Colorado Department of Local Affairs

01/15/2025

The Division of Housing’s Mobile Home Park Oversight Program and its Office of Housing Finance and Sustainability are proud to support residents of Meadowood Village, a mobile home community in Littleton.

Home owners started a cooperative and have been working to purchase their community since January 2024. DOLA coordinated with Duncan Twyman, Project Manager at Thistle Community Housing, and Sandy Cook, the cooperative’s Operations Manager, to help preserve housing that is affordable in Meadowood Village.

Learn more about DOLA’s funding sources for resident-owned communities: https://doh.colorado.gov/funding-sources

Learn more about DOLA’s Mobile Home Park Oversight Program: https://doh.colorado.gov/mobile-home-parks

01/14/2025

We're thrilled to have launched the Microgrid Roadmap earlier this month in partnership with the Colorado Energy Office!

Are you part of a local government, utility, or community-based organization? Learn more about our Microgrids for Community Resilience (MCR) grant program that funds microgrids to support critical facilities like hospitals, schools, emergency services, and community organizations operating during power outages.

Learn more and sign up for program updates on our website: https://dlg.colorado.gov/microgrids

🔌🌍 What’s a Microgrid?
A microgrid is a small, local network of power that can operate on its own when needed — like during extreme weather or power outages. ⚡

💡 It combines local electricity generation (think solar panels), battery storage, and generators to create a reliable energy source.

🌱 These grids can connect to the larger utility grid, but if there's a disruption, they can "disconnect" and keep powering homes, businesses, and even electric vehicles.

🌟 Controlled by smart tech, microgrids ensure we always have power, no matter what’s happening with the larger grid.

Learn more about the Colorado Microgrid Roadmap https://bit.ly/3W5LfyS

Image ID: A graphic of a how a microgrid works with the text "What is a microgrid?".

01/10/2025

The Division of Housing is offering up to $500,000 in predevelopment grants to support affordable homeownership projects for households at or below 100% Area Median Income! Grants up to $25,000 per project can fund activities like appraisals, surveys, and green planning.

📋 Applications open March 3, 2025
💻 Join the info session on January 21, 2025

Learn more: https://doh.colorado.gov/open-request-applications-rfa

01/09/2025

DOLA and the Colorado Energy Office have partnered to release the Colorado Microgrid Roadmap!

What are microgrids? They're local energy systems that can operate independently from the main power grid, helping communities:

• Improve grid resilience and reliability
• Deliver power where traditional infrastructure isn't practical
• Keep electricity flowing during outages
• Meet local energy needs independently

The Roadmap provides a comprehensive look at microgrids in Colorado - from current examples to identifying vulnerable regions and communities most impacted by power outages. It also outlines policy recommendations to support future microgrid deployment across our state.

Read the Roadmap: https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/microgrid-roadmap

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis unveiled the Colorado Microgrid Roadmap this week, a plan that details opportunities to develop microgrids to improve power grid resilience in Colorado. Microgrids are local energy systems that can operate independently ... Read More »

01/09/2025

The Landing is officially coming to Loveland, CO! The new emergency youth homeless shelter run by The Matthews House will be ready to welcome its first overnight residents (ages 15-21) at the end of January. It offers a safe space with dorm rooms, a kitchen, wellness room, study areas, supportive services, and more. Drop-in services will also available!

The Division of Housing's Transformational Homelessness Response Grant Program awarded The Matthews House $1M for this project, in partnership with Poudre School District, Thompson School District, and 20+ nonprofits.

(This post has been edited to reflect updated information on the official opening.)

01/08/2025

Keep up the great work, Colorado Main Street and Kiowa!

Last night, we enjoyed meeting with a strong community group in Kiowa. The group consisted of town leadership, local business owners, and community members. We are supporting their efforts to consider our program to strengthen their community.

Also in attendance were our DOLA Regional Manager and a couple of staff members from Kimley-Horn. Kimley Horn is almost ready to kick off design work on a new stormwater management system.

Lots of positive happenings in Kiowa! We will enjoy our work to support their efforts.

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTownOfKiowa/

12/31/2024

At DOLA, we are so fortunate to work with Eric Bergman, our Division of Local Government Director. A favorite around the office, he always keeps us laughing. Here's a great article from Colorado Politics about his time working at the Capitol in his previous position at Colorado Counties Inc. Eric, we're so lucky to have you at DOLA!

From the files of Capitol M, the 2024 session, or as we like to call it, the lighter side of the state Capitol.

12/30/2024

Last chance for 2024 Colorado tax savings: Donate to eligible homelessness-related projects within Colorado by tomorrow (December 31) to receive a 25-30% state income tax credit.

