Market Study Grants

The Colorado CHIPS Community Support Program, administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), is a strategic initiative aimed at supporting the expansion and diversification of the state's semiconductor and advanced industry ecosystems. The program is funded under the broader scope of the federal CHIPS and Science Act, which seeks to catalyze large-scale semiconductor sector growth across the United States. OEDIT’s role in this effort focuses on reinforcing Colorado's emerging leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, particularly beyond its traditional strongholds along the Front Range corridor. Recognizing that Colorado already maintains a robust infrastructure of advanced industries—particularly in aerospace, bioscience, and clean technology—the program's objective is to diffuse the economic and technological benefits of semiconductor development into regions that have been historically underrepresented in this sector. This strategic diffusion is facilitated through a series of competitive grant opportunities available to local municipalities, county and tribal governments, regional economic development organizations, and consortia led by these entities. The Market Study Grant, one of three grants offered under the program, is designed to provide funding for eligible localities to hire consultants to produce comprehensive market studies. These studies are intended to map out current local industry conditions, identify relevant assets and gaps, and ultimately position the locality as a competitive candidate for future semiconductor and advanced industry investments. The studies must analyze key economic indicators—such as GDP, labor force, unemployment rate, and industrial strengths—while also providing a detailed inventory of infrastructure, educational institutions, companies, and other community assets relevant to advanced industries. In addition, the studies must identify potential barriers to growth and offer strategic recommendations. Eligible applicants must be located in Colorado and must not be within the semiconductor core regions—specifically Fort Collins, Longmont, Boulder, and Colorado Springs—as these areas are excluded from Market Study and Implementation Grants. Applicants in regions classified as Advanced Industry Core may be considered if their projects specifically target semiconductor opportunities. Highest priority will be given to those in rural or emerging advanced industry areas as defined in the program’s zoning rubric. The grants range from $25,000 to $50,000, and applicants may only be awarded a specific grant type once across the program’s four anticipated cycles. The application process is competitive and centralized under a single application form, allowing applicants to choose one or more of the three grant types. For Market Study Grants, the application must detail the funding request, the planned study components, timelines, milestones, and the proposed use of the study findings. Evaluation criteria include location need (60% weight), project strength/readiness (25%), and potential impact (15%). Awards are determined by a review committee based on this weighted scoring. Grant awards are disbursed on a reimbursement basis, with all eligible expenses to be incurred after the execution of the grant agreement. Award recipients must submit quarterly, annual, and final reports outlining their progress, key findings, technical challenges, next steps, and financial expenditures. The final report must include the completed market study document. The program is managed by Daniel Salvetti, Semiconductor Industry Manager at OEDIT, who serves as the primary contact for all inquiries. Applications for each cycle are open for defined windows, with the next anticipated cycle accepting applications from July 1 to September 30, 2025, and award notifications expected by December 31, 2025.