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Opportunity Now Colorado Grants

Program Summary

The Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program - now Opportunity Now Colorado Grants – is an $85 million grant program creating transformative change for Colorado's workforce. These grants have been awarded, and applications are now closed. 

Opportunity Now Colorado Grants 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

OEDIT division: Talent Innovation

Testimonial from from Tepeyac Community Health Center Founder, Jim Garcia

Image description: Business testimonial highlighting that this program is growing Colorado’s  workforce. Quote from Tepeyac Community Health Center Founder, Jim Garcia, “The Opportunity Now grant will enable us to launch the healthcare careers of underserved and under-resourced individuals in our community while also growing our culture and retaining our dedicated healthcare workers.”

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:

K12 Advisor

  • Patty Quinones: Retired St. Vrain Deputy Superintendent

2-yr College Representative

  • Landon Pirius: President, Red Rocks Community College (RRCC)

4-year College Representative

  • Scott Shrake: Assistant Vice President for Strategy, Colorado State University (CSU)

Nonprofit Representative

  • Roger Low: Founder & CEO, Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI)

Higher Education & Healthcare Representative

  • Tawny Espinoza: Vice President of Business Development at Community Hospital and Adjunct Professor at CO Mesa University

Foundation & Higher Education Representative

  • Josh Scott: Business and Industry

Business Representatives

  • Josh Scott: Businessperson and Vice Chair, Colorado Commission on Higher Education

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.

Selection Committee:

  • Larraine Sengsavath, Strategy Officer, Governor’s Office
  • Liliana Diaz, Senior Director of Student Success and P20 Alignment, Department of Higher Education
  • Joe Kuntner, Slalom Consulting
  • Mary McMahon, Associate Director, Behavioral Health Administration
  • Kippi Clausen, Community Representative

Regional Talent Development Initiative Grant Program Selection Committee and Subcommittees

Previous Meetings

For meeting minutes and agendas from years prior, please reach out to the Program Manager.

Pay-for-Performance Opportunity Now Grant Applications are now closed. This opportunity was limited to current Opportunity Now Seed and Scale grantees, and prospective awardees will be announced on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

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