County approves $90,000 federal amendment to continue HIV prevention testing program

Weld County commissioners approved an amendment to a task-order contract to continue an HIV prevention program with $90,000 in federal funding.

Jason Cheshire of the Health Department described the program, started last year, as an enhanced testing initiative that offers optional HIV testing to every client at the county building and through a mobile unit. Cheshire said Weld County is among several Colorado counties experiencing an increasing rate of positive HIV diagnoses and that the state recently notified the county it remains on an upward trend.

Cheshire said the $90,000 in federal funding will make the program whole for 2026. The board approved Contract ID 9853 by voice vote after Commissioner Kevin Ross moved the approval and Commissioner Annette Peppler seconded.

No changes to program eligibility or testing protocols were described in the meeting; staff said the amendment maintains the existing testing approach.