TradeSTART

What is TradeSTART?

Skilled trades careers offer stable, well-paying work, but many people have never been shown that path. TradeSTART is designed to change that. TradeSTART opens the door to opportunities in high-demand trades that are shaping the future of our region.

By connecting you with hands-on exposure, training resources, and industry partners, TradeSTART helps you discover what a career in the trades could look like and what it takes to get there.

TradeSTART is an initiative of the Fremont Economic Development Council (FEDC), which works to connect government, businesses, education, and community partners to build a stronger regional economy with skilled trades at the center of that mission.

Key Program Areas

Closing the Workforce Gap

Regional employers are struggling to find qualified, job-ready workers in skilled trades — and retirements are making it worse. TradeSTART builds structured, early pipelines into high-demand careers before the shortage deepens.

Career Awareness & Exploration

Many students graduate without ever being exposed to local trade careers that offer strong wages and long-term stability. TradeSTART bridges that gap through hands-on career exploration and direct industry engagement.

Employer Aligned Training

Employers need graduates who show up with foundational technical skills, workplace readiness, and a real understanding of job expectations. TradeSTART aligns training to employer-defined standards, reducing onboarding time and improving retention.

Regional Education & Industry Coordination

No single school or employer can solve the workforce shortage alone. TradeSTART connects school districts, higher education, employers, and workforce development organizations into a unified regional talent ecosystem.

Economic Growth & Competitiveness

Workforce availability directly influences where businesses expand, invest, and hire. TradeSTART strengthens Fremont County’s long-term economic position by ensuring a sustainable, locally-grown talent supply.

Industry Education Partnerships

Collaborative, applied learning models work — and industry partners agree. TradeSTART is designed as a scalable, replicable solution built on strong relationships between educators, employers, and the broader community.

Benefits of TradeSTART

FEDC TradeSTART gives Fremont County businesses a clear, supported path to competing in global markets without having to navigate it alone. By connecting local companies to export resources, market intelligence, and one-on-one advising, TradeSTART turns international growth from a distant goal into an achievable next step.

Expand Your Revenue Streams: Access international markets to grow sales beyond the limits of local and regional demand.
Strengthen Business Stability: Diversifying into export markets reduces dependence on any single market and builds long-term resilience.
Get Expert Guidance: Personalized export advising helps businesses assess readiness, identify opportunities, and build a strategy tailored to their goals.
Navigate Complex Systems with Confidence: TradeSTART connects you directly to federal and state resources, including the U.S. Commercial Service, SBA programs, EXIM Bank, and STEP grants.
Create Higher-Value Jobs: Export-driven growth supports the creation of better-paying, more stable positions right here in Fremont County.
Bring Outside Capital In: Exporting draws external revenue into the local economy, acting as a multiplier for community-wide prosperity.

For small and mid-sized businesses ready to grow, FEDC TradeSTART removes the barriers that have kept global markets out of reach. It’s practical, people-centered support designed to turn Fremont County’s local innovation into lasting economic impact.

Testimonials

"The school district is filled with many wonderful people, but we need the support of community partnerships to really showcase the power and potential of a bright future here in Fremont County. FEDC is helping us to do that and I am thankful. The feedback thus far has been incredibly strong. You guys did that. Kudos!"

Adam Hartmann – Superintendent of Schools, Cañon City Schools

“I just wanted to tell you how incredible yesterday was! I truly believe that students will be talking about the event 10+ years from now or even longer. It was amazing how the students were captivated. Thank you for showing them the impact of the industry. It is quite impressive what we can do when we all come together."

Marlo Asher – Director of Operations, Careers in Construction Colorado

"OPERATION SUDDEN IMPACT was an impressive event. I just wanted to say thank you for all that you do for our community, especially our students. I know how difficult planning events like these are, so thank you for all of your hard work. Thank you Rob and FEDC!"

