CCCS Internal 
Workforce Resilience Program Supports Businesses, Workers Affected by Pandemic
DENVER (August 6, 2024) — The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) has awarded $855,000 in grants to 23 employers through the Workforce Resilience Program, a statewide initiative that supports rural businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two-year grants range from $21,000 to $50,000 and will fund an array of workforce development projects, from providing training for certifications to upskilling and reskilling current workers. Created by Senate Bill 21-291, the program leverages one-time federal recovery dollars and is administered in partnership with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
“Rural communities experienced the most acute economic and workforce challenges during the pandemic, and many are still recovering today,” said Michael Macklin, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Workforce Development for CCCS. “As the partner of choice for Colorado industries, we are thrilled to support the upskilling, reskilling, and next-skilling of employees and help revitalize businesses and organizations across our state.”
CCCS launched the program in late January and reviewed dozens of applications to select the following grantees:
Workforce Resilience Program Grantees
| Employer/Organization | City/Town | Amount | Intended Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Points Transit | Montrose | $31,995 | All Points Transit will provide employee training and professional development. |
| Carpe Construction | La Junta | $23,740 | Carpe Construction will provide training for certifications and Spanish in the workplace. |
| Christian Living Communities | Pueblo West | $29,720 | Christian Living Communities will provide training and professional development. |
| Dirt Road Repair | Akron | $39,000 | Dirt Road Repair will upskill new and existing employees in hybrid and EV maintenance; diesel functions; and industry certifications. |
| Evans Early Childhood Center | Fort Morgan | $44,128 | Evans Early Childhood Center will provide training and professional development for employees. |
| Fitch Ranch Artisan Meats, LLC | Craig | $48,750 | Fitch Ranch will offer employee training to reskill and upskill coal workers for careers in meat processing. |
| Fuel & Iron Food Hall | Pueblo | $48,740 | Fuel & Iron Food Hall will provide food service trainings in food safety and culinary arts. |
| Headwaters Alliance | Creede | $25,000 | Headwaters Alliance will offer training and professional development to help recruit and retain staff. |
| Integrated Community | Steamboat Springs | $48,000 | Integrated Community will train bilingual individuals for interpretation certification. |
| Local First | Durango | $48,288 | Local First will provide training to support and create more small businesses. |
| Manna Soup Kitchen | Durango | $48,750 | Manna Soup Kitchen’s culinary training program will provide financial support to incoming students transitioning into the workforce. |
| Maslow Academy of Applied Learning | Montrose | $50,000 | Maslow Academy of Applied Learning will provide employee and group training and support the development of a director-certified apprenticeship program. |
| Melissa Memorial Hospital | Holyoke | $39,000 | Melissa Memorial Hospital will provide professional development to new and existing staff. |
| One Delta County: An Economic Alliance | Delta | $29,290 | One Delta County will develop train-the-trainer programing and Spanish interpretations for their Positive Employee Program. |
| Otero County | La Junta | $31,225 | Otero County will offer professional development across many functions, including conversational Spanish, implicit bias for law enforcement, and Microsoft Office. |
| Prowers County Coroner’s Office | Lamar | $21,000 | The Prowers County Coroner’s Office will provide mental health training and professional development opportunities. |
| San Luis Valley Council of Governments | Alamosa | $38,533 | The San Luis Valley Council of Governments will provide financial support for employees to attend conferences and trainings in targeted industries, particularly Geographic Information System (GIS). |
| San Luis Valley Great Outdoors | Alamosa | $23,455 | San Luis Valley Great Outdoors will train their seasonal trail crew to forge career pathways to full-time state and federal jobs. |
| San Luis Valley Health | Alamosa | $48,750 | The San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center will provide training in workforce safety in response to increased violence in health care settings. |
| Silverton San Juan County Ambulance Association | Silverton | $23,400 | The Silverton San Juan County Ambulance Association Inc. will offer in-person trainings for providers who were unable to complete required education during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Starpoint | Cañon City | $25,777 | Starpoint will provide certification trainings for direct support professionals. |
| Teachers Earn and Learn | Eagle | $49,500 | Teachers Learn and Earn will support the graduate level coursework of Eagle County teachers. |
| Town of Akron | Akron | $39,148 | The Town of Akron will offer comprehensive technical training for employees across various town departments. |
For more information on the program, please visit the CCCS website.
About CCCS
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, delivering more than 1,000 programs to over 113,000 students annually through 13 colleges and 35+ locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities. The System Office provides leadership, advocacy, and support to the colleges under the direction of the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE). Join us in changing the way Colorado goes to college. Learn more at www.cccs.edu.
