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County accepts $1.3 million HUD Community Project Funding to complete animal wellness clinic build‑out
Summary
The court accepted a $1.3 million Community Project Funding award from HUD for the county animal welfare clinic buildout and confirmed a previously appropriated local cash match of $325,669.94; staff said the award will allow completion of spay/neuter and wellness capacity.
El Paso County accepted a $1.3 million Community Project Funding grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to finish buildout of the county's pet wellness clinic.
Crystal Reyes, interim director of the county Animal Welfare Department, told the court the CPF award plus a county cash match of $325,669.94 (appropriated in FY2023) will help complete the clinic and expand spay/neuter, vaccination and microchipping services. She said the award will advance the shelter medicine preparation for a later bond project and increase the county’s surgical capacity beyond current small‑scale operations at the Eastside Annex.
Commissioners asked whether the match had already been budgeted or whether it represented an additional request. Budget analyst Jessica Garza confirmed the county match was previously appropriated in FY2023 and has been reserved for this clinic project; earlier project delays were tied to federal environmental reviews and procurement timing, not to lack of funding. The department described plans to scale services and work with high‑school and university educational partners for internships and training.
A motion to accept the award was made by Commissioner O'Guin and seconded by Commissioner Coronado. The motion carried by open vote.