Tami Gunkel – SWAP Coordinator, Canon City Schools

"Today at the assembly it was actually really cool! They landed a helicopter on the field, we could go take pictures and sit in it and they had the K-9 with the police department do a demonstration which was really fun to see. The surprise was a shed. They built it from the ground up in under 20 minutes and it is going to be used at the school too! There were lots of great things! it was wayyy bigger than i expected it to be!"

CCHS Student

Grants & Projects

Project Constellation – $100k grant
Colorado and Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) Direct Effect- $15,000: CHFA’s Direct Effect Award helped launch FEDC TradeSTART, an initiative aiming to address three critical issues: the housing shortage, lack of skilled workers, and limited economic opportunities in Fremont County, with a primary focus on serving economically distressed and underserved individuals.
USDA Fremont Skills Grant
DOL Advanced Manu
Networking Event Amplify Your Voice PBT

In 2020, the Fremont County School districts (Cañon City, Florence, and Cotopaxi) and Pueblo Community College’s Fremont Campus (PCC) formed a collaborative: The Fremont Multidistrict Initiative (FMI). The goal of this collaboration is to reinvent the way schools in the region can cooperatively use resources and sustainably provide an outstanding education for rural students.

Our mission is to prepare Fremont County Students for success in life by collaboratively providing all students a quality education and opportunities to develop relevant workplace skills.

FMI has 3 categories of service: FMI assures that no matter where a student lives in Fremont County, they will have access to high-value credentials, college credit, and hands-on learning in real job settings that can save them time, money, and build skills towards a prosperous future.

1. Develop and maintain systems for cross- district collaboration so that students can maximize their opportunities for accessing high-value pathways.
2. Expand and develop work-based learning experiences across the WBL continuum.
3. Align the sequencing of coursework into new or improved high-demand pathways with concurrent enrollment and industry credentials on a regional scale.

In June 2025, FMI offered 5 Days of Career Exploration designed to help students dive into hands-on, project-based learning that aligned with our focus pathways. Students engaged in activities led by multiple industry partners, gaining valuable experience and insights into career options in these fields. Each day spotlighted a different sector:

Agriculture and Environmental
Computer & Information Systems
Healthcare and Behavioral Health
Trades and Manufacturing

With more flexibility than ever, students chose to attend one day or all five, allowing them to explore a wider range of sectors that match their interests. Each day was limited to 20 students to provide a more hands-on and personalized learning experience. Additionally, post event, students received support on how to navigate pathways available at their school or through FMI, helping them make the most of their future opportunities.

See Photos here.

This September 11 event at Cañon City High School connected students with real-world career opportunities, hands-on demonstrations, and the industries that keep our region, state and country thriving.

The trades industry struggles to find individuals to carry on the workmanship and talent of the trades. There is not only a local shortage, but also a nationwide shortage of people entering the trades. Our goal is to educate and expose students to career options that might not otherwise be known.

Operation Sudden Impact is a career readiness interactive experience—a chance for students to discover opportunities right here in Fremont County and to begin connecting their education to their future.

The goal of this event was to spark curiosity, encourage career exploration, and create memorable experiences for students. Students:

Saw live demonstrations from local industries (construction, manufacturing, public service, automotive and technology/ professional services)
Interacted directly with professionals and the tools of their trade in the field
Learned about career pathways that may not require a four-year degree, but still provide stability, advancement, and good wages
Built connections with community leaders who want to invest in students’ futures

PaICE is a regional program that originated at CCHS (Canon City High School) 8 years ago and has since expanded to FJSHS (Florence Junior Senior High School) and CHS (Cotopaxi High School).

This program, with the help of many professionals in our community, offers valuable work experiences for local students.

Over the years, PaICE has grown from first having 35 participating students and 50 business partners to last year hosting 250 students and just over 200 business partners.

PaICE hosts two employer fairs per year open to all Fremont County businesses and students.

The Professional and Internship Community Experience School-to-Career Program provides the opportunity for every high school student to gain first-hand experience in their personal career choice through a wide variety of partnerships with businesses, professionals & agencies in the Fremont County Area.

Under the “PaICE Umbrella” there are 2 options for participation in the PaICE Program. Students can participate as either an Intern or Work-Study student.