Albany County and Laramie to shift community partner application online; form to launch Jan. 2

Bailey, who presented the item, said Albany County and the City of Laramie collaborated on a revised community partner application intended to simplify the submission process and reduce paperwork. The proposal shifts the standard PDF to an online Google form that accepts attachments such as budgets and nonprofit financial statements. Bailey said the application will be released on Jan. 2 and that a fillable PDF option will be available for applicants who cannot or do not want to use Gmail.

Bailey said the city and county teams tested the form and that the rec board application was previously converted to a Google form with improved results. Commissioners suggested clarifying a question that distinguishes nonprofit types (for example, 501(c)(3) versus social clubs such as 501(c)(7)). Bailey agreed to add labels clarifying those distinctions and to have county staff (including Jennifer) review final language before release.

Bailey also noted there is a short time window to finalize materials for the January release and asked commissioners for feedback on form content. No formal vote was required at the meeting; staff will finalize wording and return if needed.

Why it matters: The change aims to streamline county grant administration, reduce applicant confusion and speed review, but staff must ensure equitable access for nonprofits with limited technology access.

Next steps: Staff will label nonprofit classification fields more clearly, keep a fillable PDF alternative for applicants without Gmail, and proceed to publish the form by Jan. 2 unless commissioners request further revisions.