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Pueblo County commissioners weigh sponsorship requests from local nonprofits
Summary
County commissioners reviewed funding requests from local nonprofits and arts groups, including a $10,000 request from Mount Carmel Veterans Service Center and multiple smaller requests; commissioners generally favored keeping contributions flat at prior-year levels and discussed reimbursements and ticket allocations.
County commissioners reviewed a series of sponsorship requests from local nonprofit organizations during the Jan. 7 work session, discussing amounts requested, prior-year contributions and whether to reimburse organizations for expenses already incurred.
Tommy Farrell presented the packet of requests to the commissioners, saying the first request was from the Mount Carmel Veterans Service Center for $10,000 to sponsor the Salute to Heroes event planned for Thursday. Farrell said the veterans group planned to have a county table and that Heather Cornell from the veteran service office intended to attend. Commissioners noted the timing and discussed that the county could cover the cost of a table (Farrell said the table was $1,500 last year) or reimburse a smaller amount; one commissioner said, "I wouldn't be good with $10,000," and several suggested reducing the county share to about $1,000 or covering the table cost as reimbursement.
Commissioners discussed several other requests from organizations that the board has funded previously: - Steelworks Center of the West: last year the board contributed $1,000; this year's sponsorship request in the packet was not clearly itemized for a table, and commissioners discussed instead buying a small number of tickets (one commissioner proposed six tickets). - Damon Runyon Days (a scholarship program for CSU Pueblo students): last year $500; this year the request was $1,000. Commissioners discussed ticket and table pricing (a table of eight listed at $750, individual tickets $85) and generally favored matching last year’s contribution or buying several tickets for staff/commission use. - Latino Chamber annual dinner and awards: last year $1,000; this year’s request was $1,100 for a table of 10 (individual tickets $110). Commissioners agreed they preferred to purchase fewer seats (about six) rather than a full table. - Pueblo Food Project Sun Soil Water Summit (in partnership with CSU Extension): last year $1,000; request this year $2,000. Commissioners said they value the program and favored keeping the county’s contribution at $1,000. - Pueblo West Metro Summer Concert Series: last year $500; packet request $2,500 (gold-level sponsorship). Commissioners were comfortable keeping funding flat at $500 and noted the event receives other sponsorships. - Kick*** Film Fest (72-hour film festival): last year $500; this year’s ask $1,000. Commissioners said they would be comfortable contributing at least $500.
Throughout the discussion commissioners repeatedly signaled preference for "flat" funding—matching prior-year contributions where possible—citing a tight county budget. Several commissioners suggested purchasing a limited number of tickets (often six) and passing unused tickets to staff rather than buying full tables. Farrell said he would follow up with the organizations about seat/table costs and return with specifics if needed.
The commissioners did not take a final, formal vote on each sponsorship request during the work session; they provided informal direction to staff to pursue reimbursements or smaller ticket packages where appropriate and to return with more detail.
The discussion on sponsorships concluded after Farrell summarized the items he had presented.
