DLG Director Tony Hernandez Visits Solar Installation Project in Carbondale

During a recent visit to the Crystal Meadows Senior Housing Complex in Carbondale, DLG's director, Tony Hernandez, was treated to a firsthand look at solar paneling that will help generate 15 percent of the electricity to power Crystal Meadows' electrical needs.

The project was funded in part by a $86,929 Energy and Mineral Impact grant to Garfield County through the New Energy Communities Initiative.  The Initiative was launched in 2008 by Governor Bill Ritter and is designed to maximize energy efficiency and conservation, enhance community livability, promote economic development, and address climate change by reducing carbon emissions.  Garfield County is one of 14 recipients that received nearly $10 million toward regional, collaborative efforts to save money, save energy and create jobs.

Hernandez joined Joani Matranga of the Governor's Energy Office, Scott Ely of Sunsense, Jeff Dickinson Mike Ogburn and Rob Morey of the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative (G-NECI), Patrick Johnson of Solar Flair and Alice Laird of Clean Energy Economy for the Region, for a tour of the solar array that will be powering the complex.

About his visit, Hernandez said, "I really appreciate the opportunity to see firsthand how DOLA's investments are improving people's lives.  I am honored that I was able to meet with our partners in this important endeavor.  Garfield County is a great example of a community committed to sustainability and I look forward to hearing about their future progress and accomplishments."

DOLA's Greg Winkler Working with Town of Minturn to Stimulate Downtown Business

Greg Winkler, DOLA Regional Manager for the Northern Mountains, has been working with the Town of Minturn’s citizens, local officials and business community to identify strategies for stimulating its downtown business corridor.

Winkler has been working with the community as part of DOLA’s Colorado Revitalization Partnership (CRP) program, which helps communities identify the best steps to implement to invigorate their downtowns. The CRP program is a partnership between DOLA and Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI).

About his experience working with Minturn, Winkler said, "Minturn is going through what many Colorado communities are experiencing in their downtown areas. I've really enjoyed working with the citizens as they map out a plan that will help their downtown businesses thrive. The CRP process is a great tool DOLA can offer to communities ready to move forward with their downtown economic development efforts.”

While funding is key to helping communities reach many of their goals, the technical assistance DOLA offers throughout the CRP process is critical to making sure communities have identified their strengths, their challenges and the resources available to them.

To read more about Minturn’s downtown revitalization efforts:

BusinessBriefs.net (Vol. 4, Number 8, May 27 - June 24, 2010)
“Minturn trying to kick-start events”


Town of Minturn’s Downtown Planning presentation

Department of Local Affairs Announces more than $3 Million Awarded to Communities Impacted by Gaming

Susan Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, announced that $3,201,002 in Local Government Limited Gaming Impact Funds has been awarded to projects located in nine counties throughout the state. The counties that received funding are Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Fremont, Gilpin, Jefferson, La Plata, Montezuma and Teller.

Kirkpatrick said, “The Colorado Department of Local Affairs is committed to assisting local communities that have seen dramatic impacts caused by gaming. The impact of gaming on local law enforcement, healthcare systems and roads is clear. I am pleased we are able to participate in this state and local partnership to ensure services vital to these communities receive funding.”

The Local Government Limited Gaming Impact Program, administered by the Division of Local Government, was created in statute in 1997 to provide financial assistance to local governments in addressing documented gaming impacts stemming from limited stakes gaming in the communities of Cripple Creek, Black Hawk and Central City. Limited stakes gaming has been in existence in these communities since voter approval in 1990. The Program is financed with a portion of state taxes on limited gaming activities in these municipalities.

Click here for information about the funded projects.

For more information about the Gaming Impact program, click here.

Budget 101 Trainings Offered Throughout the State and Online

DLG staff members Jarrod Biggs and David Keyser will be working in conjunction with the Colorado Government Finance Officer's Association (CGFOA ) to provide a Budget 101 course in a number of locations throughout the state (and via the web!).

The workshops are designed primarily for any first, second, or third year local government budgeters, but are open to all. The workshops will cover the basic statutory budget requirements, deadlines, certification of mill levies, revenue limitations and more. A CGFOA member also will be on hand to discuss their experiences in the context of budgeting. The workshops also will feature a presentation from the State Demography Office on state economic and demographic trends and their impact on budgeting.

Workshops are being held in Montrose, Frisco, Greeley, and Colorado Springs.

