The Office of Just Transition (OJT) within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has announced a Coal Transition Community grant award of $430,145 to fund the operations of the Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC) for two years. With this funding, NWCDC can continue to lead initiatives vital to the region's economic transition away from coal, including job creation, business startup and retention, and securing other grant funding to support economic and community development.
The NWCDC is a collaborative effort formed through an intergovernmental agreement to confront the challenges arising from the regional transition away from coal and to promote regional economic diversification. In addition to Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties, the agreement includes seven municipalities - the Cities of Craig and Steamboat Springs; the Towns of Hayden, Meeker, Oak Creek, Rangely, Steamboat Springs, and Yampa. Routt County serves as fiscal sponsor for the
organization and will receive and manage the grant on its behalf.
"The NWCDC has shown the power of regional collaboration around coal transition projects. We are pleased to be able to support these efforts and to reinforce the State of Colorado’s commitment to communities and workers grappling with this difficult economic transition," said OJT Director Wade Buchanan.
OJT previously awarded NWCDC nearly $73,000 as a partial match for a grant
provided by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.
"The grant from the Office of Just Transition is a game-changer for us," said Tim Redmond, Routt County Commissioner and Chairman of the NWCDC. "OJT's funding allows the Northwest Colorado Development Council to continue working together as a coal-transition region to diversify the regional economy in order to create new industries and new jobs. Nearly 2,800 families in Northwest Colorado could lose their livelihoods in the coal transition. With the support from Governor Polis and the Office of Just Transition, we can give hope to these families that better days are ahead of us."
The Coal Transition Community Assistance Grant program grew out of Colorado’s Just Transition Action Plan, which outlines steps the State of Colorado plans to take to help communities that have relied on coal mines and coal-fired power plants for employment find new sources of property tax income and jobs. Between OJT and OEDIT, approximately $9.62 million in funding has been allocated for Community Grants during this phase of funding.
OJT and OEDIT are encouraging proposals for pivotal economic development activities and strategies from other coal transition communities. In addition to the Yampa Valley counties of Rio Blanco, Moffat, and Routt, funding is available to the West End of Montrose (towns of Nucla, Naturita, and Norwood), Pueblo County, and Morgan County, as well as Delta, El Paso, Gunnison, La Plata and Larimer counties.
About the Office of Just Transition
Colorado created the Office of Just Transition within Colorado’s Department of Labor and Employment in 2019 to assist workers and communities that will be adversely affected by the loss of jobs and revenues due to the closure of coal mines and coal-fired power plants. Its purpose is to help workers transition to new, high-quality, jobs, to help communities continue to thrive by expanding and attracting diverse businesses, and to replace lost revenues. To learn more about the Office of Just Transition, its action plan and the corresponding legislation, please visit cdle.colorado.gov/the-office-of-just-transition.