Summer Institutes Connect Cortez Students with Career Training | LOR Foundation Skip to content
Complete Economy

Summer Institutes Connect Cortez Students with Career Training

  • Local Champion: Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative
  • Date Funded: February 27, 2025
  • Grant Amount: $6,750

When the Montezuma-Cortez School District decided not to renew its membership with the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative, local high school students faced losing access to valuable summer institutes that provide hands-on career training in construction, health care, and environmental fields. After seeing how these programs had already transformed students’ educational paths, one staff member with the collaborative came up with an idea to maintain access for Cortez students. LOR’s funding helped cover the participation fees for 15 Cortez High School students to attend the summer institutes, ensuring Cortez students could still learn about and prepare for in-demand careers.

This project is fiscally sponsored by Onward! A Legacy Foundation.

Contact our community officer in Cortez. Meet Nicci Crowley
More Economy Solutions
Economy / Questa Beautification Project Creates Welcoming Gateway to Questa
Local Champion:
Questa Economic Development Fund
Date funded:
September 8, 2026
Grant Amount:
$25,009
Economy / Libby A Youth Vendor Program Helps Libby’s Budding Entrepreneurs Grow
Local Champion:
Saint Joseph Parish
Date funded:
August 10, 2026
Grant Amount:
$3,285
Economy / Cortez Wash, Pack, and Cool Infrastructure Equips Cortez’s Emerging Farmers
Local Champion:
Montezuma Land Conservancy
Date funded:
August 4, 2026
Grant Amount:
$30,000
Economy / Cortez A Food Pantry Produce Pilot Program Benefits Cortez Families and Local Producers
Local Champion:
Good Food Collective
Date funded:
August 4, 2026
Grant Amount:
$25,000
Economy / Monte Vista Live Music Strengthens the Monte Vista Farmers Market
Local Champion:
A Monte Vista Local
Date funded:
July 30, 2026
Grant Amount:
$4,198
Economy / Buffalo An Apsáalooke Cultural Day Celebrates Buffalo’s Original Residents and Generates Community Investment
Local Champion:
Longmire Foundation
Date funded:
July 13, 2026
Grant Amount:
$6,900

Share an Idea

If you have an idea for improving quality of life in Cortez or Monte Vista, Colorado; Lander, Wyoming; Libby, Montana; Questa or Taos, New Mexico; or Weiser, Idaho, use this form to start a conversation with us.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.