Find a list of eligible organizations at https://doh.colorado.gov/hctc

12/30/2024

The Colorado Balance of State Continuum of Care Program is on the lookout for new members to join their Youth Action Board! All board members will be paid hourly for their work.

You should join if you:
✅ Are between 18-24 years old or are an unaccompanied minor
✅ Are currently or used to be unhoused or have experience with unstable housing
✅ Want to solve local youth homelessness
✅ Live in one of the Colorado's 54 rural and non-metro counties

Learn more and apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd81JpZbXTIbDirDbDneSEy7DN2_W8kagPpL3zYOX1gS6KW4A/viewform

12/24/2024

As the year ends, we are celebrating progress in strengthening communities across Colorado. Thank you to our dedicated partners and employees who have provided technical assistance, funding support, and vital programs that support a resilient and thriving Colorado. We remain deeply committed to this work in 2025.

Our offices will be closed tomorrow, December 25 and Wednesday, January 1.

Wishing you and yours a joyful holiday season.

12/24/2024

Where's Santa?

🎀Thanks to Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting (CoE), you don't have to guess!

🎀 As part of the Colorado Team Awareness Kit (COTAK) program, the CoE collaborates with member agencies to integrate their existing public safety data free of charge.

🎀 These integrations allow firefighters, law enforcement, and other emergency responders to access essential information in our mobile applications, including the locations of 911 calls, public safety aircraft, lightning strikes, and much more.

🎀 Today, COTAK is excited to help Santa make all his deliveries safely and happily! Follow along for real-time updates on Santa's journey, so you can join us in making sure he gets back to the North Pole safe and sound!
🎅🎅🎅

12/24/2024

Staff from the Division of Housing celebrated the Grand Opening of Zinnia earlier this month, which provides 55 new permanent supportive housing units for Longmont residents experiencing homelessness.

The development features fully furnished one-bedroom apartments, on-site support services coordinated by All Roads, and a sustainable design including solar power. With direct access to the RTD BOLT bus route and neighboring Village at the Peaks' retail, restaurant, and employment opportunities, the location offers residents convenient access to essential services.

12/23/2024

Attention local government planners: Prop 123 planning capacity funds are available to support your affordable housing initiatives. Local Planning Capacity grants help local governments streamline affordable housing development reviews and achieve Prop 123 goals. The next LPC grant cycle will be open from Feb 14 - Mar 14, 2025. Register for our webinar on January 9 to learn more.

Register: https://dlg.colorado.gov/local-planning-capacity-grant-program

12/23/2024

Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee (JBC) plays a pivotal role in our state’s governance, studying state agencies' operations, programs, and fiscal needs in advance of the General Assembly’s budget recommendations. On December 10, DOLA presented program updates to the committee as part of annual hearings required by all State of Colorado agencies. We appreciate the opportunity to discuss our work with the committee, including the ability to reaffirm our commitment to serving Colorado’s vulnerable populations.

Leading up to the hearing, many DOLA staff members worked tirelessly to prepare, from crunching numbers to creating presentation materials and ultimately running mock hearings to be as prepared as possible. Thanks to our team for their complete commitment to putting our best foot forward as part of the legislative process!

12/20/2024

Congratulations to Routt County Colorado and the Town of Hayden on receiving a $2 million Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) grant!

This innovative Solar Array and Energy Storage System Project will offset 100% of Routt County and the Town of Hayden's electrical use for internal operations.

The EIAF program helps communities impacted by mineral and energy development, using funds from state severance tax and federal mineral lease revenues.

In June, Routt County partnered with the Town of Hayden to apply for an Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant through the Department of Local Affairs. On Nov. 15, Routt County was awarded the EIAF grant in the amount of $2,000,000....

12/20/2024

Thank you City of Pueblo, Colorado - City Government for hosting Governor Polis and showcasing your community's dedication to innovative public safety approaches!

12/19/2024

Housing preservation is crucial for Colorado's future. What does this mean?

• Maintaining existing affordable properties

• Preventing conversion to market rate

• Renovating aging buildings

• Protecting naturally affordable housing through strategic partnerships

Last week, Division of Housing staff joined Colorado housing leaders at the Housing Preservation Summit to strategize actions. The summit featured a "Preservation Champions Panel" which included DOLA's Director of Housing Finance & Sustainability, Theresa Cassano.

12/18/2024

Today is the last day to submit a pre-application for emergency rental assistance in the December round! Apply by 5:00 p.m. MT: https://doh.colorado.gov/emergency-rental-assistance