Supporting Small Businesses Across Colorado: Polis Administration Awards 40 Digital Marketing Grants

Governor Polis and the Business Support division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) recently announced the 40 recipients of the digital marketing grant that is distributed through the Small Business Accelerated Growth Program. This grant awards small businesses in Colorado $5,000 to help business owners across the state establish an online presence with a focus on social media and website best practices.

READ: How To Develop a B2B Social Media Marketing Strategy

“Small businesses help Colorado’s economy thrive and programs like this help support their continued success. I am thrilled to announce the 40 grant recipients from every corner of our state from La Plata County to Morgan County,” said Governor Polis. “As a businessman, saving small businesses money is a top priority.”

The Digital Marketing and Online Presence training course supports small business owners by teaching them the fundamentals of online marketing allowing them to promote their products and reach new customers. Business owners learn a variety of ways to establish an online presence, including best practices to increase website traffic, improve user experience and develop e-commerce websites to help their businesses grow. 

A total of $200,000 in grant funding has been distributed to 40 small business owners across the state. Among the recipients, 67.5% identified as woman-owned, 45% identified as minority-owned and approximately 22% of business owners came from rural communities.

“We are pleased to support so many women- and minority-owned small businesses across the state,” said OEDIT Executive Director Eve Lieberman. “This latest round of grant recipients showcases the work we are doing to ensure that we are reaching communities that have historically faced barriers to business funding. We are proud to support our entrepreneurs which have successfully reached so many women and minority-owned small businesses.” 

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The Digital Marketing and Online Presence training course is one of three training programs offered through the Small Business Accelerated Growth Program which helps small businesses across Colorado grow and improve their business plans through free training, education and consulting. Small businesses can apply for any of the three online training programs which include: access to capital, market research and digital marketing and online presence.

After completing the seven-week training course, 40 participants were selected to receive grant funding to make changes based on strategies learned from the program. The Small Business Accelerated Growth Program was created by SB21-241, sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields and Jeff Bridges and Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Lindsey Daughtery. The program is implemented in partnership with the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network.

“Our SBDC experts are excited to help businesses navigate the world of digital marketing. Small business owners learn everything from establishing a social media presence to understanding the best ways to increase website traffic, and building an e-commerce experience. The lessons taught in this course equip business owners with the tools to operate in a 21st century environment and find the right customers,” said Marcia McGilley, Executive Director, Aurora-South Metro SBDC.

READ: This is Why Your Website Isn’t Getting Any Traffic — And 3 Ways to Fix That

The 40 grant recipients announced today include: 

  • A Moment Stopped, LLC, Grand Junction
  • Anthology Framing and Portraits, LLC, Englewood
  • BAR-U-EAT, Hayden
  • BC Home Services, Longmont
  • Body Suite, Westminster
  • Carolister LLC, Castle Rock
  • Christensen Ranch, Weldona
  • Denver Innovations, LLC, Highlands Ranch
  • Digital Learning Academy LLC, Bayfield
  • Edwards Consulting Group, Pueblo
  • Elevated Engravings, Vail
  • Eye Candy Aerials, Colorado Springs
  • Faith and Quinn Ltd., Pleasant View
  • Foco Food Truck Rally, Fort Collins
  • Found My Keys, LLC dba UFA Transit, Colorado Springs
  • Four Corners Business Solutions DBA: Durango Accounting, Durango
  • Gianinetti’s, Ltd., Meeker
  • Heather Freeman, Contemporary Art (Legal Business: Freeman Creative DBD The Painted Playground), Durango
  • Hemp Wolf LLC, Denver
  • KB Business LLC, Thornton
  • La Dogueria, Commerce City
  • Light Speaks Loudest, Denver
  • Local NEWS Network, Durango
  • Manos Emprendedoras LLC, Aurora
  • MELANIE JOYCE LLC, Denver
  • Momentum Gym LLC, Alamosa
  • My Momotaro LLC, Colorado Springs
  • New Leaf Mindfulness Coaching, Montrose
  • Not The Same LLC, Cañon City
  • Ovierre Industries, Salida
  • R Garcia Painting, Aurora
  • R&M Systems, Inc. DBA Happy Roots, Grand Junction
  • ReyNava Solutions, LLC, Littleton
  • SoulRide Psychotherapy, Durango
  • Tacos Los De Reza, Aurora
  • The Hillbilly Grill LLC, Grand Junction
  • The Woolly Planner LLC, Pueblo
  • Tulipan Herbals, Centennial
  • Vibrant Earth Seeds LLC, Cortez
  • Wise Aspirations LLC, Steamboat Springs

Registration for the second round of the Digital Marketing and Online Presence training course is open now through August 20, 2023. Eighty participants from the second round of training will be selected to receive Digital Marketing and Online Presence grants of $5,000 each. Interested businesses can learn more about the Small Business Accelerated Growth Program at https://oedit.colorado.gov/growth and sign up to receive email notifications as future rounds open for applications.

