Uncategorized Archives | Economic Development Alliance

Newsline: Mike French to Step Down

Sarah Tober — Fri, 17 May 2024 17:08:43 +0000

Herald Reports: Mike French to Step Down as Executive Director

At our May Alliance Meeting, we were pleased to announce that after four impactful years with the organization, our Executive Director, Mike French, will implement a succession plan and hand over the reins to our Deputy Director, Sarah Tober.

The Herald recently interviewed Mike and Sarah to discuss the reasoning behind this decision and what lies ahead for the Alliance.

Mike has chosen this timing not because of a new job opportunity but to ensure the continued growth and success of the Alliance. Sarah will officially start as the Executive Director on June 1st, and Mike’s last day with the Alliance will be July 1st. Our Board and Staff are confident in Sarah’s leadership and experience, and we are excited about the new perspectives and energy she will bring to the organization.

We extend our utmost gratitude to Mike for his significant contributions over the past four years. Under his leadership, the Alliance has navigated numerous challenges and achieved many milestones. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this new chapter.

Read the Full Article

Press Release Chairman’s Letter

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Alliance Wins Non-Profit of the Year

Sarah Tober — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:12:37 +0000

The Alliance Wins Non-Profit of the Year

This year, the Alliance was fortunate enough to be recognized as the top non-profit in Durango by the Durango Chamber of Commerce.

The Alliance could not be in this position without the help of our membership and chairmen’s circle members. We want to thank each and every member, including those who have recently joined to support our cause and long-time members who have supported us for close to a decade. None of this would be possible without you.

Special congratulations to all the award winners and nominees. We are honored to be numbered among such a prestigious cohort.

Read the Herald’s Coverage

Congratulations to you all

A letter from our executive director

Read the Letter

Previous Next

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

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City’s Seed Investment Pays Off

Sarah Tober — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 22:53:33 +0000

We are honored to receive recognition from the City of Durango for the success of our Housing Catalyst Fund. Thanks to the City’s initial $250,000 contribution, along with support from La Plata County and other grants, the fund has raised an impressive $933,000 to date. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the City of Durango for its ongoing commitment to addressing housing challenges in La Plata County.

In the second round of funding, three deserving projects were awarded grants, including the Animas View Mobile Home Park Co-op, Workforce Apartments at Three Springs, and Westside/Triangle Mobile Home Park. These projects represent a diverse mix of rental and mobile home park preservation initiatives, all contributing to our shared goal of expanding access to affordable housing.

City of Durango News Flash

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Agile Strategic Plan

Sarah Tober — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 23:08:09 +0000

2024 Agile Strategic Plan

Over the past three years, our organization has undergone significant transformations to address the evolving challenges in economic development. As we review our previous Strategic Plan published three years ago, we are able to measure performance and draft our next plan.

In response to the unpredictable nature of today’s economic landscape, we have embraced Agile principles, allowing us to swiftly adjust our strategies to new opportunities and unforeseen obstacles. This strategic plan outlines our vision, mission, and key pillars – Business Capacity and Growth, Housing Solutions, and Workforce Expansion – that form the foundation of our commitment to the community’s economic vitality.

The Alliance Agile Strategic Plan has measurable goals and initiatives we’ve prioritized for the next 18 months. From educating our team on Agile concepts to fostering public-private partnerships for workforce housing, each goal is a stepping stone toward creating a vibrant and resilient economy.

Our success over the past three years positions us as a trusted partner and catalyst for positive change. This strategic plan is the first in a series that will foster continuous improvement and iterative progress.

Download Strategic Plan See Previous Plan

2024 Agile Strategic Plan LPEDA

Our Vision

The Alliance will enable La Plata County to be one of the most vital, vibrant communities in the country to live, work, learn, and play.

Our Mission

To create a vibrant and resilient economy through the recruitment, retainment, and growth of business to preserve our quality of life. This mission is achieved by workforce development, enabling business capacity, supporting affordable housing for the community workforce that is essential for long-term economic sustainability, and fostering public and private partnerships.

