Housing Colorado is pleased to present our 2026 HAPPEN Summer Outreach Session, hosted in Fort Morgan in service of the affordable housing community of  NE Plains. This daylong event will feature speakers on a variety of timely and engaging topics, as well as networking opportunities and complimentary refreshments and lunch. 

This program is shaped directly by feedback from participants of our regional peer exchange network, HAPPEN. It will include ample time for group discussion, questions, brainstorming, and more!

We look forward to seeing you at this opportunity to connect with other local advocates, operators, developers, funders, and others.

2026 HAPPEN Summer Outreach: Northeast Plains

Agenda

8:00- 8:30 Check-In

Breakfast

Networking

8:30-9:00 Welcome

Housing Colorado Opening Remarks

Peer Intro Exercise

Olivia Czarnecki (Housing Colorado)

9:00- 10:15 Session I— Colorado Legislative Update

Brian Rossbert (Housing Colorado), Becky Brazell (DOLA- Department of Housing)

10:15- 10:30 Break

10:30- 11:45 Session II— Building Strength: Organizational Capacity Strategies

Teale Hemphill (Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development), Trisha Herman (Colorado Housing Finance Authority), Mark Schenberger (University Technical Assistance Program), Amanda Spiedel (University Technical Assistance Program)

11:45- 12:30 Lunch

12:30- 1:00 Small Group Workshop

Olivia Czarnecki (Housing Colorado)

1:00-2:150 Session III— Making the Numbers Work: Project Funding 

Michael Yerman (My Rural Planner), Matt Long (DOLA- Department of Housing)

2:15-2:45 Farewell 

Housing Colorado Closing Remarks

Drawing

Olivia Czarnecki (Housing Colorado)