Adams County awards $800,000 in Community Enrichment Grants to 21 nonprofits

The Adams County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23 approved a resolution awarding community enrichment grants totaling $800,000 to 21 local nonprofits.

The grants come from the county’s Community Enrichment Grant Program and were recommended by the Community Enrichment Grant Advisory Committee. The county received 76 applications requesting more than $5,400,000; after review the committee recommended 21 awards, which the board approved by voice vote (passed 3-0 with two commissioners absent).

The county introduced a three-tier funding model this year to support basic needs and stabilization (Tier 1), regional and systemic impact projects (Tier 2), and innovation and emerging needs (Tier 3). Tier 1 awardees named during the meeting included Precious Child ($40,000) for a program providing clothing, hygiene and food for children and caregivers; Boys & Girls Clubs ($25,000) to support after-school programs in high-need clubs; CASA of Adams and Broomfield Counties ($40,000) for volunteer advocacy; Center for People with Disabilities ($25,000) for independent living services; Food Bank of the Rockies ($25,000) for four mobile pantries; Food for Hope ($40,000) for school-based child-hunger relief; Justice Center for the People Legal Center ($30,000) for tenant legal advocacy; Kids First Health Center ($55,000) for pediatric services in school and community clinics; Kids in Need of Dentistry ($25,000) for oral-health expansion; Little Giants Learning Center ($25,000) for tuition assistance; and Maker Housing Partners ($25,000) for wraparound stabilization services, among others.

Tier 2 awards highlighted regional and systemic impact funding, including CrossPurpose ($100,000) for participation in a six-month workforce development program and Westminster Public Schools ($100,000) to expand an advanced manufacturing pathway at the Iver C. Ranom Innovation Campus (as presented to the board).

Tier 3 (innovation and emerging needs) awards included a pilot program for justice-involved youth (presented as a $40,000 award), a community tattoo-removal project ($10,000) for youth ages 16–24, and the Youth Empowerment Agency ($50,000) to expand services in Commerce City and nearby neighborhoods.

Commissioners thanked grantees and advisory committee members by name at the presentation. County staff invited representatives to the front to receive certificates and take a group photo after the awards were announced.

The board’s formal approval of the resolution was taken before the presentations and recorded as passing 3-0 with two commissioners absent. The county described the awards as intended to “strengthen the health, welfare, and quality of life of Adams County residents” by supporting basic needs, long-term stability and services for vulnerable residents.

Several award amounts, recipient program names and spelling for some organizations were read into the record at the meeting; the grant program summary presented by county staff listed the total applications, requested amount and total awarded as described above.