The Boulder County Board of County Commissioners approved the county administrator’s recommended 2025 Economic Vitality Grant allocations and directed an additional $5,000 to the Latino Chamber of Commerce, using money from the commissioners’ discretionary fund for nonprofits.

County Administrator Jana Peterson presented staff’s recommendation on the grant awards and confirmed the allocations in the meeting packet. Commissioner Stoltzmann moved approval of the previously listed contract amounts and said the board would "give the Latino Chamber an additional $5,000 ... out of the Commissioner's Fund for nonprofits." The motion passed with the board responding "Aye." The packet listed total grant funding of $178,250.

Why it matters: County staff and commissioners characterized the Latino Chamber as the primary Spanish-language outreach organization in the county’s regional ecosystem of business support. Commissioners said the Chamber does outreach and partnership work that other chambers depend on, and several commissioners expressed concern about reduced federal matching funds for local nonprofits this year.

Details: Jana Peterson told commissioners the recommendation came after county reviewers assessed applications. Commissioner Loicherme asked for the Latino Chamber’s allocation to be increased because the chamber is relied on for Spanish-language outreach by other chambers. Commissioner Stoltzmann proposed funding that increase from the Commissioner's discretionary nonprofit funds rather than reducing other grantees’ awards. Deputy Natalie Springer confirmed a scheduled briefing that morning showed no existing pending requests that would prevent using the discretionary fund for this $5,000 allocation.

Formal action: The board approved the grant funding as recommended and approved an additional $5,000 for the Latino Chamber sourced from the commissioners’ discretionary fund for nonprofits. Staff said the additional $5,000 would not alter the amounts already listed in the grant document but would be added as a separate commission-funded allocation.

What’s next: Commissioners said they want to revisit the overall economic vitality grant budget during next year’s budget process. Staff will proceed with contract work per the approved amounts and execute the additional commission-funded allocation to the Latino Chamber.