The Skill Advance Colorado Grant Program

The Skill Advance Colorado Grant Program is a workforce development initiative funded by the State of Colorado and jointly administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). This program is designed to enhance the state's labor force through targeted training grants aimed at both net new hires and incumbent workers employed by Colorado businesses. Funding is delivered locally via participating community colleges, who assist applicants with eligibility assessment, training design, and application development. The program encompasses two distinct funding streams. The Colorado First (CF) Job Training Program is intended for new and expanding businesses in Colorado and supports the training of net new hires to equip them with productive and transferable job skills. In contrast, the Existing Industry (EI) Job Training Program provides financial support to established businesses seeking to retrain incumbent workers, particularly in response to technological changes or as a strategy to prevent layoffs. Training funded through Skill Advance Colorado must be short-term, customized to meet the specific business needs, and targeted toward building transferable, resume-enhancing skills. Training activities must occur within the state of Colorado, and only employees who are full-time (at least 32 hours per week), non-seasonal, non-retail, legally authorized to work in the U.S., and residing in Colorado during the grant period are eligible. Businesses are also required to contribute cash and/or in-kind support toward training costs, and specific wage thresholds based on urban or rural county classification must be met. Award amounts vary based on grant type and business size. Standard CF grants provide up to $2,800 per learner, while EI grants provide up to $2,500. Mini grants are available for micro businesses, with higher per-learner caps ($3,800 for CF and $3,500 for EI). Individual grant applications may request up to $150,000, with a maximum total of $200,000 in training funds per grantee per fiscal year. However, certain training categories—such as mandated compliance training or general productivity software skills—are not eligible for funding. The application window for the current cycle runs from July 1, 2025 through April 1, 2026. Training must be completed by May 15, 2026, with final reports due within two weeks of training conclusion. To begin the application process, interested businesses must contact a designated college representative affiliated with the program. Representatives assist with all aspects of the grant lifecycle, from application through final reporting. This program operates on an annual cycle aligned with the State's fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).

Work closely with college representatives early to ensure wage and eligibility compliance; plan training timeline to complete before May 15, 2026.