 

About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade:

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works with partners to create a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth. Under the leadership of Governor Jared Polis, we strive to advance the State’s economy through financial and technical assistance that fosters local and regional economic development activities throughout Colorado. OEDIT offers a host of programs and services tailored to support business development at every level including business retention services, business relocation services, and business funding and incentives. Our office includes the Global Business Development division; Colorado Tourism Office; Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office; Colorado Creative Industries; Business Financing & Incentives division; the Colorado Small Business Development Network; Cannabis Business Office; Colorado Office of Film, TV & Media; the Minority Business Office; Employee Ownership Office; and Rural Opportunity Office. Learn more at oedit.colorado.gov.

Governor Polis Secures Woman-Owned Communications Technology Firm, Caliola, for Expansion in Colorado Springs

Governor Polis and the Global Business Development Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) formally announced today that Caliola, a 100% woman-owned communications technology firm that specializes in supporting the defense industry, has selected Colorado Springs, Colorado for expansion.

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“We’re thrilled Caliola has chosen Colorado Springs for their expansion which will create 372 new, good-paying jobs for our state,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “It is another example of the progress our administration has made to support existing companies and create new jobs across the state so that every Coloradan can thrive.”

Founded in Colorado Springs in 2019, Caliola started with 4 employees and grew to a staff of more than 40 in less than 3 years. The company supports Colorado Springs’ defense and space industry, providing innovative technical solutions and services for secure and resilient communications, including expertise in Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication (NC3); military satellite communications (SATCOM); modernized High Frequency (HF) communications; automated SATCOM planning; non-traditional cybersecurity architectures; and assured position, navigation, and timing (PNT). By selecting Colorado Springs for expansion, the company will grow its current presence in the city’s enterprise zone to support additional growth in staffing and advance research and development.

“When I began looking for a community to start Caliola, there were many qualities that brought not only my business but my family, to Colorado Springs. The welcoming community, the robust business industry—which includes many military assets that Caliola currently supports—the high-quality candidates that we employ, and the support Colorado offers small businesses have all made it a great fit. We are thrilled to expand in Colorado Springs,” said Caliola’s Founder, President & CEO, Jennifer Halford.

READ — 5 Ways Small Business Owners in Colorado Can Survive Inflation

In addition to growing its Colorado Springs headquarters, Caliola is considering opening a small office in the Denver area to manage a hub of employees that have been hired in the area. Overall, the company expects to create 372 net new jobs at an average annual wage of $143,247, which is 232% of the average annual wage in Jefferson County and 271% of the average annual wage in El Paso County. These positions will support engineering services, Small Business Innovative Research contracts, Department of Defense products, commercial products and executive/support roles.

“Colorado Springs is a hub of innovation for the defense industry. The company’s commitment to Colorado Springs will benefit the advancement of this vital Colorado industry and contribute to thriving local and statewide economies,” said OEDIT Executive Director Patrick Meyers.

“The Chamber & EDC is proud to play a role in assisting Caliola to achieve growth goals by leveraging our partners at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Nurturing local businesses and helping them grow is at the heart of what we do,” said Kelly Leaverton, Vice President of Defense and Economic Development, Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $3,942,340 in performance-based Job Growth Incentive Tax Credits over an 8-year period to Caliola, referred to as Project Power throughout the OEDIT review process. In addition to Colorado, the company considered San Diego, California and Tampa, Florida for their planned expansion.

About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works with partners to create a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth. Under the leadership of Governor Jared Polis, we strive to advance the State’s economy through financial and technical assistance that fosters local and regional economic development activities throughout Colorado. OEDIT offers a host of programs and services tailored to support business development at every level including business retention services, business relocation services, and business funding and incentives. Our office includes the Global Business Development division; Colorado Tourism Office; Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office; Colorado Creative Industries; Business Financing & Incentives division; the Colorado Small Business Development Network; Cannabis Business Office; Colorado Office of Film, TV & Media; the Minority Business Office; Employee Ownership Office; and Rural Opportunity Office. Learn more at oedit.colorado.gov.