Application successful from Colorado Mountain College, Garfield County Library District; Boettcher Foundation grants first matching gift
[Glenwood Springs, CO] – An innovative plan to provide community space for learning and collaboration has received a huge boost, as Colorado Mountain College and the Garfield County Public Library District learned today of their success in receiving a $750,000 capital grant from the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District. It is the largest single grant the mineral lease district has ever issued.
The successful proposal intends to build out Cooper Commons – the currently vacant space at 8th and Cooper, above the downtown Glenwood Springs Library and adjacent to the college’s central administrative offices – into a flexible, collaborative, community-focused space.
In addition to the FMLD grant, Kristin Heath Colon, CEO of the CMC Foundation, has announced a $175,000 grant from the Boettcher Foundation that will serve as the first matching gift for this project.
“The creation of Cooper Commons is an opportunity unlike any other in the Roaring Fork Valley – the chance to complete more than 13,000 square feet of space that is jointly owned and operated by CMC and Garfield County Libraries, for the common use and good of our entire community,” said Linda English, chief financial officer of Colorado Mountain College.
“In preparing the concept and design for the space, we conducted a number of community-based focus groups to invite input on the design and proposed use of this flexible space,” said Pete Waller, college-wide director of facilities. “We are excited to be able to bring those plans to life as a result of this grant and bring this value-added space to our community.”
With a focus on training, collaboration and community engagement as well as hosting the college’s ArtShare program and related exhibitions, plans call for a space that will hold up to 480 people, depending on the final configuration. The space will be tailored to meet the needs of nonprofit and public organizations. It will feature moveable walls to create rooms for a variety of group sizes, from intimate to theater-style. The entire facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology to accommodate presentations, distance learning and public meetings as well as a small kitchen for catering.
“No other space like this currently exists in our Western Slope communities. Along with the Colorado Mountain College Board of Trustees, we extend our deep thanks to the Federal Mineral Lease District, the Boettcher Foundation, the Garfield County Public Library District Board of Trustees and all of our community partners that helped us to create this unprecedented resource which we can give back to the community for shared use,” said Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, president and CEO of Colorado Mountain College.
The Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District press release announcing all grant recipients is printed below:
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO – The Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District Board of Directors today announces the following awards for its Spring 2016 Grant Cycle.
The District awards the following:
Awards in the Traditional Grant Program:
Joint Project:
Colorado Mountain College /Garfield County Public Library District Cooper Commons Meeting Space $ 750,000.00
Garfield County School District Re-2 Elk Creek Elementary Roof Replacement $ 240,000.00
Glenwood Springs, City of 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge $ 350,000.00
Parachute, Town of Rest Area Remodel $ 50,000.00
Rifle, City of Water Treatment Plant Improvements $ 400,000.00
Awards in the Mini Grant Program:
Carbondale, Town of Third Street Center Restrooms/Sewer Lines $ 25,000.00
Garfield County School District Re-2 Elk Creek Elementary Roof Replacement $ 25,000.00
Glenwood Springs, City of Downtown Planters (for DDA) $ 25,000.00
Glenwood Spgs. Rural Fire Protection Dist. Opticon Project $ 19,000.00
New Castle, Town of Public Safety Radios $ 25,000.00
Rifle, City of Manhole Leveling System $ 25,000.00
Silt, Town of Stoney Ridge Stadium Lighting $ 25,000.00
The grants awarded for the Spring 2016 Grant Cycle totaled $1,959,000.00. The grants awarded for the Traditional
Grant Program totaled $1,790,000.00. The grants awarded for the Mini Grant Program totaled $169,000.00.
The Fall 2016 Grant Cycle will begin in August with award announcements anticipated in October.