative
- Roger Low: Founder & CEO, Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI)
Higher Education & Healthcare Representative
- Tawny Espinoza: Vice President of Business Development at Community Hospital and Adjunct Professor at CO Mesa University
Foundation & Higher Education Representative
- Josh Scott: Business and Industry
Business Representatives
- Josh Scott: Businessperson and Vice Chair, Colorado Commission on Higher Education
Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program Steering Committee
2025 Meetings
January 8, 2025 from 1-2 p.m.
- January 8, 2025 Opportunity Now Steering Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- January 8, 2025 Phase 3 Opportunity Now Steering Committee Notes, (Google Doc)
- January 8, 2025 Phase 3 Steering Committee Meeting Presentation, (PDF)
2024 Meetings
January 30, 2024 from 10-11:30 a.m.
- January 30, 2024 Phase 2 Opportunity Now HB22-1350 Steering Committee Agenda, (PDF)
- January 30, 2024 1350 Steering Committee Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
- January 30, 2024 HB22-1350: Steering Committee Meeting Presentation, (PDF)
2023 Meetings
July 31, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- July 31, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Steering Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- July 31, 2023 1350 Steering Committee Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
- July 31, 2023 HB22-1350: Steering Committee Meeting Presentation, (PDF)
April 19, 2023 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- April 19, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Steering Committee Agenda, (PDF)
- April 19, 2023 1350 Steering Committee Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
- April 19, 2023 RTDIGP Steering Committee Meeting Presentation, (PDF)
February 14, 2023 from 9-11:30 a.m.
- February 14, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Steering Committee Agenda, (PDF)
- February 14, 2023 1350 Steering Committee Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
- February 14, 2023 RTDIGP Steering Committee Meeting Presentation, (PDF)
January 18, 2023 from 9-11:30 a.m.
- January 18, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Steering Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- January 18, 2023 1350 Steering Committee Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
- January 18, 2023 RTDIGP Steering Committee Meeting Presentation, (PDF)
2022 Meetings
December 19, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- December 19, 2022 Agenda: RTDIGP Steering Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- December 19, 2022 1350 Steering Committee Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
- December 19, 2022 Opportunity Now Steering Committee Meeting Presentation, (PDF)
November 29, 2022 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- November 29, 2022 Agenda: RTDIGP Steering Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- November 29, 2022 1350 Steering Committee Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
November 7, 2022 from 2-5 p.m.
- November 7, 2022 Agenda: RTDIGP Steering Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- November 7, 2022 1350 Steering Committee Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
- November 7, 2022 RTDIGP Steering Committee Meeting Presentation, (PDF)
September 9, 2022 from 2-4 p.m.
OEDIT has formed a Selection Committee through recommendations of Steering Committee members and broader input as outlined in statute. Selection Committee members shall review grant applications in accordance with the processes and criteria specified by the Steering Committee and approved by the Office (OEDIT) and shall make grant award recommendations to the OEDIT based on those processes and criteria.
The Selection Committee will be broken into smaller groups to review specific grant tracks, including Scale, Seed, and Planning.
Selection Committee:
- Larraine Sengsavath, Strategy Officer, Governor’s Office
- Liliana Diaz, Senior Director of Student Success and P20 Alignment, Department of Higher Education
- Joe Kuntner, Slalom Consulting
- Mary McMahon, Associate Director, Behavioral Health Administration
- Kippi Clausen, Community Representative
Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program Selection Committee and Subcommittees
2025 Meetings
April 17, 2025 from 3-4 p.m.
- April 17, 2025 Phase 3 Opportunity Now Steering Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- April 17, 2025 Phase 3 Opportunity Now Steering Committee Notes, (Google Doc)
- April 17, 2025 Steering Committee Meeting Presentation, (Google Slides)
2024 Meetings
January 29, 2024 from 2-3 p.m.
- January 29, 2024 Agenda: RTDIGP Selection Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- January 29, 2024 1350 Selection Committee Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
2023 Meetings
May 18, 2023 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- May 18, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Selection Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- May 18, 2023 Planning Open Decision Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
May 17, 2023 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
- May 17, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Selection Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- May 17, 2023 Seed Open Decision Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
April 28, 2023 from 1-2 p.m.
- April 28, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Selection Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- April 28, 2023 Planning Vision-Setting and Technical Training Session Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
April 27, 2023 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- April 27, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Selection Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- April 27, 2023 Seed Vision-Setting and Technical Training Session Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
April 27, 2023 from 9-11 a.m.
- April 27, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Selection Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- April 27, 2023 Scale Open Decision Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
April 26, 2023 from 4-4:15 p.m.
- April 26, 2023 Agenda: RTDIGP Selection Committee Agenda, (Google Doc)
- April 26, 2023 1350 Selection Committee for Phase 1 Applications Meeting Notes, (Google Doc)
April 13, 2023 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
On August 15, OEDIT held an information session to provide an update on the progress of implementation.
Below are materials from that meeting:
Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program Overview and Progress Update