CO · Customized

Colorado Customized Training Grants: A Practical Employer Guide

Colorado's customized training money is the Colorado First grant, part of Skill Advance Colorado. It reimburses an employer for customized training of net new hires at a company that is new to Colorado or expanding. You apply through a local community college, and nothing can start until the grant is approved. CCCS says applications are anticipated to open in Fall 2026.

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State pre-filled: CO
Program type pre-filled: customized_training

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Contact your local community college Skill Advance representative
2
Complete a training needs assessment and application with the college
3
Wait for approval before any training or purchases begin
4
Train, submit invoices and attendance records, and get reimbursed

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the Colorado money comes from.

Run by Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), through local colleges. Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

Colorado First Job Training Grant (Skill Advance Colorado)

Reimbursed training for net new hires

OPENS FALL 2026 (ANTICIPATED)

WHAT YOU GET

Reimbursement of customized training costs for net new hires at a company that is relocating to or expanding in Colorado.

HOW MUCH

Dollar limits, the share you pay and the college administration fee are set in the program policy, which is written for internal program administrators and is not published for employers. Confirm current figures with your community college representative.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer, by reimbursement of approved training costs. A participating community college manages the grant with you.

WHO QUALIFIES

Net new hires at a company relocating to or expanding in Colorado; replacement hires are not the target
OEDIT lists the program for for-profit businesses; confirm nonprofit and industry rules with your college
Training is customized and applied for through a participating community college

Before you start: Yes. Do not start training or buy materials until your college confirms the application is approved.

WIOA customized training through your local workforce board (federal baseline)

Employer pays a significant share

THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOARD

WHAT YOU GET

Training designed for your business, with a commitment to hire the people who finish. You pay a significant share of the cost.

HOW MUCH

Federal rule only: the employer pays a significant cost of the training, as set by the local board. No Colorado board page found that publishes a rate.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer or a training provider under a contract with the local workforce board, depending on the board's design.

WHO QUALIFIES

Trainees must be WIOA eligible
The employer commits to hire the trainee on successful completion

Before you start: Yes. A contract with the board comes first.

LOCAL BOARDS

Same program, different rules by board.

Colorado Workforce Centers (statewide network)

Workforce Centers serve employers across the state; contact your local center about WIOA-funded training.

SOURCE: CDLE.COLORADO.GOV

AVOID THESE

What gets Colorado Customized claims denied.

Using Colorado First for anyone other than net new hires at a company relocating to or expanding in Colorado.
SOURCE: OEDIT.COLORADO.GOV
Applying before the grant window opens.
SOURCE: CCCS.EDU
Going around the college. Participating colleges manage the program, so you apply through one.
SOURCE: OEDIT.COLORADO.GOV

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Colorado Customized questions.

Can I fund training for people I already employ?

Not with Colorado First, which covers net new hires only. Current employees fall under the Existing Industry grant.

SOURCE: OEDIT.COLORADO.GOV

Who counts as a net new hire?

A new hire in a newly created position, not a replacement. Ask your college how it counts hires and how far back it looks.

SOURCE: OEDIT.COLORADO.GOV

Does the employer have to put up money?

Expect to share the cost. The share is set in the program policy, which is not published for employers, so confirm the current rate with your college representative.

SOURCE: CCCS.EDU

What is the federal rule for WIOA customized training?

The employer must pay a significant cost of the training, as determined by the local board, and commit to hire on successful completion.

SOURCE: ECFR.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on September 30, 2026. Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

OTHER PROGRAMS IN COLORADO

Reimbursa monitors workforce-reimbursement programs across every state and writes machine-checkable rules packs that prevent claim rejections. See membership pricing.