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Redstone Historical Society pursues History Colorado grant; BOCC asked for county match and clarity on ownership
Summary
The Redstone Historical Society requested Pitkin County’s formal support for a History Colorado grant application to acquire a historic cottage and asked the county to consider a seed or matching contribution; commissioners asked staff to clarify the grant match rules and ownership and operations arrangements before committing funds.
The Redstone Historical Society told Pitkin County commissioners on March 25 that it is applying for a History Colorado grant to acquire a cottage that the society says will provide museum and program space. The society requested a resolution of support and asked the county to consider a seed or match contribution that society leaders have discussed as $200,000; staff and some commissioners questioned whether the grant program’s required 25 percent match applies to the project’s total acquisition cost or only to the grant request.
Jeff (Redstone Historical Society) said the project team has secured an owner donation and private pledges in process and that a History Colorado application is due April 1. The society and its grant advisor, Spiro (Sustainable Strategies DC), asked the board for a formal letter of support and for the board to indicate if it would provide matching funds so the society can show local commitments in the application.
Pitkin County staff noted a potential funding source: park‑dedication carry‑forward funds that currently hold roughly $730,000, and said legal and finance staff would need to confirm whether those restricted funds may be used for this acquisition. Commissioners asked several clarifying questions: whether the Redstone Historical Society would hold title if the transaction closed; whether the society has an operating plan and an endowment or operating funds for maintenance; and whether a $200,000 county challenge gift is different from the minimum local match required by History Colorado (the staff memo included an earlier reference to roughly $62,500, which appears to reflect 25 percent of only the $250,000 grant request rather than 25 percent of an $825,000 total project cost).
Staff recommended that the county authorize the society to submit the History Colorado application with the county’s support in principle while the board and staff verify legal questions about allowable funding sources and ownership; commissioners asked staff to prepare a resolution and a short form letter of support for approval at the county’s April 1 meeting and to confirm the county funding source and any appropriate restrictions before the board makes a final appropriation.
