Elizabeth, HRC member, provided an update on Elevate Boulder, the city’s guaranteed-income pilot funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. She said payments began in January 2024 and will continue through January 2026 for 200 community participants. “The funding for the pilot program came through the city's allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth said the overall pilot budget from ARPA totaled $3,000,000 and covered direct cash assistance, design work, a community task force, consultants and an evaluation contract. An interim evaluation report was released in December 2024; staff said a final evaluation survey is currently being fielded and consultants will produce a final report in September.

Staff reported about 70 participants had completed the most recent survey so far, from among roughly 130 participants who initially indicated interest in taking evaluation surveys; the full participant cohort is 200. Staff said the final survey will probe longer-term impacts on financial stability and that storytelling work — including photo-voice, audio, short video and performance/story events — is planned for September and October to center participants’ experiences publicly.

On the question of continuation, staff said city staff and nonprofit partners have been discussing what a program beyond the pilot could look like, what a realistic budget might be, and alternative funding sources. Staff noted they do not expect to sustain a program at the same scale without additional funding but said a relaunch with a new cohort could be possible in 2027 if funding and City Council direction align. “Ultimately it's a decision that city council would need to make as well in terms of budget allocations,” Elizabeth said.

Next steps: staff will continue evaluation work, produce a final report in September and roll out storytelling opportunities so participants can share their experiences publicly beginning in September and continuing through October. Staff and partners will continue to explore designs and funding options should the city consider an ongoing program.