The City has established a grant program to support brick and mortar small businesses in Edgewater. To be eligible for this reimbursement grant, a business must have a physical location in Edgewater and have no more than 19 employees. 

Businesses are eligible for a grant award of up to $1,000.00 of funding per calendar year. Funding is on a first come, first serve basis. 

Items that may be eligible for the grant program are as follows:

• Education and Training: For training options, check out courses and programs through the Denver Small Business Development center and/or the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation. Or, another Denver Metro entity that offers classes to support businesses.
• A year membership in a Colorado Chamber of Commerce or Colorado Business organization.
• Purchase of non-polystyrene to-go containers for restaurants and food service (up to $500).
• Support of additional business expansion that directly relates to an increase in a business' capacity and business' continued success. 

Submit grant request to the City of Edgewater, along with associated costs. 

• Email requests to jmills@edgewaterco.com

• City staff will review and respond to your request within 72 hours.

Once an approval email response is received, submit the receipt for reimbursement to the City.

•  Email follow up and receipts to jmills@edgewaterco.com

Colorado Business Resource Book: The Colorado Business Resource Book is your complete guide to starting and running a business in Colorado. This resource is available in Spanish and English. https://oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-business-resource-book

Colorado Small Business Navigator: The Small Business Navigator is the first point of contact for new and existing business owners with questions about federal, state and local licensing requirements. The navigator also provides referrals to a variety of state and federal assistance programs and local small business training. In addition, the navigator maintains a comprehensive database of federal, state and local regulatory and permitting requirements. Call the Small Business Navigator at 720-665-7439 with your start-up questions!

https://www.denversbdc.org/small-business-education/resources/small-business-navigator/

Edgewater Business License and Information:  The City of Edgewater requires anyone doing business in the City to first obtain an Edgewater business license.  

https://www.edgewaterco.gov/doing-business/licenses-permits/business-license

Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation's Biz Hub: Jefferson County is home to a wide array of services and support resources to help launch and expand your business.

JeffCo EDC Business Resource Directory

Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:  The Hispanic Chamber membership is open to small businesses and non-profit organizations as well as small, mid-sized and large corporations. https://www.hispanicchamberdenver.com/

Good Business Colorado:  Good Business Colorado is an organization of value driven and socially conscious businesses in the Centennial State. https://goodbusinesscolorado.org/members

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce:  The Denver Metro Chamber has resources for businesses large and small in the metro area, whether you want to grow your business by making key leads or shape public policy and economic development while building relationships with the region’s executives and leaders.  https://denverchamber.org/buy-now-2023/  

West Metro Chamber of Commerce:  The West Metro Chamber serves Jefferson County with a focus on community betterment through business development.   https://www.westmetrochamber.org/

Colorado Start-Up Loan Fund:  The Fund provides loan capital to mission-based lenders to provide loans to Colorado entrepreneurs and small business owners needing capital to start, restart, or restructure a business, and those who are not able to obtain a loan from traditional lenders. https://oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-startup-loan-fund

Rocky Mountain Micro Finance Institute:  RMMFI builds community wealth through business development and lending services.  https://rmmfi.org/

MiCasa Resource Center:   MiCasa offers bilingual business consulting /free one on one services.  https://micasaresourcecenter.org/consulting/

Denver Small Business Development Center:  The Denver SBDC works to create thriving small businesses through programs, education and free one on one consulting.  The Denver SBDC is a part of the Colorado SBDC Network.  https://www.denversbdc.org/

Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation - Need more information on Jefferson County or locating, expanding or starting your business here?  We are here to help find the resources businesses in Jeffco need to thrive. https://jeffcoedc.org/

CO OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INTERNATIONAL TRADE SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING/GRANTS

The Business Foundations Technical Assistance program provides technical assistance and small grants to Colorado small businesses to help businesses legally establish themselves. The program includes 3 required training paths for businesses to complete and receive a certification. Once completed, businesses may be eligible to apply for small grants of up to $1,200.

https://oedit.colorado.gov/business-foundations-technical-assistance-program

The Small Business Accelerated Growth program provides training, support, education, and consulting to grow your business. The program provides a free educational online course in conjunction with professional consulting. Participants will have the opportunity to apply for a grant at the end of the training program. The program fosters growth of existing companies that have been in business for at least one year and have nineteen or fewer employees. 

https://oedit.colorado.gov/small-business-accelerated-growth

We want to provide information about the newly enacted minimum wage for Edgewater businesses that will take effect on January 1, 2024 city-wide. The Edgewater City Council recently passed Ordinance 2023-07 enacting a local minimum wage for 2024. Each Employer shall post notice of the currently effective Edgewater Minimum Wage in a place which is prominent and easily accessible to all employees.  Employers shall display the posting in English and Spanish (printable schedules linked below).

The figures below outline Edgewater’s minimum wage rates over the next five years. The
intention is to increase and then be equal to the City and County of Denver’s minimum wage.
Rates for 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 have been approved by the City Council. Rates for
2029 will be determined in the future, based on Denver’s minimum wage.

* Hourly wage for tipped worker based on State mandated $3.02 tip credit.

City-Wide Minimum Wage Schedule - English

City-Wide Minimum Wage Schedule- Spanish

In 2019, through HB19-1210, Colorado’s legislature authorized local governments to be able to
set a local minimum wage greater than the state constitutional wage. HB19-1210 only allows
wages to be adjusted on January 1 of each calendar year, and wages cannot exceed 15% of the
current State minimum wage with the first increase and then no more than 15% above the local
minimum wage for each year following.

The City and County of Denver passed a citywide minimum wage that took effect on January 1,
2020. The wage increase was a 15% increase for 2020, 2021 and 2022; then a 9% increase for
2023 based on inflation data.

Edgewater established a minimum wage for City employees in 2021 well above the local
minimum wage to stay competitive and provide a livable wage to employees.

In 2022 and 2023, the City of Edgewater engaged businesses through www.EnvisionEdgewaterCO.com/Edgewater-Minimum-Wage

Request a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! 

Think: Big scissors, speeches, and an official welcome from the community.

Let the Communications & Events Team welcome you to the City with a free shout out in the Neighborhood Gazette (a local newspaper that is distributed in Edgewater, Wheat Ridge, and Mountain View). 

Sponsor a City Event!

Learn more at www.EdgewaterCO.gov/Events