Office of Institutional Grants

• Amount: $10,671,840
• Project Period: 3/13/2020 - 5/11/2022
• Contact Person: Chuck Jensen
• Email: chuck.jensen@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: US Department of Education

This program is 100% funded by the Federal Government via the U.S. Department of Education to cover costs associated with coronavirus. Institutional portion funds may be used to defray expenses associated with coronavirus (including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll), and to carry out student support activities authorized by the HEA that address needs related to coronavirus. Institutional funds may also be used to make additional financial aid grants to students.

 

• Amount: $7,646,828
• Project Period: 3/13/2020 - 5/21/2022
• Contact Person: Chuck Jensen
• Email: chuck.jensen@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: US Department of Education

The purpose of this program is to support college students whose lives have been impacted by the coronavirus and are facing financial challenges. This program is 100% funded by the Federal Government via the U.S. Department of Education. Institutions must make financial aid grants to students, which can be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. Unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, and authorizes grants to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.

• Amount: $2,330,193.18
• Project Period: 8/22/2022 - 12/31/2024
• Contact Person: Chris Peterson
• Email: chris.peterson@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: US Department of the Treasury via the Colorado Community College System

Students who enroll in specific short-term health care training programs at Aims Community College will pay nothing, thanks to the new Care Forward Colorado program.

• Amount: $931,251.37  (Funds allocated to Aims from the state of Colorado for Career Advance have been fully expended. No additional funding for this program is available at this time. )
• Project Period: 9/15/2023 - 8/6/2024
• Contact Person: Chris Peterson
• Email: chris.peterson@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education, for the use and benefit of the Colorado Community College System

The Career Advance Colorado program provides zero-cost, short-term training at Aims Community College, offering you a clear path to employment or to earning a degree with limited debt.  

Gain hands-on experience and learn the skills to prepare you for positions in: 

• Construction
• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education
• Firefighting
• Law Enforcement
• Nursing

• Amount: $5,000
• Project Period: 12/18/2024 - 6/30/2025
• Contact Person: Mike Hanscome
• Email: mike.hanscome@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: Collision Repair Education Foundation

The goal of the Benchmark grant is to honor schools that have been doing an outstanding job in educating students in collision repair, but need some financial assistance to improve their program’s teaching materials and equipment.

• Amount: $27,315
• Project Period: 3/11/2025 - 1/31/2027
• Contact Person: Michael Sasso
• Email: michael.sasso@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: Colorado Department of Transportation

The purpose of the Aviation Education and Workforce Development Grant Program is to support education programs, projects, and initiatives in Colorado that have direct application to the state’s aviation and aerospace industry.  This grant project is designed to assist Aims Community College to purchase a maintenance trainer for the A&P Program.

• Amount: $50,000
• Project Period: 8/14/2023 - 6/30/2025
• Contact Person: Jacob Marshall
• Email: jacob.marshall@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: Colorado Department of Transportation

The funding will allow Aims to update its current UAS fleet to stay ahead of current and future industry standards. The new UAS fleet acquisition will provide greater student accessibility and opportunity in the fields of film, construction, inspection, and precision agriculture.

• Amount: $1,250,756
• Project Period: 10/1/2021 - 6/30/2025
• Contact Person: Gabriela Sanchez
• Email: gabriela.sanchez@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: Colorado Department of Higher Education

The Finish What You Started program will increase enrollment, persistence, and completion of students with some college, no degree and first time students admitted but not enrolled for 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 academic year and decrease student debt for participants.

The Finish What You Started program is no longer accepting applications. 

• Amount: $41,562
• Project Period: 7/1/2023 - 6/30/2025
• Contact Person: Kelly Jackson
• Email: kelly.jackson@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: Colorado Department of Higher Education

The purpose of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative Matching Student Scholarship Grant is to increase the amount of scholarships available for post-secondary students in Colorado. Aims Foundation must match every dollar given by the State. 

