Press Release

The 2020 Census Outreach Grant Program Committee Chair, Cecelia Espenoza, announced today, the official notification of funding and application is live and applicants can apply online through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ website: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dola/census-2020-outreach-grant-program.

More Coloradans than ever can get up to a $5,000 credit on their state income taxes, thanks to a legislative clarification during the 2019 session. Those who retrofit their home for better access to themselves or a family member with an illness, impairment or disability may be entitled to part of the $1 million targeted for households with incomes below $150k per year.

More Coloradans than ever can get up to a $5,000 credit on their state income taxes, thanks to a legislative clarification during the 2019 session. Those who retrofit their home for better access to themselves or a family member with an illness, impairment or disability may be entitled to part of the $1 million targeted for households with incomes below $150k per year.

Colorado has experienced record growth over the past decade and over 280,000 households in the state pay more than 50 percent of their total income on housing expenses. In response to number of families who are cost-burdened by their housing, the 2019 Colorado Legislature has passed three bills which were signed by Governor Polis that will provide $78 million to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Division of Housing by July 2021.

The most recent Census Bureau data shows that El Paso County had the largest county increase in the state between 2017-2018 of 13,056 followed by Denver +11,053, Weld +9,031, Adams +7,440 and Douglas +7,104.

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) awarded over $19M for both the Tier I and Tier II Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Funds (EIAF) program. For the Tier I grant awards, applicants can receive up to $200,000 for their projects; there were 20 local governments that received funding for the cycle totaling $2.5M. The Tier II grant awards allow for applicants to receive up to $1M for their projects and there were 26 local governments that received funding for the cycle, totaling $16.8M.

The 2020 Census is one year away and the State of Colorado is working on efforts to ensure a complete and accurate count. This critical process ensures that Colorado receives fair representation in Congress and its fair share of federal funding. The data collected is then used by states for redistricting.

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ (DOLA) Division of Property Taxation submitted their preliminary findings for Colorado’s Residential Property Tax Assessment Rate Study to Governor Jared Polis, the Colorado General Assembly and the Colorado State Board of Equalization.

The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has launched the Home Modification Tax Credit program that is designed to help individuals with an illness or disability who need to make their home more accessible due to health, welfare or safety reasons. The program allows for individuals to request a tax credit of up to $5,000 per year on home modifications.