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More than $25,000 awarded to local nonprofits

PRESS RELEASE
May 9, 2017

GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. – The Garfield County commissioners announced discretionary grant award winners for the second quarter at their regular meeting on Monday, May 8. All told, 11 nonprofit organizations made presentations and requests before the board on May 1.

The City of Glenwood Springs received a $5,000 sponsorship toward the annual Summer of Music program; the Rifle Rendezvous Festival received a $5,000 sponsorship; and the Symphony in the Valley was awarded a $5,000 sponsorship for its concert series. The White River National Forest Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District was also awarded $5,000 toward maintenance of the wildly popular Hanging Lake Trail area in Glenwood Canyon.

The Rifle Chamber of Commerce was allocated $2,000 to help with costs and staffing at the annual parade during the Garfield County Fair; the West Elk Trails Group received $2,500 toward winter trail management and grooming; and Glenwood Springs Youth Hockey Association was awarded $1,000 toward scholarships.

The second quarter discretionary grant awards were approved unanimously, and totaled $25,500.

Overall, $94,000 was budgeted in 2017 for discretionary grants, which are capped at $5,000 apiece. The county’s aim is to allocate roughly 25 percent of the grants funds each quarter, though the board has discretion to distribute the funds in any manner it sees fit.

During the first quarter allocation in February, $32,000 was granted. But of that total, $7,200 was counted toward the fourth quarter this year, keeping the total for first quarter at $24,800.

On May 1, three human service grant requests were also made by Pathfinders, Aspen Strong, and Sopris Therapy Services – Horses for Heroes. The board approved $3,500, $3,000, and $1,000 respectively to these nonprofits. At the Human Service mini-grant allocations in March, a surplus of $12,500 was transferred to the discretionary grant program.

Three Garfield County schools made presentations on Monday, seeking $4,000 apiece in educational grant funds. The requests by Rifle High School Skills USA (cover costs of transportation, lodging, and a national leadership and skills competition in June); Columbine Christian School (scholarship funds); and Liberty Classical Academy (rental costs of the Glenwood Springs High School auditorium for a spring musical) were supported unanimously.

“It’s getting really tight gentlemen, in reference to the grants,” Commissioner John Martin said in his support. “If we zero-out in the next quarter, it will be very difficult in the fourth quarter.”