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Growing Colorado's Workforce: Eight New Opportunity Now Investments to Train Coloradans for New, Good-paying Jobs

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GOLDEN ~ Golden, CO - The Colorado School of Mines was buzzing with excitement today as Governor Polis, along with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration, announced the latest recipients of the Opportunity Now Colorado grant program. This program aims to support the creation and expansion of programs that prepare Coloradans for in-demand, high-wage jobs and careers.

In total, eight new recipients were selected to receive funding from the Opportunity Now program. These recipients anticipate training 1,815 Coloradans in new skills and placing 1,175 into good-paying jobs. Governor Polis expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative, stating that "across Colorado, good-paying jobs are available now" and these grants will help individuals develop the necessary skills to start new careers that will support themselves and their families.

The Opportunity Now program focuses on funding regional partnerships between educational institutions, industry leaders, and employers to meet the workforce needs of Colorado's most in-demand industries. The grants announced today prioritized programs within the infrastructure sector, including construction, as well as behavioral health. The selected recipients represent 22 employers and 20 training and education partners and will serve communities across the state.

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Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of OEDIT, emphasized the importance of investing in workforce development to meet the needs of Colorado's growing economy. "We know Colorado employers are looking for skilled workers," she said. "Ensuring our workers are equipped with the skills needed for today's and tomorrow's jobs is central to our commitment to building a strong, inclusive economy that benefits everyone."

Commissioner Dannette R. Smith from BHA also shared her excitement about this development in their efforts to build a strong workforce pipeline for behavioral health care. She stated that "a well-trained, highly skilled and passionate workforce is key to achieving Colorado's goal of creating a high-quality behavioral health care system that anyone in the state can access easily, no matter where they live or their ability to pay."

The Opportunity Now Colorado grant program has already awarded $89.5 million through 96 grants. The top sectors served include healthcare, education, and infrastructure and construction, while also supporting Colorado's growing leadership in sectors such as quantum, semiconductors, clean tech, and advanced manufacturing. These grants are projected to serve 20,000 Coloradans, with 5,000 already placed into advanced industries, healthcare, education, and construction/infrastructure jobs.

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The recipients of the latest round of grants include organizations from both the infrastructure and behavioral health sectors. The African American Trade Organization received $499,650 while the Colorado River Board of Cooperative Educational Services was awarded $999,634. CrossPurpose received $1 million and The Master's Apprentice received $499,996.58 for their infrastructure sector programs. In the behavioral health sector, Advance EDU received $999,414.45 while Colorado Autism Consultants was granted $1 million. Colorado Mountain College and Mind Springs Health Inc were also awarded $1 million and $998,320 respectively.

The Opportunity Now Colorado grant program was established by HB22-1350 and was sponsored by House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Minority Whip Janice Rich, Sens. Jeff Bridges and Paul Lundeen. The funds awarded today were also supported by HB24-1365 sponsored by Rep. Meghan Lukens and Rep. Matt Soper along with Sen. Jeff Bridges and SB22-181 sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bridges along with Sen.Cleave Simpson and Rep.Cutter.

OEDIT works towards empowering all individuals to thrive in Colorado's economy through various programs such as funding and financial assistance programs as well as training resources across industries and regions. They aim to promote economic growth by recruiting businesses to the state while also supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of growth.

Overall this latest round of grants from the Opportunity Now Colorado program is a significant step towards building a strong and inclusive economy in Colorado. With a focus on meeting the workforce needs of in-demand industries, these grants will not only benefit individuals but also contribute to the state's economic growth and development.

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