The Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado will receive $34,000 through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Rural Economic Development Initiative grant program to support training and data platforms that strengthen the skills of the region’s economic development professionals.
The funds will leverage Region 9’s quarterly educational and training opportunities rotated throughout the region that support stability at the organizational level by strengthening the skills of economic development professionals holding these positions, many without formal training.
Participants, which include economic development professionals, grant writers and funding partners, implement the knowledge gained from these trainings directly in their communities, building the entrepreneurial landscape and resilient, diversified economies.
“Growing and retaining talent in economic development is an important but often overlooked or unattainable endeavor for small, rural communities,” said Heather Otter, economic development project manager for Region 9. “These events provide space and time to learn, brainstorm, celebrate, lament, update and collaborate on all the good work we do in our communities.”
Laura Lewis Marchino, executive director for Region 9, agreed, stating, “Having stable organizations result in more direct support for communities, ensuring the same people are more likely to take on a project from beginning to end. When there is turnover in ED staff, the progress on an initiative or project can be lost.”
Please contact Region 9 at (970) 247-9621 or www.region9edd.org for more information.
>