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Council approves nonprofit grants after public objections over cuts to local media and cultural programs
Summary
After public comment flagged steep cuts to Aspen Public Radio and lower awards for Indigenous and BIPOC organizations, Aspen City Council pulled Resolution 48 from consent, heard a staff presentation, and approved the grants recommendations while agreeing to a future work session to review funding philosophy and equity concerns.
The Aspen City Council approved Resolution 48 on April 8, adopting the city’s nonprofit grant funding recommendations after a lengthy public comment period that included appeals from local media and culturally focused organizations.
Breeze Richardson, executive director of Aspen Public Radio, told the council the station had been recommended for $27,500 this year but said city support has “dropped nearly 75%,” amounting to “over $70,000 less in annual funding” compared with past levels. Richardson said the reduction undermined the station’s role as a daily local news source and as the city’s redundant emergency communications channel.
City staff and volunteers defended the grants process. Alyssa Farrell, the city’s administrative services director, described a multi-layered evaluation that uses a rubric and volunteer steering committees to score applications; she said the city had added a cultural vibrancy pilot fund and that applications scoring below 3 (on a 0–5 scale) received no award. Farrell said staff would bring more information and suggested a summer work session to review the grants philosophy and funding allocations.
Several public commenters pressed the council on equity. Sahari Simmons, representing Roaring Fork Show Up, said her BIPOC-focused nonprofit had been “recommended for $0” and asked for clearer feedback and support pathways; Diane Vitra Kessler of the Aspen Indigenous Foundation said the group’s award fell from $33,000 four years ago to $8,000 this year, a $25,000 reduction that threatened future programming.
Council members acknowledged those concerns and voiced support for a follow-up work session. After discussion, Councilor Guth moved approval of Resolution 48; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote with Councilors Doyle, Guth, Hauenstein, Rose and Mayor Tory recorded as voting yes.
Council members also discussed possible additional allocations from dedicated funds (arts and culture, tobacco-tax HHS funds, and discretionary community nonprofit funds) and signaled interest in exploring whether the overall grant pool should increase. Staff said it will return with details about the rubric, historic award levels, and recommendations for a work session to examine equity and funding strategy.
The council’s action leaves existing awards in place for 2025 while committing to further review of the grants program’s structure and funding sources.
