Reflecting on a Year of Growth and Achievement
As we draw the curtains on another remarkable year at Emergent Campus, it has been a moment to reflect upon our journey, celebrate our achievements, and anticipate the promising horizons of the future. The year had been nothing short of transformative, marked by significant milestones, new partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to fostering development and sustainable rural community economies.
“We could not wait to see this project continue to unfold with this incredible team!”
Opportunity Now Grant
Emergent Campus was proud to announce the reception of a $3.5 million Opportunity Now Grant. This program, launched in July, extended the Florence program and initiated our newest location in Trinidad, Colorado. This allowed us to hire a strong team that made huge strides already in our rural workforce development mission. We couldn’t wait to see what was in store for this project in 2025!
In September, Emergent Campus Florence hosted over 60 stakeholders from across the state to kick off our work for the Emergent Campus Opportunity Now project. This meeting brought together Emergent Campus staff, non-profits, business leaders, faculty from Trinidad State College and Pueblo Community College, three school districts, internship coordinators, and other regional stakeholders. Throughout the day, participants engaged in whole-group discussions and small-group breakout sessions, sharing strategies, crafting action plans, and forging connections. Stakeholders left with a collective vision for rural workforce development and sustainable community economies. In December, the team reconvened and shared the incredible strides that had already been made since the kickoff in September. Some of the wins included…
- 35 program participants in a range of professional development programs provided by Emergent Campus
- 13 professionals placed in local tech-related jobs
- 15 new tenants and co-working members
This team was truly inspiring.
Welcoming New Tenants and Members
One of the highlights of this year was the addition of several prestigious tenants to our vibrant community. We were thrilled to welcome:
Emergent Campus Florence Tenants:
- ASG – Abacus Solutions Group
- IBM
- BruxLabs
- The Speech Garden LLC
Emergent Campus Trinidad Tenants:
- Hopping Mad Games
- Apotome Labs
- Stormat Designs
Emergent Campus Trinidad Co-Working Members:
- Taylor Littrell
- David Tesitore
- Three Rocks Engineering
- Ann Hollingsworth
- Patrick Baird
- Aimee Roberson
- Joshua Wade Smith
- Arna Miller
Tours and Workshops
The IBM DevSecOps Team hosted their team offsite with individuals from all over the country and sponsored one of our Tech Night Out events.
This year Pax8 hosted multiple offsites, Tech Night Out Events, and visits from team members all over the state and country.
Barn Owl Precision Agriculture visited Emergent Campus Trinidad and engaged in discussions with Trinidad State College, Trinidad High School Students, and members of the community.
Each of these organizations brought a wealth of expertise and innovation, enriching our ecosystem and fostering a collaborative environment of learning and growth.
Engaging with the Community
Our commitment to community engagement and development was unwavering. This year, we had the honor of hosting several significant site visits and events:
- OEDIT Site Visit: For Advanced Industries Grants
- USDA Site Visit: A roundtable discussion and exploration of grant opportunities for local businesses
- ACI Learning: Partnered with Emergent Campus to provide grant-funded training for individuals seeking tech certifications such as A+ and COMPTIA
- Skill Advance Colorado: Conducted a tour and collaborated with three of our businesses. These enterprises received funding to train their staff, enhancing their skills and contributing to their growth.
Emergent Campus Florence launched the ‘Work on Wednesday’ program, and Trinidad introduced a monthly ‘Tech Night Out’.
South Central Tech (Diana) joined a team from the South-Central Early Childhood Education Sector Partnership at the national Employers Partnering to Invest in Children National Innovation Summit in Washington, DC., working on solutions for childcare challenges in the region.
These interactions not only provided invaluable insights but also opened doors for local enterprises to access resources and support, further bolstering our mission to drive economic growth and innovation in the region.
Celebrating Historic Preservation
One of our proudest moments this year was receiving the esteemed Steven H. Hart Award for Historic Preservation. This prestigious accolade is awarded annually to only five projects throughout the state, recognizing exemplary work in archaeology and historic preservation.
“This was the short video about Emergent Campus that was played at the award ceremony in Denver at the History Colorado Center on April 16th. Our award was specifically for preserving the building with unique reuse around job creation.”
The award was a testament to the collaborative effort of the entire community in preserving the historical significance of our building while creatively repurposing it to generate new employment opportunities in Fremont County. It underscored the importance of our campus in the history and heritage of Florence and highlighted our innovative approach to preservation.
“The Stephen H. Hart Awards celebrated and recognized exemplary projects in archaeology and historic preservation across the state. Each project contributed to the field of preservation because of their innovative approaches, in-depth research, and/or use of proper techniques that honored the historic significance and craftsmanship of Colorado’s archaeological and built environment.”
Spreading the Word
Our efforts to promote and share the vision of Emergent Campus have been ongoing. We conducted numerous tours, spreading the word to the community, business partners, and stakeholders across the south-central region.
Looking Ahead
As we looked forward to the coming year, our excitement and optimism are palpable. The foundation we have built, the partnerships we have forged, and the community we have nurtured position us for even greater achievements. We remain committed to our vision of creating a thriving, sustainable ecosystem that supports innovation, education, and economic growth.
In conclusion, this year at Emergent Campus we’ve had a journey of growth, collaboration, and success. We are grateful to our tenants, partners, and community members for their unwavering support and dedication. Together, we made significant strides towards our goals, and we eagerly anticipated the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead.
Here’s to another year of innovation, excellence, and community at Emergent Campus!
