Arapahoe County moves to narrow Aid to Agencies grants to four priorities and favors data‑driven allocation

Arapahoe County commissioners reviewed a proposed redesign of the Aid to Agencies grant program that would concentrate limited county general fund dollars into four priority areas and change how safety‑net organizations are funded.

Staff said the Aid to Agencies program, created in 2008, has awarded more than $27 million to 51 nonprofit organizations across a mix of competitive grants and off‑the‑top safety‑net allocations. After pauses and reductions in 2024 tied to county budget constraints, safety‑net funding was fully reinstated by ballot issue 1A, staff said.

What staff proposed: reduce nine prior program categories to four (housing and homeless services; food assistance; mental and behavioral health and substance use services; transportation), define 'safety net' organizations as the sole providers of essential services that do not duplicate county programs, retain a $100,000 competitive cap, and make safety‑net awards two‑year commitments with an option to renew. Staff also proposed a 2026 schedule: announce the new structure in July–August, host applicant workshops, open applications through early October, present award recommendations in a November study session and ratify awards with adoption of the 2026 budget.

Funding options: staff presented two allocation approaches. Option A would split available funds equally after an off‑the‑top safety‑net set‑aside. Option B, the staff recommendation, uses a data‑informed split: after safety‑net off‑the‑top funding, allocate roughly 40% of remaining competitive funds to housing and homeless services (about $600,000), 30% to food security (about $450,000), 27% to mental/behavioral health and substance use, and 3% to transportation. Staff flagged that the 3% transportation share is small relative to need but reflected low historical application volumes in that category. Commissioners asked staff to prepare applications and two supplemental budget packages ($500,000 and $1,000,000) to show the impact of additional funding.

Board reaction and concerns: commissioners generally supported Option B and the four priority categories. Several commissioners pressed staff on equitable geographic targeting (concentrated need in Aurora), how case management and employment services would be treated (staff said those services would be eligible under the four priority categories), and whether the low proposed transportation share would meet demand for on‑demand or targeted rides for seniors, people with disabilities and low‑income workers. Staff noted that some transportation needs may be better addressed by partnership with regional providers (RTD, Denver South) and by future supplemental funding.

Next steps: staff will finalize application materials, present award recommendations in November, submit budget packages for the board’s consideration, and begin invoicing successful applicants in January if awards are ratified with the 2026 budget.