Northwest Colorado Innovation Center

 

The Northwest Colorado Innovation Center (NCIC) is a 501c3 launched by the NWCDC to support entrepreneurial, small business, and workforce development. The program is intended to co-locate resource partners in one location to streamline the delivery of transition services and resources to energy transition workers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Read our concept paper.

Mission

NCIC's mission is to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, economic prosperity, and diversification through sustainable, community-led development. The program will coordinate and facilitate regional collaboration and support regional marketing, business growth and attraction, and community development.

History

In 2023, the NWCDC created a Steering Committee to explore ways to sustain regional economic development in Northwest Colorado. The Steering Committee evaluated the various models and recommended a rural development hub model.  

Rural development hubs are main players advancing an asset-based, wealth-building approach to rural community and economic development in this country. They are the most visible actors in rural America, designing and implementing efforts that simultaneously:

  • Increase and improve the assets that are fundamental to current and future prosperity: individual, intellectual, social, cultural, built, natural, political, and financial capital
  • Increase the local ownership and control of those assets
  • Build a thriving ecosystem to diversify the economy

In December 2024, NWCDC received 501c3 status for the Innovation Center.  On February 14, 2025, the Innovation Center officially seated its Board of Directors, adopted bylaws and policies, elected officers, and created five committees: Executive, Finance, Nominating, Program, and Loan.  

Board of Directors

The 501c3 Innovation Center has a separate Board of Directors from its parent organization, NWCDC.  The Innovation Center Board currently consists of 11 members from public, private, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. 

Officers

  • Chair: Tim Redmond, Routt County Commissioner
  • Vice Chair: Melody Villard, Moffat County Commissioner
  • Treasurer: Randy Looper, City of Craig Councilor
  • Secretary: Roy McClung, Natural Soda Plant Manager

Directors

  • Gary Boley, Colorado Northwestern Community College
  • John Bristol, Routt County Economic Development Partnership
  • Tegan Ebbert, Town of Hayden
  • Edy George, Bank of San Juans
  • Margie Joy, CHFA
  • Callie Scritchfield, Rio Blanco County Commissioner
  • Carly Thomson, Town of Meeker

Committees

The following committees provide recommendations to the Board in their areas of focus. Nominating, Program, and Loan Committees are open to community members, and we encourage more community input and participation. 

Executive Committee: The executive committee shall be composed of the chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer of the board of directors. The Executive Committee will provide organizational direction, manage priorities, address urgent issues, oversee projects, and support the Board, often with a focus on fundraising and strategic planning. 

Finance Committee: The finance committee shall be responsible for the financial oversight of the 501c3. The finance committee shall be chaired by the treasurer and include the chair and up to 2 more additional committee members appointed by the chair in consultation with the treasurer.

Nominating Committee: The nominating committee shall be responsible for locating, reviewing, and nominating potential new directors and a slate of officers.  The nominating committee shall consist of no less than 3 people, with at least one person who is not a current board member.

Program Committee: The program committee shall be responsible for developing and overseeing the organization’s programs and initiatives.

Loan Committee: The loan committee shall be responsible for approving loan applications submitted to the organization and making recommendations regarding the same.