Two mountain towns and one of the state’s largest cities are receiving the first Community Telework grants from the Colorado Department of Transportation for their efforts at providing healthy and safe options for employees who are able to work from home.

The initial grantees – Aspen, Estes Park and Aurora – are promoting best practices for teleworking and social distancing during the COVID crisis:

Aspen

Support its Transportation Options Program by developing and hosting a training session, customized for the requirements of a tourist economy. This training opportunity will complement other Aspen initiatives supporting telework among TOP members ($5,000).

Estes Park (submitted two applications)

Purchase software, allowing the town’s information technology staff to support employees remotely, eliminating in-person assistance and provide hotspot devices for town employees with inadequate home wireless service ($10,000 total).

Aurora

Purchase webcams, hotspot devices and other wireless technology to support increased teleworking and provide assistance to staff with health concerns ($4,630).

Grants up to $5,000 are available to eligible applicants, including local governments, agencies, non-profits, associations and organizations. Although private, for-profit organizations (e.g. – contractors, suppliers, or consultants) are not eligible to apply, they can partner with qualified entities. Applications can be accessed at:

https://www.codot.gov/programs/community-challenge

“This program builds on other efforts to help Colorado communities protect public health as well as increase the normalcy of telecommuting for employers and employees alike,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “We also want to foster innovative technologies that provide safe access to economic opportunities for people of all ages, incomes and abilities, including vulnerable users.”

This initiative is supporting the Can Do Community Challenge, as part of the Can Do Colorado campaign. Revitalizing Main Streets is another current CDOT “Can Do” program, which is providing small-scale grants for low-cost, immediate actions to help safely improve the economy and enhance healthy activities in cities and towns. More information on that program is available at the link above.

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