Weld Trust invests $800K+ in workforce-development program

GREELEY — With support through a grant from The Weld Trust, rural and isolated areas in Weld County will now have greater access to workforce-development resources, training and job-search assistance.

The trust awarded an $830,803 flagship grant to the High Plains Library District Friends and Foundation to launch a mobile workforce unit. The initiative is a collaboration between Employment Services Weld County, High Plains Library District and the HPLD Friends & Foundation.

“Flagship grants support significant community projects that align with our initiatives and will change the landscape of Weld County in health or education,” Jeff Carlson, CEO of The Weld Trust, said in a prepared statement. “This flagship grant will directly increase the number of people throughout the county with job and training opportunities to attain employment.”

Beginning in 2026, the mobile workforce unit will bring employment services directly to communities, expanding access beyond the offices in Greeley and Fort Lupton. The unit will connect residents with resources to overcome barriers to employment including skills training, reliable wi-fi and technology, affordable child-care options, transportation assistance and workforce readiness support. Trained workforce specialists will staff the mobile unit and help with job searching, resume writing, mock interviews, GED practice tests, OSHA certificate training, career coaching, workshops and access to the statewide job database.

This mobile unit will make 25 scheduled stops per month serving areas such as Stoneham, New Raymer, Briggsdale, Grover, Carr, Nunn and Pierce. Within its first three years, the unit is projected to serve 2,400 individuals.

The Weld County unemployment rate is 4%, which is just below the state unemployment rate of 4.2%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in August. The mobile workforce unit aims to reduce unemployment further by creating more accessible pathways to employment.

“Access to meaningful employment opportunities can transform lives and in turn strengthen communities,” Carlson said. “By bringing workforce resources directly to underserved areas, we are breaking down barriers and opening doors for residents to improve their lives.”

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