Key Pillars

Workforce Development

We are committed to equipping our workforce with the skills, training, and resources they need to excel in today’s evolving industries. Recruitment and retention of a strong workforce will enable our businesses and economy.

Business Capacity & Growth

It is important that our local businesses can reach their full potential and opportunities for expansion. We seek to promote policies, partnerships, and facilities that will enable capacity for business.

Workforce Housing

We strive to ensure quality housing options for our workforce, fostering a thriving community where employees can live and work in in the La Plata region.

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Request for Proposals: Financial Review/Audit and 990 Services

Sarah Tober — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 20:02:52 +0000

Request for Proposals: Financial Review/Audit and 990 Services

Download Full RFP

January 24, 2024

The La Plata Economic Development Alliance is accepting proposals for Financial Review/Audit and 990 Preparation Services Beginning with the fiscal year ending 12/31/2023.

We invite your firm to submit a proposal by February 28, 2024. Please send a complete proposal to us via Email to Sarah Tober, Deputy Director, sarah@yeslpc.com

Background

The mission of the La Plata Economic Development Alliance (The Alliance) is to create a vibrant and resilient economy from the recruitment, retainment, and growth of businesses by fostering public and private partnerships and preserving our quality of life. The Alliance is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in Colorado in 2010 and designated as a 501(c)(6) membership organization by the IRS. The Alliance is registered with the Secretary of State, the Department of Revenue in Colorado, and various other licensing entities. For more information, see our 2022 Annual Report.

As part of our work to build a resilient economy and preserve quality of life, the Alliance has recently expanded its workforce development programs by receiving a federal Opportunity Now grant through the CO Department of Local Affairs. Due to this influx of federal funds and solid growth in our other programs to build economic resiliency, we wish to conduct an outside Financial Review or Audit (depending on federal funding levels) annually/ as required. We are seeking a new firm to perform these services and prepare and file our annual Form 990. We do not currently have activity requiring filing a 990T, but that could change over the years.

Financial Structure and Program Volume Projections:

Year	FTEs	Federal Rev	Other Grants/Contracts	Contrib/memberships/other	Total Rev (est)
2023	3.5	$413,172	$528,118	$299,735	$1,241,025
2024	4.75	$567,551*	$754,202	$371,907	$1,693,660
2025	4.75	$600,000*	$600,000	$380,000	$1,580,000

*Depending on grants & contract opportunities, It’s very possible we will see larger amounts of federal funds and require a single audit for these years and beyond.

The Deputy Director and Grants Coordinator handle day-to-day accounting and grant management in Quickbooks Online software using class tracking to delineate funds and programs. We outsource our payroll services locally to process semi-monthly, file payroll tax reports, and use SalesForce to track memberships. An outside accountant oversees monthly activity, GL reconciliation, and grant/financial reporting. We have a strong, active Board of Directors that meets monthly.

Proposal

We request a proposal to cover pricing, timeline, and relevant details of the following services over the next five years. Please note that we do not require an onsite visit; we welcome the opportunity to work with your firm remotely or in person. Our accounting and other office records are predominantly electronic.

Financial Reviews annually beginning with 2023
Financial Federal Single Audit for 2024 and beyond, in place of Financial Review, if we exceed the federal threshold
990 tax filing annually

Your Response to This Request for Proposal

– Due by February 28, 2024, via Email to sarah@yeslpc.com

In responding to this request, please provide the following:

Detail your firm’s experience in providing auditing and tax services to similar non-profits.
Describe how your firm will approach the Review/Audit & 990 preparation, including the proposed timeline and your technologies and communication strategies. We understand you may have a busy calendar for 2024, so our timeline is flexible for the 2023 Review & 990.
Set your fees per our requested needs above and include available indications of fee increases/changes over the next five years.
Describe how you will bill for questions on technical matters that arise throughout the year.
Provide current billing rates for classes of professional personnel at your firm.
Provide at least three references of similar non-profit clients you have served for at least three years. The reference names provided should have practical familiarity working with members of your firm.
Include a copy of your firm’s most recent peer review report, related letter of comments, and your firm’s response to the letter of comments.

