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Nonprofit coalition seeks $299,000 from Grand Junction for Confluence Center at Dos Rios
Summary
Rivers Edge West and five partner nonprofits outlined a $7.8 million Confluence Center project at Dos Rios and asked the city for $299,000, saying $4.3 million is already raised and several grants and tax‑credit strategies are pending.
Rusty Lloyd, executive director of Rivers Edge West, told the City Council the Confluence Center of Colorado is a planned nonprofit‑owned facility at the Dos Rios development that would house six nonprofits and a preschool and serve as a regional hub for water, land and environmental education. “The project essentially is is going to cost about $7,800,000,” Lloyd said, and added that the group has raised about $4.3 million so far and is pursuing New Markets Tax Credits, congressional directed spending, an EPA capital grant and a state universal preschool capital grant.
Jen (one of the project co‑leads) described program plans that include a 45‑seat STREAM preschool (Science, Technology, Rivers, Engineering, Art and Math), with 30% of seats reserved for underserved children if not filled by partner employees. The consultants and presenters said the proposed site benefits from the Dos Rios development’s readiness and existing site infrastructure, and that the Confluence Center would be owned by a new nonprofit formed to operate the building with the six partners on its board.
Council members asked about timing, ownership and how the city’s contribution would fit into capital priorities. Staff told the council a supplemental appropriation would be required to fund the request and said that, if council desired, the appropriation could be scheduled as early as Wednesday for first reading. Council members spoke in favor of the project’s catalytic potential in the Dos Rios area but also raised procedural questions about fund balance and whether the city should take ownership of the asset.
Following discussion and disclosures of limited personal connections by council members, a council member moved to add the item to the next Wednesday agenda for consideration. Council direction was recorded to place the supplemental appropriation on the Wednesday agenda and, if directed later, to bring forward any related contract language for council review.
The council did not take a final funding vote during the workshop; staff will bring the supplemental appropriation and any proposed contract language to the next council meeting for formal consideration.