DOLA will be providing a Basic Statutory Requirements and Demography workshop via webinar on August 24 and 26 at 10 a.m. If you would like to take part in the webinar please contact Jarrod Biggs of DOLA’s Division of Local Government at jarrod.biggs@state.co.us, or (303) 866-4493.

Windsor Town Hall Renovation Celebrated

Governor Bill Ritter recently visited Windsor to help celebrate the completion of the Town Hall renovation. The $3,058,243 project was made possible through a collaborative effort that included an Energy and Mineral Impact grant from DOLA for $859,402 and a grant through the New Energy Communities initiative for $75,000.

The Windsor Town Hall is a great example of re-use of an existing building. Damaged in the Windsor tornado that struck on May 22, 2008, the building has gone through repairs to its roof, construction of an elevator, renovation of its third floor and energy efficiency improvements.

Coverage of the event can be found at:
Town Hall renovations unveiled
Windsor Now
07.25.10

Windsor christens town hall
The Coloradoan
07.23.10

Windsor town hall renovations unveiled; Gov Ritter attends ceremony
Windsor Tribune
07.23.10

DOLA's Clay Brown Key to Victor Revitalization

If you have not had an opportunity to read the May 29 article highlighting DOLA's own, Clay Brown, for his instrumental role in working with the City of Victor, please be sure to take a look at the Colorado Springs Gazette article at:

Victor revitalization is an act of "godsend"

Great job, Clay!

Planning Commissioner Training, Saturday, August 7th (8:30 a.m. - 3p.m. in Denver)

Time is running out! Register as soon as possible at http://www.drcog.org/training/dsp_viewClasses.cfm
(you may need to copy the URL and paste it into your browser)

The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and the Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association, is offering an exclusive workshop for local government planning commissioners. This day-long workshop is committed to providing both newly appointed and seasoned planning commissioners with information to help them in the essential job they perform in their communities. Following a plenary session on new federal sustainability initiatives, workshop attendees have the opportunity to choose between two diverse tracks: (1) Planning Commissioner Training - providing information on the roles, responsibilities and fundamentals of being a planning commissioner, and (2) Special Topics - including one session on regional planning and a second session introducing and highlighting the relationship between public health and planning. See you there!

(more information on upcoming workshops will be coming soon... until then check APA Colorado's website for training opportunities for planners and planning commissioners at http://www.apacolorado.org/?q=content/events
(and don't forget the APA Co annual conference, October 6-9th in Steamboat!).

Sustainable Main Streets Initiative Update

Since Governor Ritter signed Executive Order D2010-007 on April 28, the Sustainable Main Streets Initiative has been making good progress. The Initiative outlines a collaborative, integrated process among state agencies, local communities, non-profits and the private sector to leverage technical and existing financial resources to help communities enhance the sustainability of their downtowns. Four Colorado communities are participating as pilots for the Initiative: Five Points Neighborhood of Denver, Town of Fowler, City of Monte Vista and City of Rifle.

Pilot community members, state agencies and foundation partners met July 1 at a workshop focused on identifying financial and technical resource opportunities. Governor Ritter also met with pilot community Champions and others to discuss progress on their efforts and listen to their experiences so far. Each of the pilot communities has identified specific sustainable outcomes they are working toward, such as increased use of renewable energy, reduced number of vacant storefronts, disaster-readiness enhancement and increased volunteer opportunities, to name a few.

New Faces at DLG

Meet Dianne Rogers

For some, Dianne Rogers may be a familiar face.

Mom to12-year-old Sevé (sounds like “Sev-ay”), Dianne is a former employee of DOLA where she worked 13 years in various divisions; Housing, Executive Director’s Office and Field Services. Her final six years with DOLA were with the Economic Development Commission (EDC).

She left EDC to become a stay-at-home mom, volunteering at her son’s school and with the March of Dimes. She also is a part-time massage therapist at the Colorado Athletic Club.

Dianne and her husband, Ken, have called southeast Denver home for about 15 years.

DOLA is fortunate to have Dianne back lending her expertise and her knack for great customer service to DLG’s reception area.




Meet Doug Foreman

Doug Foreman will be with DOLA until November 10 on temporary assignment helping out with the Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG).

Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Doug has lived in Colorado since 1985.

A classically trained pianist, Doug teaches piano and writes classical- and jazz-inspired music in his spare time. He is a creative writer and has sold a couple of plays and is currently working on his third.

His travels often take him to New York and to Florida, where his parents reside.