Colorado Challenge Accelerator Program | Module #1 | DEVELOPING AN INVESTMENT READY PROJECT
WHAT IS THE COLORADO CHALLENGE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM?
The Colorado Challenge Accelerator Program is a unique technical assistance program with a proven track record over seven years to transform community challenges into opportunities. We are excited to provide extended resources for redevelopment of opportunity sites and brownfields in your downtown.
DCI's Colorado Challenge Accelerator Program will help:
- Transform the community’s challenge into an opportunity
- Establish a project toolkit to further your project goals
- Identify a peer network of downtown champions to support and expand downtown ideals
- Build momentum for a catalyst site in the community
Welcome to the Colorado Challenge Accelerator Program (CCAP)! We are excited to help you turn your challenge into an opportunity. This accelerator program is packed full of education, tools, and resources to help you navigate redevelopment and brownfield challenges in your community. The DCI team is here to help you along the way. Here are some of the benefits you will be gaining from participating:
- Redevelopment Educational Webinars. A series of 8 expert-led webinars covering key topics in community redevelopment, urban planning, and sustainable development.
- Community Capacity Assessment Dashboard. An interactive tool to assess and visualize a community’s strengths and development needs for effective resource allocation.
- Communication Toolkit. A resource with templates and best practices to support clear, transparent communication in community redevelopment projects.
- Community Profile. A detailed overview of a community’s demographics, assets, and challenges, providing key insights for development planning.
- Property Pitch Sheet. A concise document showcasing a property’s key attributes to attract potential investors, developers, and local buy in.
- Feasibility Review. An analysis of a redevelopment project’s viability, covering market demand, financial feasibility, and community impact.
- Example RFQs and Proforma. Sample Request for Qualifications (RFQs) and financial proforma templates to guide the procurement and evaluation process.
- Participation in the Annual Challenge Workshop. An interactive workshop where stakeholders collaborate to solve specific community redevelopment challenges.
Module #1 | DEVELOPING AN INVESTMENT READY PROJECT
DESCRIPTION | Communities across the region have main streets plagued with disinvestment, absentee property owners, and vacant spaces in the downtown. Dive into the mind of a developer, investor, or lender to better understand how to lower the risk and increase the ROI for an "investment-ready" project.
LEARNING LESSONS
- Unpacking the Development Process. Learn the key phases of the development process, from initial planning and site analysis to project execution and completion.
- Factors in Project Feasibility. Understand how to assess the political landscape, financial viability, and regulatory factors, and physical challenges to determine a project's feasibility.
- Mitigating Uncertainty. Discover strategies for identifying, assessing, and managing risks to reduce uncertainty throughout the development lifecycle.
- Environmental / Brownfields Factors in Development. Gain insights into environmental challenges, including brownfield site remediation, resources, and how to address them in redevelopment projects.
MODULE COMPONENTS
RESOURCES
Begin your journey with some introductory information to help you understand the program and engage your team in the process to GET STUFF DONE!
- Welcome Video + Program Overview. An introductory video providing an overview of the program's goals, structure, and key objectives to ensure a smooth start.
- FAQ + Glossary of Terms. A "work in progress" collection of the terms and inquiries we hear from students to address common questions, along with a glossary of industry-specific terms to ensure clarity throughout the program.
WEBINAR | Each Challenge Accelerator Program Module has an educational component outlined in a webinar.
DEVELOPING AN INVESTMENT READY PROJECT | Presented by Andy Arnold
ACTIVITIES | The following activities are interactive tools that will walk participants through their own community, partners, and opportunities to build a stronger understanding of the possibilities for moving the project forward.
- Stakeholder Inventory. Identify and document key stakeholders and partners involved in the development process to ensure all relevant parties are engaged from the outset.
- Catalyst Site Identification. Learn how to assess and identify a catalyst site—an underutilized property with high potential for redevelopment that can drive broader community revitalization.
- Complete the Community Capacity assessment. Evaluate the community’s readiness and ability to support redevelopment through a structured assessment of local resources, infrastructure, and engagement.
- Feasibility Tetrad: STEP 1. Municipal Physical Assessment. Begin the Feasibility Tetrad process by conducting a municipal physical assessment, analyzing the community’s preparedness and physical conditions to determine its redevelopment potential.
Challenge Questions
Course Information
Course Instructor
