Micro-Grids Joins Rural jump Start program, Plans to Open operations in Delta County
by Breana Sinclair- KREX
Full Article Link HERE
DELTA, Colo. (KREX) — Micro-Grids Inc., an outdoor battery and inverter cabinet manufacturer that plans to launch a facility in Delta County, has joined the Rural Jump-Start Program, according to an announcement from Governor Jared Polis and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).
Micro-Grids developed a fire-resistant solar battery cabinet with thermal management to manage battery health for customers in wildfire- and outage-prone markets. The cabinet, titled the Powershed PS-46, will launch later this year. With the new facility, and in collaboration with the Technical College of the Rockies, the company plans to create new jobs and internships in manufacturing and workforce development for students.
“Technical College of the Rockies is excited to include Micro-Grids as one of our new educational partners. This partnership will provide an externship opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a business setting. We appreciate having new businesses and partners come to Delta County,” said the college’s Director of Facilities and Financial Aid, Tony Bowling.
“In Colorado, we are helping innovative businesses in every industry succeed and creating more opportunities for students to get the skills and experience needed to secure a good-paying job. I am pleased to welcome Micro-Grids to Delta County who has developed a safer way to store batteries and is creating exciting opportunities for students to receive hands-on experience,” said Polis. “Micro-Grids’ innovation will boost the local economy, bring new jobs, and expand Colorado’s manufacturing capabilities.”
Micro-Grids will receive a $15,000 grant in funding from the Rural Jump-Start program to launch the Delta facility and provide eligible employees with a state personal income tax exception.
“We are grateful for the Rural Jump-Start program, which provides a great opportunity for Micro-Grids as we continue growing in Delta County while working with the Technical College of the Rockies to foster engineering and manufacturing talent,” said Micro-Grids’ Founder and CEO Brison Klein. “Our focus is on developing resilient energy storage solutions like the Powershed PS-46, an extreme-weather outdoor energy storage system designed to provide reliable power for homes, businesses, and even small utility and infrastructure projects.”
The Rural Jump-Start program was developed to encourage economic development and job creation in Colorado’s rural counties. With the funding it provides, the program aims to support regional economic and workforce development activities that expand local businesses, create new jobs and strengthen local economies.
“We are thrilled to see Micro-Grids choose the Western Slope. The Rural Jump-Start program is a valuable tool for fostering economic growth and opportunity in our rural communities. Micro-Grids’ collaboration with Technical College of the Rockies will help more Coloradans develop new skills and find job opportunities in manufacturing and engineering,” said OEDIT’s Executive Director Eve Lieberman.
“The Rural Jump Start Program has played an important part in the over $133 million financial impact One Delta County has assisted with over the last five years,” said the Director of One Delta County, Greg Pope. “This program incentivizes exactly what we are building: Western Slope businesses that create jobs while delivering new and innovative products and services that don’t currently exist in our market.”
One Delta County: An Economic Alliance is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with public and private sectors to strengthen the economy in the county. Its foundation was based on finding a new approach to economic development.
