Colorado is a unique state that practices Economic Development much differently from many other states in our nation. It’s important to understand who the major players are and how they contribute to our overall ecosystem. Join us as we play Fact or Myth with Colorado’s major economic development players, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), Manufacturer’s Edge, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Colorado/Utah Regional Economic Development Administration (EDA).

Subject Matter Experts:

• Katharina Papenbrock, Director of Rural Opportunity, Wesern CO. Rep, OEDIT
• Glenn Plagens, CEO, Manufacturer’s Edge
• Britta Blodgett, Senior Communications Strategist, CWDC
• Traci Stoffel, Main Street Specialist, DOLA
• Jamie Hackbarth, Economic Development Rep., CO/UT, U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA

You may also like the following:

• EDA: Link to all of EDAs funding opportunities ranging betwen regional and national:  https://eda.gov/funding-opportunities/
• OEDIT: More on the Cannabis Business Office here: https://oedit.colorado.gov/cannabis-business-office & a full link to all of OEDIT’s programs: https://oedit.colorado.gov/programs-and-funding
• More on Colorado’s Key Industries:  https://oedit.colorado.gov/industries and the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office: https://oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-outdoor-recreation-industry-office
• OEDIT and DOLA:  Colorado COVID-19 Regional Resiliency and Recovery Roadmaps (https://www.coresiliency.com/roadmap-program).
• DOLA: Learn more about Main Street at https://cdola.colorado.gov/join-main-street
• DCI: Learn more about DCI on our website – https://www.downtowncoloradoinc.org/about-us/
• Downtown Colorado, Inc. Tiny Towns Coordinator is Morgan Pierce, email communications@downtowncoloradoinc.org
• EDCC: Link to our Basic Economic Development Course: https://edcconline.org/2022-basic-economic-development/