Marketing Grants

The Colorado CHIPS Community Support Program, developed by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), is designed to leverage the CHIPS and Science Act by fostering the growth of the semiconductor and advanced industry sectors across the state. While Colorado already holds a strategic position in the national semiconductor landscape—particularly along the Front Range—the program's mission is to broaden this concentration by supporting underrepresented regions and ensuring more communities benefit from the sector’s expansion. Through three distinct grant tracks—Market Study, Implementation, and Marketing—OEDIT aims to equip communities with the resources needed to identify and capitalize on growth opportunities, stimulate economic development, and elevate visibility to national and international stakeholders. This entry focuses specifically on the Marketing Grants. These grants are structured to support promotional initiatives by local governments or economic development organizations aimed at attracting investment and attention to their unique semiconductor-related assets. The intent is to help communities outside Colorado’s core semiconductor zones—such as Fort Collins, Boulder, Longmont, and Colorado Springs—position themselves as viable players in the industry. Eligible entities include municipal, county, or tribal governments, regional economic development organizations, and consortia led by these types of organizations. Notably, while applicants within core zones may apply for Marketing Grants, their proposals will be evaluated with a lower score on the Location/Need criterion. Marketing Grant funds can be used for a wide range of promotional and communications-related activities. Eligible uses include contracting personnel for marketing campaigns, creative development (including copywriting, video production, and design), media placement, SEO services, and analytics tools to track key performance indicators. The ultimate goal is to increase national and international awareness of a community's potential to support the semiconductor and advanced industry ecosystem, particularly by highlighting unique assets or strategic advantages. The application process is structured around a recurring biannual cycle. For the Marketing Grant, applications are accepted from January to March and July to September. The fifth grant cycle opened on February 6, 2026, and closes on May 31, 2026. Award decisions for this cycle are expected by June 30, 2026. In the first cycle, only Marketing and Market Study Grants were accepted due to a compressed timeline. Award amounts for Marketing Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. Once an applicant is awarded a Marketing Grant, they are ineligible to reapply for the same grant in subsequent cycles but may pursue the others. To apply, applicants must complete a comprehensive form that includes background information, a regional economic overview (optional), justification for grant selection, and a detailed marketing plan. This plan should specify how the grant will be used, including the budget, timeline, milestones, and intended outcomes. Projects will be scored based on three weighted criteria: Location/Need (40%), Project Strength/Readiness (25%), and Potential Impact (35%). OEDIT provides a rubric map to determine geographic scoring priorities. Regions that are rural or in population centers with emerging advanced industries will score higher than those in established cores. Selected grantees will enter into an agreement outlining the terms, deliverables, and payment schedules. Most funds will be reimbursed monthly, and a final report will be required within 90 days of project completion. Annual reporting will continue for two years after the conclusion of the grant, and quarterly updates must be submitted throughout the grant term. For further information, interested applicants may contact Daniel Salvetti, Semiconductor Industry Manager at OEDIT, at [email protected] or 720-601-5055.

Applicants should emphasize their location’s alignment with program goals, provide detailed plans, and highlight unique assets relevant to semiconductor and advanced industries.