Congress has passed the largest government assistance package in history. More than $870 billion will be disbursed, largely through a variety of federal agencies, to support job creation projects around the country.

Whether you supported the notion of a federal stimulus package or not, projects will be funded. It is apparent that as this scenario plays out, there will be communities that will be winners, and others that will be losers. It is also apparent that it will be those communities that mobilize around accurate information and coherent strategies for securing funding that will emerge as the winners. The challenge for Weld County leadership is to position local governments and organizations to best access federal support for local projects. To overlook this opportunity will only serve to allow other communities to become more competitive in the long run.

Upstate Colorado Economic Development, along with the many co-hosts listed below, is pleased to bring Congresswoman Betsy Markey, and representatives of several federal agencies to speak about the opportunities tied to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Specifically, the speakers will address the opportunities within the context of timing, eligibility and application processes.

Speakers will include:

• Congresswoman Betsy Markey
• Mark Cavanaugh, Director of Government Efficiency Initiatives, Office of the Governor
• Angie Fyfe, Local Programs Manager, Governor’s Energy Office, Colorado Department of Energy
• Cheryl Scofield, Northeast Area Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Rural Development

Other groups are in the process of identifying their speakers: Economic Development Administration, Housing and Urban Development and the National Telecommunications & Information Administration

Join us at the Evans Community Center, 12-2 p.m., Thursday, April 9 to learn about opportunities associated with this legislation.  Lunch will be provided as part of the registration fee.

Co-hosted by: The Town of Ault, the Town of Berthoud, the Carbon Valley Chamber of Commerce, the City of Dacono, the Erie Economic Development Council, the City of Evans, the Evans Area Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Firestone, the City of Greeley, the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, the Greeley/Weld Small Business Development Center, the Town of Hudson, the Town of Mead and the Town of Windsor.

Event Info:
April 9, 2009, noon to 2 p.m.
1100 37th St., Evans, Colo.