Opportunity Now PLANT Grant

Our locally grown and regionally based, sector-wide solution, “Grow where you are planted: Southern Colorado Partners Leading Advancement in Nursing Track (PLANT),” is rooted in evidence-based practices, seeded through existing partnerships, and stemmed from the crisis in healthcare in Colorado. Opportunity Now PLANT will improve health equity in the 15 counties in Southern Colorado that it will serve by providing local access to nursing, nurse practitioners, and nurse education programs. The project will advance inclusivity, equity, diversity, and accessibility practices and principles throughout the career pathways. Through a partnership between two universities, two community colleges, and our industry partners, Opportunity Now PLANT will achieve our goals through innovative recruitment efforts. Opportunity Now PLANT will serve as a sustainable model for regional and statewide worker-centered partnerships to address nursing shortages by upskilling 45 existing nurses into highly skilled nurse manager and leader, nurse practitioners, and nurse educators.

Who Qualifies

• Students must be seeking either their MSN or DNP in any specialty track, including post masters
• Students must have already been admitted into their MSN or DNP program
• Must live in one of the following 15 counties:
  • Alamosa
  • Baca
  • Bent
  • Conejos
  • Costilla
  • Crowley
  • Huerfano
  • Kiowa
  • Las Animas
  • Mineral
  • Otero
  • Prowers
  • Pueblo
  • Rio Grande
  • Saguache

Students must submit their application through the CSU Pueblo Foundation starting in Summer 2024

What the Grant Covers

• Up to 75% of tuition for up to 30 MSN credits
• Up to 75% of tuition for up to 39 DNP credits
• Up to $1,000 in emergency funds for childcare, care repairs, and other unforeseen financial needs

Newsletter 

• Newsletter will be posted monthly starting June 2024

Events

• Enrollment Extravaganzas (TBA) 
• Seminar on Time Management (TBA) 
• Seminar on Financial Literacy (TBA)
• Seminar on mindfulness, meditation, exercise, nutrition, and sleep hygiene (TBA)

Community Resources

• CSU Pueblo Career Center – https://www.csupueblo.edu/career-center/index.html 
• Alamosa Workforce Center - Colorado Workforce Center — Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce (alamosachamber.com)
• Pueblo and Upper Arkansas Workforce Sub-areas - Pueblo and Upper Arkansas Workforce Areas (google.com)
• Southeastern Colorado AHEC - Southeastern Colorado AHEC | Health Educators | Pueblo, CO (secahec.org)
• Trinidad Workforce Center - Workforce Center | Las Animas County (colorado.gov)
• San Luis Valley AHEC - SLV AHEC Website
• Southern Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurse- NAHN Chapters (nahnnet.org)