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Aspen council hears scores of nonprofit testimonials and approves discretionary grants
Summary
Dozens of local nonprofits described how a redesigned grants process and new two-year operating and $5,000 mini-grant awards will support cultural, youth and human-service programs across the Roaring Fork Valley; the council approved the recommended grant package and related consent items by roll call.
The Aspen City Council on April 14 heard roughly an hour of public comment from nonprofit leaders and volunteers who thanked the grants steering committee and city staff for a redesigned grant review process that includes two-year operating awards and a $5,000 mini-grant pilot.
Anne Mullins, who spoke for the steering committee, said the committee has refined the application and qualification process and added programs intended to give arts and culture organizations predictability through two-year awards. "The results, I think, are terrific," Mullins said, and she thanked volunteers Judy Claussen and Tracy Anderson and city staff for their work.
Leaders from a range of organizations described how the funding would affect services. "This two-year operating grant is such a wonderful endorsement of our efforts — it's a game changer for us," said Sarah Shaw, communications manager at the Bayer Center, which received a two-year operating recommendation and invited the public to a June community exhibition. Amy Kimberly of La Clinica del Pueblo told the council her clinic has doubled patient volumes in three years and provides integrated primary and behavioral health care to uninsured residents.
Other speakers included Peter Wanders of Anderson Ranch, Brooke Bockelben of the Buddy Program, Anna Seton of Response (a new Upper Valley shelter), Grama Warr of Harvest for Hunger, and multiple youth-serving and environmental-education groups. Several speakers noted that two-year awards let organizations plan more confidently and allow small organizations to participate through the mini-grant option.
On the consent calendar the council approved the recommended nonprofit discretionary grants (Resolution 46) after a short discussion. Councilors voted to remove two items from the consent list for separate consideration (Resolution 52 and item 46) and then approved the remainder of the consent calendar. After an amendment and discussion about whether council could add a one-off mini-grant, the council approved Resolution 46 as presented; roll call recorded all five members voting yes.
The meeting also included routine board reports and announcements about upcoming community meetings and programs. The council thanked the steering committee and the many volunteers who reviewed grant applications.
