Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Disaster Recovery topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State, county and federal funds have accelerated Marshall Fire rebuilding but gaps remain
Summary
Officials updated the committee on Marshall Fire recovery: about 1,084 homes destroyed, roughly 82% with building permits as of March 31, and a state‑led gap‑financing program using SB 202206 funds and a $12M CDBG‑DR award that prioritized forgivable loans for low‑income households and mitigation incentives.
Deputy Director Dave Bowman of the Department of Local Affairs briefed the Wildfire Matters Review Committee on the state’s Marshall Fire recovery program and the mix of funding used to accelerate rebuilding.
Bowman said the disaster was heavily housing‑centric — an estimated 1,084 homes destroyed across about 6,000 acres — and the department worked with Boulder County, Superior and Louisville to create a rapid housing recovery program. State funding (authorized in recent legislation) and a $12 million federal CDBG‑DR award allowed DOLA to stand up a gap‑financing program that offered forgivable loans to households below 80% AMI and low‑interest loans for higher incomes; the program also provided a modest mitigation incentive grant.
As of March 31, Bowman reported approximately 82% of destroyed homes had building permits and certificate‑of‑occupancy tracking showed many homeowners already returning to rebuilt homes. The department emphasized mitigation investments: roughly 30% of program dollars were used for mitigation activities tied to rebuilding, and the state coordinated energy rebates through the Colorado Energy Office.
Why it matters: rapid access to gap funding and demolition/clearing accelerated rebuilding timelines and reduced delays that often follow federal disaster allocations. Bowman highlighted that multimodal funding (state up‑front financing plus later federal swaps) shortened launch time and contracted community partners to manage grants, income verification and mitigation incentives.
Next steps: DOLA will continue quarterly reporting, monitor outstanding permitting gaps, and explore retrofit and mitigation programs to reduce vulnerability before future disasters.