• Amount: Up to $40,322.57
• Project Period: 5/1/2020 - 4/30/2025
• Contact Person: David Sordi
• Email: david.sordi@aims.edu
• Funding Agency: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

The Colorado Space Grant Consortium is funded by NASA and is a state-wide organization involving 21 colleges, universities and institutions around Colorado. Each grantee provides Colorado students access to space through innovative courses, real-world hands-on telescope and satellite programs, and interactive outreach programs. The students interact with engineers and scientists from NASA and aerospace companies to develop, test, and fly new space technologies and to support our outreach and teaching programs.

• Amount: $5,500
• Project Period: 7/1/2024 - 6/30/2025
• Contact Person: Doug Strauss
• Email: doug.strauss@aims.edu
• Funding Agency: Colorado Department of Education

The grant funds can be spent on any educational materials: books, periodicals, audiovisual materials, and even electronic resources and databases.  

• Amount: $137,560
• Project Period: 8/26/2024 - 9/30/2026
• Contact Person: Martin Rubalcaba
• Email: martin.rubalcaba@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: US Department of Transportation

The CMVOST funding will cover training expenses (tuition, fees, and registration costs) for 38 CDL students to support the US DOT's goals of driver safety, developing a reliable transportation system for businesses and workers, reducing transportation inequalities, and improving access for all communities.

• Amount: $50,000
• Project Period: 3/31/2024 - 6/30/2026
• Contact Person: Kelly Jackson
• Email: kelly.jackson@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: Daniels Fund

At the end of the 2-year grant period, 10 unemployed or under-employed people will have received a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and 8 EMTs will have received a Paramedic Certificate. With a CDL or a Paramedic Certificate these participants will fill open positions in Northern Colorado and increase their earning potential.

• Amount: $5,000
• Project Period: 6/4/2024 - 6/30/2025
• Contact Person: Kelly Jackson
• Email: kelly.jackson@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: El Pomar Foundation

Spencer and Julie Penrose established El Pomar in 1937 with a mission to enhance, encourage, and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado.  The North Regional Council has awarded Aims Foundation funding for student scholarships.

• Amount: $13,320
• Project Period: 4/1/2024 - 6/30/2025
• Contact Person: Dr. Douglas Strauss
• Email: doug.strauss@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: Colorado Department of Education

These funds will support three science courses and one nursing course (A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, Basic Concepts of Pharmacology).  Specifically, the grant funds will support Aims lead and supporting faculty who will be incorporating OER into their courses.

• Amount: $71,198
• Project Period: 1/27/2025 - 6/30/2026
• Contact Person: Dr. Douglas Strauss
• Email: doug.strauss@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: Colorado Department of Education

These funds will allow Aims to develop additional OER courses and offer a Zero-Cost AA degree. 

• Amount: $5,000
• Project Period: 10/17/2024 - 5/31/2026
• Contact Person: Erica Jones
• Email: erica.jones@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: The JED Foundation

In support of developing new programs and initiatives for students who are parents, JED will grant $5,000 to Aims Community College to be used toward an intervention that supports students who are parents. JED will provide guidance on the JED Student Parent Action Steps and Framework.

• Amount: $225,000
• Project Period: 5/9/2024 - 6/30/2025
• Contact Person: Chris Peterson
• Email: chris.peterson@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: Office of Economic Development and International Trade of the State of Colorado via the Colorado General Assembly.

Enacted by SB23-205(opens in new window), the Universal High School Scholarship Program, renamed Opportunity Next Colorado, aims to increase enrollment in Colorado-based postsecondary education and training programs, and will prioritize learners who pursue an in-demand or high-priority pathway.

This is a one-time scholarship for Colorado’s Class of 2024 high school graduates and equivalent completers for use in the 2024-2025 academic year. Scholarship recipients may receive up to $1500 to help cover tuition, fees, books and equipment.

• Amount: $468,608
• Project Period: 7/1/2024 - 6/30/2025
• Contact Person: Landon Loyd
• Email: landon.loyd@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency:  U.S. Department of Education, administered by the Colorado Career & Technical Education and the Colorado Community College System

The purpose of this grant is to provide students with the academic and technical skills needed to succeed in a knowledge and skills-based economy.  Perkins funding elevates the quality of Aims CTE programs to support each learner's skill development and meet industry needs by keeping equipment up-to-date and ahead of industry standards when possible; prepare Colorado's future workforce through transformation partnerships by enhancing Career Academy offerings and capacity with the needed equipment/tools/technology; and ensure access to meaningful work-based learning opportunities.