Data Available for Your Review

To help you best understand our work and size, we have attached:

990 filings for FY 2021 and 2022
FY 2023 financials through November

Key Personnel

The following are key contacts for more information:

Sarah Tober, Deputy Director
Michael French, Executive Director
Carolyn Moller, Accountant

*contact information available in the full RFP document

Proposal Evaluation

Our Board of Directors’ Finance Committee and executive staff will evaluate proposals by February 29, using the criteria below.

Adequacy and completeness of proposal
Experience of firm in serving similar not-for-profit organizations
Qualifications of staff to be assigned
Cost of the review or audit and tax return preparation
Suitability of the proposed timeline to completion

We appreciate your time and consideration of this request. We look forward to any questions you have and what additional information/documents would be helpful for us in drafting your proposal.

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Project RUN Annoucement

Sarah Tober — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 20:51:31 +0000

Announcing Project RUN

We are thrilled to share a significant development in collaboration between the La Plata Economic Development Alliance (LPEDA) and Fort Lewis College (FLC) – the launch of Project Rural Upskill Network (RUN), a robust workforce enablement program.

Key Highlights:

Objective: Addressing identified skill-set gaps in Southwest Colorado’s workforce.
Micro-Certifications: Offering specialized courses culminating in digital badges, validating essential skills.
Funding: Successfully secured a substantial $1.2 million grant from Opportunity Now Colorado/OEDIT.
Industry Focus: Tailoring certificates to meet the specific needs of key sectors within the region.

Empowering Economic Mobility: LPEDA and FLC are taking a proactive approach to workforce challenges, ensuring local residents possess the skills necessary to excel in diverse industries. Fort Lewis College (FLC) and the La Plata Economic Development Alliance (LPEDA) have unveiled a transformative initiative, Project RUN, a Professional Certificate Program aimed at enhancing the local workforce’s skills and economic mobility. LPEDA Executive Director Michael French emphasizes addressing skill gaps as a key strategy to impact industries affected by workforce challenges.

The collaboration secured a $1.2 million seed grant from Opportunity Now Colorado, demonstrating a commitment to innovative solutions for workforce needs. Project RUN focuses on micro-certifications designed in collaboration with industry partners, addressing the specific skill requirements identified in LPEDA’s workforce analysis.

FLC President Tom Stritikus highlights the institution’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, aligning with Project RUN’s goal of serving regional adult learners by offering relevant certificate coursework. The program incorporates unique elements, including transportation stipends and childcare support, ensuring accessibility and equity.

LPEDA’s regional workforce analysis revealed over 55,000 job postings, emphasizing the need for skilled labor across various industries. Project RUN strategically targets key sectors like Healthcare, Finance, Energy, Manufacturing, and more, aiming to directly impact and improve the labor supply.

LPEDA is thrilled to partner with FLC in leading this innovative program, creating micro-certifications tailored to industry needs and fostering the upskilling and reskilling essential for a dynamic regional workforce.

Empowering Workforce, Driving Economic Mobility

Read the Official Press Release

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9R Bond Contracting Info

Louise Snodgrass — Fri, 21 May 2021 18:35:58 +0000

Durango’s voters approved Ballot Issue 4A, a $90 million bond issues to the Durango School District 9-R. $63 million of that bond can be spent on local contracts, and the Alliance wants to help local businesses succeed in securing those contracts.
Fill out this form for contractor participation registration.

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Follow up information from December Investor Meeting

Louise Snodgrass — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 22:15:00 +0000

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Gap Grant and La Plata Cares Fund Applications Open October 5, 2020

Louise Snodgrass — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 19:25:09 +0000

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The Alliance is helping local businesses find space to expand

Louise Snodgrass — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 21:47:41 +0000

The Alliance has developed a Request for Information (RFI) form to help connect businesses and property owners together in an effort to help businesses find room to expand in La Plata County. Check out the article in the Durango Herald. To learn more please contact the Alliance.

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