Media Contact: Natriece Bryant, Deputy Executive Director | 303-241-8364
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) recently awarded $16.8M to 39 local governments through Tier II and Tier I of the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Funds (EIAF) program.
Funding from the EIAF program is ongoing, and helps communities socially or economically affected by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels. These EIAF awards helps achieve Governor Jared Polis’ Four Bold Goals for renewable energy, education, health, and economic development, while also meeting the needs vocalized by rural communities across the state.
Tier II grant funding allows applicants to request up to $1M for projects. The Department recently awarded 19 local governments a total of $14M. DOLA awarded the Haxtun Hospital District in Haxtun, Colorado $1M for updates to the primary infrastructure in this 1964 facility. Needs include refurbishment of water, electrical and HVAC systems in order for current technology and equipment to become an option for the District, which serves the most northeastern population of the state.
The Department awarded the Town of Creede $323K for expansion of the Creede Early Learning Center. Renovations will help to improve quality standards by meeting Colorado Department of Education design guidelines including the latest ADA requirements. The expansion will increase space provisions to 30 square feet per child indoor and 75 square feet per child outdoor, in addition to increasing the amount of children overall it can accommodate for the southern Colorado community.
Local Affairs awarded the Town of Dolores, Colorado nearly $300K for solar installations at their wastewater treatment plant, town workshop and town hall. Each installation will offset 100 percent of the town's current electrical usage at each location. The installations reduce $21K of expenses in the first year, and $662K over 25 years, for this southwestern region of the state.
Programs that receive Tier I grant funding are eligible for up to $200K for their projects. In the most recent cycle, DOLA awarded 20 local governments a total of $2.8M of Tier I awards.
“It has never been more crucial to support local governments across Colorado with funds from the energy and mineral impact fund,” said DOLA director Rick M. Garcia. “At DOLA we are working hard to make sure their projects get the resources they need to improve the lives of Coloradans in rural communities.”
For a complete list of Tier II awards, please visit: https://bit.ly/EIAFT2820.
For the list of Tier I awards, please visit: https://bit.ly/EIAFT1820.