Workforce Development Resource Hub for Colorado Founders
Supporting Business Owners in Job Creation
Hiring is one of the biggest investments—and risks—a founder can take. Unlike large corporations, small businesses and startups don’t have extensive resources to absorb the cost of hiring, onboarding, and training employees. Yet, our State and local economies rely on business owners like you to generate jobs. In fact, startups create more jobs in their first year of operation than any other sector of the economy.
At Startup Colorado, we recognize that hiring as a small business is a high-stakes decision—one that can either accelerate growth or put financial strain on a company. Payroll, benefits, training, and operational adjustments all come at a cost, and for many rural businesses, finding and retaining the right employees is an even bigger challenge.
Our mission is to reduce the risk of hiring so you can:
✔️ Leverage new employees to fuel growth rather than slow it down
✔️ Build a strong, committed workforce behind your vision
✔️ Compete with larger employers by accessing state-funded hiring and training resources
✔️ Scale sustainably without being held back by workforce challenges
Colorado offers a wealth of resources to help small businesses recruit, train, and retain employees while maximizing workforce incentives.This Workforce Resource Hub is designed to give founders and business owners the tools, incentives, and funding they need to hire confidently, grow faster, and strengthen their businesses—because when you succeed, so does our entire economy.
Here you will find resources on:
✔️ Hiring faster by accessing job-matching and recruitment support
✔️ Reducing costs with workforce tax credits, hiring incentives, and training grants
✔️ Developing talent pipelines through apprenticeships, upskilling, and partnerships
✔️ Accessing funding to help support wages and business expansion
How to Use These Resources
Step 1: Identify where you need the most help (hiring, funding, training, retention).
Step 2: Click the links below to explore programs & apply for incentives.
Step 3: Reach out to Startup Colorado or your local workforce representative for one-on-one support.
Have questions? Need help? Contact Startup Colorado for personalized guidance on leveraging workforce resources!
Hiring & Recruitment Support:
Find & Connect with Qualified Candidates
- Connecting Colorado – Free job-matching platform where businesses can post jobs and connect with job seekers.
- Local Workforce Development Centers – Get free support with job postings, hiring fairs, and candidate screenings.
- Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) – Recruit from Colorado’s technical and vocational programs.
- Hire New Americans – Tap into diverse talent pools, including immigrants and refugees with specialized skills.
- MountainCareers.com – A job board for mountain professionals & mountain communities.
Apprenticeships & Internships
- Apprenticeship Colorado – Step-by-step guide on launching paid apprenticeship programs.
- Work-Based Learning Coordinators – Connects businesses with students seeking internships and apprenticeships. To connect with a Work-Based Learning Coordinator, reach out to your local school district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) department.
- P-Tech Program – A partnership between businesses and schools to train future employees.
Skills-Based Hiring & Advancement
- Skills-Based Hiring Academy (SBHA) – Training to help founders hire based on skills, not just resumes.
Hiring Incentives & Tax Credits
Reduce Hiring Costs with Employer Incentives
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) – Get up to $9,600 per hire for employing veterans, individuals with disabilities, or long-term unemployed workers.
- Employee Retention Credit (ERC) – A tax credit of up to $26,000 per employee for businesses impacted by COVID-19.
- Colorado Startup Loan Fund – Loan program to help small businesses scale and hire.
Grants & Wage Assistance
- Skill Advance Colorado – Provides matching grants for employee training programs.
- Opportunity Now Colorado – Grants to fund workforce development and upskilling. Learn more
- On-the-Job Training Wage Reimbursement – Get reimbursed for training new employees through local workforce centers. This is by county, conduct a broad search and see if this applies to you.
Employee Training & Upskilling
Free & Low-Cost Training for Employees
- MyColoradoJourney – Personalized career and training pathways.
- Colorado Community Colleges & Public Universities – Access local workforce training programs.
- Stackable Pathways – Upskilling for industries like healthcare, cybersecurity, and tech.
- Skill Distillery – An intensive coding bootcamp offering 16- and 18-week programs in full-stack Java and JavaScript development, designed to prepare students for software engineering careers.
Leadership & Management Training for Founders
- Small Business Navigator – State resource hub for business growth.
- Talent Development Playbook – Strategies for creating strong hiring and retention systems.
National Leadership Training Programs
- Small Business Administration (SBA): Offers various leadership and management training programs for small business owners.
- The Founder Institute: A global accelerator providing a 14-week program focused on leadership development for early-stage entrepreneurs.
- York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI): Offers intensive training programs in entrepreneurship and business management.
Retaining Employees & Offering Competitive Benefits
Employee Retention Strategies
- Job Quality Assessment – Analyze how your business can improve employee satisfaction and retention. Learn more
- Family Friendly Workplace Certification – Attract and retain talent with family-friendly policies. Apply here
- FAMLI (Family & Medical Leave Insurance Program) – Understand how offering paid leave can support retention. Learn more
Affordable Employee Benefits
- Colorado Secure Savings Program – A low-cost retirement savings option for employees.
- Colorado Crisis Services – Mental health and wellness support for employees.
Workforce Planning & Competitive Business Insights
Market Research & Competitive Benchmarking
- Labor Market Information – See what other companies in your industry pay.
- Supplier Diversity & Minority-Owned Business Directories – Grow your business with supplier diversity initiatives.
- Rural Workforce Development Boards – Influence workforce planning in your area.