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Local Works asks Wheat Ridge for $377,200 to continue events, expand makerspace supports and launch business grants
Summary
Local Works requested $377,200 for 2027 — $327,200 for general operations and $50,000 for a new open business grant program — and outlined makerspace growth, diversity of revenue sources and plans for a Creative Commons studio expansion.
Local Works Executive Director Paige Piper presented the nonprofit’s 2027 funding request to the Wheat Ridge City Council on Aug. 3, asking the city for a total of $377,200: $327,200 for general operations (roughly matching the prior year) plus $50,000 to seed an open business‑grant program for local businesses.
Piper summarized 2026 accomplishments, including RidgeFest (about 2,900 attendees), more than 64,000 visits to the Clear Creek Makerspace since it opened, and expanded business corridor work (Ridgid 38 branding and Explore 44 signage). She described a Creative Commons expansion to provide about 13 rentable studio spaces (estimated cost $325,000) and said Local Works is not requesting city funds for that capital cost. "The request that we are asking for tonight is a total of $377,200," Piper said.
The $50,000 business-grant idea would be an open, rolling‑deadline program intended to help small businesses with a variety of needs — from marketing to equipment — that are hard to finance through traditional loans. Piper said Local Works will run the program with a board‑appointed review committee and invited council participation through mayoral appointments.
Council members praised diversification of Local Works’ revenue (currently about 39% city funding versus 99% previously), asked about sustainability if private grants decline, and discussed program design choices such as whether pooled services (e.g., a retained communications firm) might be more cost‑effective than many small individual grants. Piper said the organization has prepared governance, reporting and contingency plans for grant administration.
