The Colorado Resource for Emergency and Trauma Education (CREATE) Grant

The Colorado Resource for Emergency and Trauma Education (CREATE) Grant is a state-funded program designed to support the training and education needs of emergency medical and trauma service (EMTS) providers across Colorado. Managed by the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) and funded through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the CREATE program was established under the Emergency Medical and Trauma Services (EMTS) grant program initiated by Senate Bill 34 in 1989. It aims to strengthen Colorado’s EMS and trauma systems by providing financial support for both initial training and continuing education. This grant operates on a reimbursement basis, supporting eligible urban and rural agencies in covering tuition, required course fees, textbooks, national registry exam costs, and reasonable travel and lodging expenses for participants. To be eligible, applicants must be Colorado-based entities whose primary mission includes delivering emergency medical or trauma services. Individuals are not eligible to apply directly, but participants within the application must be EMS or trauma agency members or sponsored by one. All agencies listed in single or multi-agency applications must have an up-to-date OATH organizational profile to access the application system. CREATE requires a standard 50% cash match from applicants. However, those facing financial hardship may apply for a waiver to reduce the match requirement to as low as 10%, contingent on submission of a separate financial waiver application alongside the general application. If the waiver is denied, the general application will not be reviewed for that cycle. Expenses incurred prior to official approval are ineligible for reimbursement. Applications are accepted monthly, and each course requested must be listed and justified individually. Entities may submit multiple applications per grant year but must complete the pre-application steps each time. The application process begins with reviewing guidelines and updating the agency’s OATH profile, followed by submission of contact and vendor forms. Courses not listed on the CREATE Standard Course List may still be considered with supporting documentation such as syllabi. Out-of-state courses are rarely funded unless justified with cost-effectiveness or necessity arguments. Application scoring is based on service need, cost effectiveness, financial need, system development, qualifications, and system integration. Applications must be thorough and data-supported, including financial documents such as income statements, balance sheets, and budgets. Once approved, courses must be completed and final reports submitted within 30 to 90 days depending on registry exam requirements. Reports must include proof of payment, participant data, evaluation summaries, and receipts. Reimbursement is processed after full documentation is received. CREATE does not reimburse for indirect costs, backfill salaries, or ineligible expenses such as PPE, equipment, meals, or memberships. The program encourages collaboration, strategic planning, and long-term sustainability of trained providers in the EMS and trauma service workforce.

Apply 2–3 months early; Use financial waiver if needed; Expenses only reimbursed post-approval.