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 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:
| Member/Advisor | First and last name | Member/Advisor Title |
|---|---|---|
| K12 Advisor | Patty Quinones | Retired St. Vrain Deputy Superintendent |
| 2-yr College Representative | Landon Pirius | Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Colorado Community College System (CCCS) |
| 4-yr Institution Representative | Janet Lopez | Board of Trustees Member, Fort Lewis College; Senior Director of Policy, Partnerships & Learning, The Denver Foundation |
| Higher Education Representative | Sarah Hughes | Chair, Colorado Commission on Higher Education |
| Foundation & Higher Education Representative | Wayne Taliaferro | Strategy Director for Student Success, Lumina Foundation |
| Nonprofit Representative | Roger Low | Founder & CEO, Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI) |
| Higher Ed. & Healthcare Representative | Tawny Espinoza | Vice President of Business Development at Community Hospital and Adjunct Professor at CO Mesa University |
| Business Representative | David Eddy | Colorado Site Director, Boeing |
| Business Representative | Josh Scott | Businessperson and Vice Chair, Colorado Commission on Higher Education |
Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program Steering Committee
| Date | Time | Agenda | Publicly Accessible Link | Meeting Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 9, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | 9/9/22 Agenda | Meeting link | 1350 Steering Committee Meeting Notes 9/9/22 |
| November 7, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | 11/7/22 Agenda | Meeting Link | |
| November 29, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | 11/29/2022 Agenda | Meeting Link | |
| December 19, 2022 | 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | 12/19/2022 Agenda | Meeting Link | |
| January 18, 2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | 01/18/2023 Agenda | Meeting Link | |
| February 14, 2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 | 02/14/2023 Agenda | Meeting Link | |
| April 19, 2023 | 11:00 a. m. -1:1:30pm | 04/19/2023 Agenda | Meeting Link | |
| July 31, 2023 | 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | 07/31/23 Agenda | Meeting Link | |
| January 30, 2024 | 10:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. | 1/30/24 Agenda, (PDF) | Meeting Link | 1350 Steering Committee Notes 1/30/24, (Google Doc) Presentation,(PDF)
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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.
| Respective Area | Name | Organization/Title |
| OEDIT Representative | Leslie Hylton-Hinga | Director of Special Projects, Business Funding & Incentives, OEDIT |
| OEDIT Representative | Rachel Rose | Senior Manager of Strategy and Analytics, OEDIT |
| Steering Committee Member | Janet Lopez | Board of Trustees Member, Fort Lewis College; Senior Director of Policy, Partnerships & Learning, The Denver Foundation |
| Steering Committee Member | Josh Scott | Businessperson and Vice Chair, Colorado Commission on Higher Education |
| Steering Committee Member | Sarah Hughes | Chair, Colorado Commission on Higher Education |
| Business Representative | Azarel Madrigal | Executive Director, First Southwest Community Fund |
| Business Representative | John Ikard | Chairman, FirstBank |
| Business Representative | Barbara Myrick | President, B&M Construction, Inc. |
| Community Representative | Curtis Englehart | Executive Director, Grand Junction Economic Partnership |
| Community Representative | Donna Lynne | Chief Executive Officer, Denver Health |
| Community Representative | Curtis L. Esquibel | Director of Communications & Community Engagement, Boettcher Foundation |
Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program Selection Committee and Subcommittees
| Date | Time | Agenda | Publicly Accessible Link | Meeting Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 13, 2023 | 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | 4/13/23 Agenda | Meeting link | 4/13/23 Notes |
| April 26, 2023 | 4:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. | 4/26/23 Agenda | Meeting Link | 4/26/23 Notes |
| April 27, 2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | 4/27/23 Agenda | Meeting Link | 4/27/23 Notes |
| April 27, 2023 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | 4/27/23 Agenda | Meeting Link | 4/27/23 Notes |
| April 28, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | 4/28/23 Agenda | Meeting Link | 4/28/23 Notes |
| May 17, 2023 | 1:30 p. m - 4:30 p.m. | 5/17/23 Agenda | Meeting Link | 5/17/23 Notes |
| May 18, 2023 | 10:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m. | 5/18/23 Agenda | Meeting Link | 5/18/23 Notes |
| January 29, 2024 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | 1/29/24 Agenda | Meeting Link | Presentation, (PDF) |
The grant administration team will be led by Common Group and in collaboration with Mile High United Way, Strada Education Network, and WestEd. This grant administration team will work closely with OEDIT and the Steering Committee to deliver:
- Development of the grant program strategy, including target outcomes and methods
- Marketing and outreach of the grant program
- Technical assistance and customer support for grant applicants
- Grant administration and compliance
- Evaluation of the program, including performance and outcome measurement
Common Group
Common Group is a social impact consulting firm focused on education and economic opportunity. Bringing expertise across K-12, higher education, workforce development, and employer hiring and talent practices. Common Group supports foundations, non-profits, institutions, and state agencies to achieve greater impact through research, advisory, and fund management services.
Mile High United Way
Working side-by-side with the community, Mile High United Way takes on critical human services issues facing residents across Metro Denver and throughout Colorado. Through strategic community programs, Mile High United Way helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses, connects jobseekers directly with employers and professional development resources, hosts career and resource fairs, and empowers early childhood education professionals to advance in their field. This year, Mile High United Way is celebrating its 135th anniversary as the first United Way in the world.
Strada Education Network
Strada Education Network is a national social impact organization devoted to research, philanthropy, and solutions that align education and careers.
WestEd
WestEd is a nonpartisan, nonprofit agency that conducts and applies research, develops evidence-based solutions, and provides services and resources in the realms of education, human development, and related fields, with the end goal of improving outcomes and ensuring equity for individuals from infancy through adulthood.
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