To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces
Prepared By:
prepared
Sandra Bottoms, Grants Administrator, Open Spaces
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Subject:
title
2024 Open Space Grant Awards
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Request that the BOCC adopt a resolution approving the 2024 Open Space Grant Awards, funding nine standard grants, one small grant, and six planning grants totaling $5,493,576 as presented on the attached 2024 Open Space Grants ranking sheet. The BOCC heard this item in a study session on July 1, 2024.
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Background and Discussion: In accordance with the Arapahoe County Open Space Resolution, 12% of Open Space Sales and Use Tax revenue is invested in Arapahoe County communities through a grants program. Each year, incorporated municipalities and special districts that provide outdoor recreation services are invited to submit proposals for eligible open space, park, and trail projects. An evaluation team made up of OSTAB members and County staff review the grant applications and make recommendations to the BOCC regarding the approval, conditional approval, or denial of each application. Since 2005, the County has invested over $57 million in grant funding in 278 projects throughout the County.
In September 2023, the BOCC approved an allocation of $5.5 million for the 2024 grant cycle.
This year, 12 agencies submitted a total of 18 grant proposals (10 standard grants, two small grants, and six planning grants) requesting a total of $5,797,138, with total matching funds of over $4.5 million.
After an initial staff review to confirm eligibility, a team of evaluators consisting of five OSTAB members and six County staff members reviewed the applications, participated in site visits and evaluator meetings, and individually ranked the grant proposals. Ranking criteria included project scope, need and urgency, matching funds provided, user benefits, the applicant's ability to complete the project on time...
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