Wednesday, December 17, 2008

GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES $21.5M FOR COMMUNITIES


 
Gov. Bill Ritter and Department of Local Affairs Executive Director Susan Kirkpatrick today announced $21.5 million in grants to 35 cities and towns for construction, infrastructure and other community projects that will help create jobs and strengthen local economies.
 
"Communities all across Colorado are struggling to cope with this global economic crisis," Gov. Ritter said. "These grants will allow communities to make key investments in projects that will put people to work and strengthen local economies in the short-term, while making communities more livable and economically healthy in the long-term."
 
Funding for the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Grants are derived from severance tax and federal mineral lease revenues. The Department of Local Affairs received 44 applications seeking $54 million in grant funding, an unprecedented level of competition. The grants will allow communities to leverage more than $145 million in public-private and local matching funds, to bring a combined $166.5 million in construction activity to Colorado.
 
"Communities that are impacted by energy and mineral development throughout the state will benefit from these grant awards," DOLA Executive Director Kirkpatrick said. "The competition for the severance and federal mineral lease grant dollars was stiff. Projects that meet basic needs like water, sewer, drainage, and local roads received highest priority. Projects that demonstrated a strong energy conservation or renewable energy component also received priority."
 
This year's grant process was revamped and refined to make it more transparent, accountable and strategic, Gov. Ritter and Executive Director Kirkpatrick said. DOLA worked with legislators, local officials and the energy industry to enhance the effectiveness of the application, review and award process. The grant program was created by the legislature in 1977.
 
The 35 grant projects:
 
1) Bent County Courthouse Restoration                                                        $390,000
2) Brighton County Road 6 and County Road 4 Expansion                         $2,000,000
3) Carbondale Community Nonprofit Center                                                 $750,000
4) Chaffee County Community Services Complex                                        $1,700,000
5) Colorado NCC Career & Technical Building                                             $1,000,000
6) Craig Equipment & Vehicle Replacement                                                  $200,000
7) Delta County FPD #3 4x4 Fire Truck                                                        $90,000
8) Durango Main Avenue Sidewalk Improvement                                         $500,000
9) Firestone Intersection Improvements Phase II                                           $1,000,000
10) Fraser Valley Metro Rec. District Rec. Center                                         $350,000
11) Fruita Wastewater Treatment Plant Collection Line                                $1,000,000
12) Greater Brighton FPD Fire Engine & Software                                       $255,000
13) Hudson Wastewater Treatment Plant                                                       $950,000
14) Kremmling MHD Granby Medical Campus                                            $1,000,000
15) La Plata County Energy Efficiency Upgrades                                         $700,000
16) Meeker Sanitation District Main Replacement Phase IV                         $700,000
17) Mesa County Public Works Facility                                                         $1,000,000
18) Mesa State College Renewable Energy Project                                       $300,000
19) Moffat County Equipment Replacement                                                 $250,000
20) Moffat County RE 1 Auditorium & Gymnasium                                    $100,000
21) Montrose County RE 1-J Support Services Bldg. Ph. II                         $432,774
22) New Castle Wastewater Treatment Plant                                                 $1,000,000
23) Northeastern Jr. College Dorm Improvements                                         $100,000
24) Palisade Civic Center Renovations Phase I                                              $750,000
25) Poncha Springs Water System Upgrades                                                 $360,000
26) Poudre Canyon FPD Firehouse Complex                                                $400,000
27) Pueblo Fire Station No. 4                                                                         $200,000
28) Rangeview Library District – Brighton Cultural Center                          $300,000
29) Steamboat Springs Charter School & Community Center                       $500,000
30) Sterling Emergency Communications Center                                           $239,000
31) Telluride Main Street Water Main                                                            $615,000
32) Timnath Septic System Improvements – Loan                                         $900,000
33) Weld County Community Corrections Facility                                        $400,000
34) Weld County RE 3-J Facility Improvements/Repair                                $225,000
35) Windsor Town Hall Tornado Repairs                                                       $859,402
Total                                                                                                               $21,516,176