Market Study Grants

The Colorado CHIPS Community Support Program is administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to expand the state’s semiconductor and advanced industry ecosystem. Leveraging the national momentum created by the CHIPS and Science Act, the program seeks to ensure that communities across Colorado are positioned to participate in and benefit from the growth of semiconductor manufacturing, design, and related advanced technology sectors. While Colorado’s Front Range corridor already contains a significant concentration of semiconductor firms and research institutions, the program aims to broaden the geographic distribution of these industries by strengthening the capacity of other regions in the state. One of the primary tools for accomplishing this objective is the Market Study Grant. The Market Study Grant provides funding to support the development of comprehensive analyses of a local community’s assets and gaps related to semiconductor and advanced industry development. The purpose of these studies is to help communities better understand their competitive positioning, identify opportunities for investment, and create informed strategies for economic development. Through a structured assessment of economic conditions and infrastructure, the study enables local governments and economic development organizations to evaluate how their community can attract, retain, or grow semiconductor and advanced industry activity. The results are expected to guide future planning, policy decisions, and potential infrastructure or workforce investments. Eligible applicants for the Market Study Grant include municipal governments, county governments, tribal governments, regional economic development organizations, and consortia led by one or more of these entities within the state of Colorado. However, applicants located in Colorado’s established semiconductor core areas, including Fort Collins, Boulder, Longmont, and Colorado Springs, are not eligible to receive Market Study Grants. This restriction reflects the program’s primary goal of distributing semiconductor ecosystem development beyond the state’s existing industry clusters and encouraging new regions to explore their potential role within the sector. Market Study Grants provide funding ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 dollars and are intended to cover the costs associated with contracting consultants and conducting research necessary to produce the study. Allowable expenses include contractor personnel time, design and planning services, data collection and analysis, visualization of economic or geographic data, drafting and reporting of findings, and presentation of results. Additional eligible costs may include survey participant recruitment, travel and fieldwork expenses, and consultation fees for subject matter experts. The studies themselves must follow a structured framework and contain several required components that examine the local economic environment and its relevance to semiconductor and advanced industries. At a minimum, the completed study must include seven sections. These sections include an executive summary; an analysis of local economic characteristics such as population trends, labor force statistics, unemployment rates, and major industries; and an inventory of community assets relevant to semiconductor and advanced industry development. Additional required sections include a geographic map of these assets, a discussion of gaps that may have hindered development in the past, recommendations for next steps and potential investments, and an explanation of how the findings align with any previous regional plans or studies. While not mandatory, OEDIT encourages applicants to use a SWOT analysis framework to provide deeper insight into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to the local ecosystem. The application process occurs through recurring cycles, with application periods typically taking place in the first and second halves of the year. For the current cycle, applications opened on February 6, 2026 and close on May 31, 2026, with award notifications expected by June 30, 2026. Applicants must complete a structured application form that includes organizational background information, an optional economic overview of the region, and a detailed description of the proposed market study including scope, methodology, timeline, and budget. Applications are evaluated by a review committee using weighted criteria that include Location or Need, Project Strength or Readiness, and Potential Impact. Awarded applicants will enter into a grant agreement with OEDIT outlining project milestones and payment procedures. Funds are typically distributed through reimbursement requests submitted on a monthly basis for eligible expenses incurred after the agreement is executed. Grantees must also submit quarterly reports during the project period, annual reports for one year following the completion of the study, and a final report within ninety days after the grant term concludes. The final report must include a copy of the completed market study itself. Program inquiries may be directed to Daniel Salvetti, Semiconductor Industry Manager at OEDIT, who can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 720-601-5055.

Ensure the study proposal clearly identifies local assets and industry gaps, provides a structured methodology such as SWOT analysis, and demonstrates how the study will guide future semiconductor or advanced industry investment decisions.