• Amount: $1,114,578.
• Project Period: 7/9/2024 - 6/30/2029
• Contact Person: Rachel Veretto
• Email: rachel.veretto@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency:  Reisher Family Foundation

The mission of the Reisher Scholarship Program is to provide post-secondary educational opportunities for Colorado students by awarding scholarship grants for such students to attend schools in Colorado.  The Reisher Bridge Scholars Program, housed in the Transitions Center at Aims Community College, will provide dedicated transition support and resource connection to eligible transfer-intending students committed to one or more Reisher Scholarship Program institutions.

The Skill Advance Colorado Job Training Grant helps businesses and nonprofits create customized job training for employees.

• Amount: $601,513.50
• Project Period: 7/1/24 - 5/16/2025
• Contact Person: Erin Smith
• Email: erin.smith@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency:  Colorado Community College System

Current Skill Advance Grant Partnerships:

• Anheuser Busch, LLC
• Care Housing, Inc.
• CGRS
• Durable Life Skills, Inc.
• Nutri Turf, Inc.
• Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc.
• Vestas Blades America, Inc.

• Amount: $75,000
• Project Period: 2/15/2023 - 2/14/2027
• Contact Person: Erica Jones
• Email: erica.jones@aims.edu 
• Funding Agency: The Colorado Health Foundation

This grant empowers campus communities to strengthen their overall efforts to address student mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention. Funding will bring JED campus programming to all four of Aims Community College’s campuses.

• Amount: $1,397,533 
• Project Period: 9/01/2020 - 8/31/2025
• Contact Person: Bernadette Cordova
• Email: bernadette.cordova@aims.edu
• Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education

The objectives of the program are to increase the retention, graduation and transfer rates of 160 eligible students, and to foster an institutional climate supportive of the success of low-income and first-generation students and students with disabilities.

• Amount: $1,330,392
• Project Period: 9/01/2020 - 8/31/2025
• Contact Person: Bernadette Cordova
• Email: bernadette.cordova@aims.edu
• Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education

The objectives of the program are to increase the retention, graduation and transfer rates of 120 eligible students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM disciplines), and to foster an institutional climate supportive of the success in STEM of low–income and first-generation college students and students with disabilities. 

• Project Period: 7/1/2023 - 6/30/2026
• Contact Person: Fabian Garcia
• Email: fabian.garcia@aims.edu
• Funding Agency: Colorado Department of Education

Weld County School District 6 (WC6) implements a Traditional three‐year 21st CCLC (21C) grant with the overarching goal of increasing student achievement and engagement in five high‐poverty, low‐performing schools through innovative, project‐based, out‐of‐school time (OST). 

• Project Period: 9/25/2023 - 9/24/2030
• Contact Person: Fabian Garcia
• Email: fabian.garcia@aims.edu
• Funding Agency: US Department of Education

The Greeley-Evans School District 6, in collaboration with Aims, is implementing a 7-year GEAR UP grant with the overarching goal of increasing the number of low-income students that graduate from high school prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. They serve over 1,700 students (87% low-income) who started in 6th and 7th grades from middle schools in Greeley-Evans Schools District 6. 

• Project Period: 7/1/2024 - 6/30/2029
• Contact Person: Julie Luekenga
• Email: julie.luekenga@aims.edu
• Funding Agency: US Department of Education

The CU-Boulder BUENO High School Equivalency Program (BUENO-HEP) is designed to provide migrant and seasonal farm workers and immediate family members an opportunity to earn their High School Equivalency Diploma. The program will pay for all costs associated with classroom, instruction, books, materials, and the official test. 

• Project Period: 7/1/2020 - 6/30/2026
• Contact Person: Ray Chard
• Email: ray.chard@aims.edu
• Funding Agency: Colorado Department of Education

The P-TECH grant is an innovative partnership between the Greeley-Evans School District and Aims Community College, designed to promote advanced manufacturing concurrent enrollment programs.