The Colorado Department of Local Affairs awarded a total of $64.94 million for 82 projects across Colorado, including projects benefiting Montezuma and La Plata counties.
These grants are from the Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund, which was formed to “assist political subdivisions (as defined in statute) that are socially and/or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels,” according to a news release from Aug. 8.
The Southwest Colorado Council of Governments received $999,999 for equipment for connecting to carrier neutral locations across southwest Colorado, including Cortez, Mancos, Durango and Bayfield. Carrier neutral locations are locations that facilitate broadband deployment that are independent of any carrier. The project aims to enhance bandwidth and network reliability.
Cortez has a completed carrier neutral location called 2210 Cortez that serves all Four Corners states. According to the website, it is an “ideal data center for companies looking for co-location facilities, data storage, disaster recovery and points of presence in, and around, Cortez, Colorado.”
Mancos will have a similar site in the future, according to the Colorado Broadband Office’s list of carrier neutral locations. The list also names Durango LPC as an in-progress site.
Durango was awarded $640,000 from the Main Street LIVE initiative for street improvements downtown. These improvements will include Americans with Disabilities Act compliant features, landscaping, sidewalks and lighting improvements, and updates to pedestrian amenities, according to the release.
The Main Street LIVE initiative was started to aid communities with downtown revitalization. It is a Main Street America Coordinating Program, which helps over 1,200 communities across the country and is networked with over 40 coordinating programs.
“These grants invest in projects which have significant impact for Coloradans in both rural and urban areas of our state,” said Maria De Cambra, executive director of the Department of Local Affairs. “Funding these projects enhances livability in our Colorado communities through housing, resiliency efforts and energy impacts.”
This money was awarded during the 43rd grant cycle. The last cycle funded initiatives like More Housing Now, Climate Resilience Challenge and Main Street LIVE, according to the release.
For more information about the Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant, visit https://dlg.colorado.gov/energy-mineral-impact-assistance-fund-grant-eiaf.
