Two Salida-based Entities are on Grant List
The Colorado Creative Industries office of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, announced today the latest six recipients of the Community Revitalization Grant program. Two of the state’s six recipients have been awarded in Salida.
“We’re delighted to see the types of transformative projects across the state applying for these grants,” said Margaret Hunt, Director of Colorado Creative Industries. “The creative industries have always been a catalyst for economic development and we are seeing this through each of these funded projects.”
Established by SB21-252, the Colorado Community Revitalization Grant provides gap funding for projects in creative districts, historic districts, main streets, or neighborhood commercial centers. These grants will support creative projects that combine creative industry workforce housing, commercial spaces, performance space, community gathering spaces, child care centers, and retail partnerships for the purpose of economic recovery and diversification by supporting creative sector entrepreneurs, artisans, and community non-profit organizations.
Awards to Salida recipients include:
Chaffee Housing Authority: Jane’s Place Project
Salida, CO – $1.3 million
Jane’s Place is a unique, mixed-use development planned for a currently vacant half-acre lot located a half-mile from downtown Salida.
The development consists of four buildings that will deliver 17 rental housing units as well as a nonprofit co-working and social enterprise retail space. Jane’s Place is a community-based, mixed-use development that will be located on the southwest corner of West 3rd Street and Colorado Highway 291, in Salida, Colorado.
This 17-unit rental housing project was locally designed with input from over 20 nonprofit organizations and area employers and is intended to meet some of the unique housing needs in Chaffee County, including shorter-term leasing (three to 12 months) to accommodate seasonal employment opportunities, winter shelter for people living without housing, dedicated Human Services client units, a five-bedroom unit for Americorp Vista volunteers and affordable rent calculated at no more than 30 percent of a household’s income.
“When I think about all the collaboration that went on to make Jane’s Place a reality, the grassroots support in the community, so many talented people coming together to make it happen was wonderful,” said Mayor Pro-tem Dan Shore. “It’s incredible to see them get this additional grant money. It speaks to the innovative and creative approach they took with Jane’s Place.”
Salida Circus Outreach Foundation: Chaffee County Creativity Center
Salida, CO – $450,000
The Chaffee County Creativity Center (C4) will be home to six local businesses: Salida Circus, Colorado TINTS (theater in nontraditional spaces), Salida Music Streaming Studio, Forbidden Fruits Pies 1657, Salida Web Guy and the Chaffee County Martial Arts Collective.
“I can’t believe it — I am so excited,” said Salida Circus CEO Jennifer Dempsey, who added she was just informed of the grant award only hours before AVV got word. “After 15 years Salida Circus will have its own year-around training headquarters. I want to thank Colorado Creative Industries particularly Sarah Harrison for helping with the grant, and I want to give a big shout-out to Monty Holmes of Captain Zipline who in the 11th hour supported us, to make the Chaffee County Creativity Center a reality.”
The location of C4 is 605 Teller Street, a ranch-style live/workspace near the corner of Highway 50 and Teller Street. The property is commercially zoned (C-1) and is ideally located for local pre-school, elementary, middle, and high school students to access by walking or biking. The property will allow housing for a full-time caretaker, as well as temporary housing for visiting artists, employees, etc.
“How wonderful it is to have people like Jennifer Dempsey in the community working on initiatives like this,” said Shore. “Ultimately what makes this community successful is when we have strong grassroots activists working on solutions and this is a great example of that.”
Other awards across the state:
- Fox West Theater Rehabilitation: Trinidad, CO – $3.4 million
- Full Plate Management LLC or affiliated entity: Fuel & Iron Project Pueblo, CO – $1 million
- RiNo Art Park Project: Denver, CO – $1.25 million
- The Commons at Space to Create Trinidad Project: Trinidad, CO – $1.55 million
These six projects join the first four that were announced last week: Wonderbound in Northeast Park Hill, FreshLo in Montbello, the St. Cloud Hotel in Cañon City, and Space to Create Ridgway.
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works with partners to create a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth. Under the leadership of Governor Jared Polis, it offers a host of programs and services tailored to support business development at every level including business retention services, business relocation services, and business funding and incentives. Learn more at oedit.colorado.gov.
Featured image: A Salida Circus New Years’ performance with a pirate theme. Courtesy photo.
Recent Comments