PRESS RELEASE
City of Aspen 2022 Grant Program Receives 99 Applications Requesting More Than 2.3 Million Dollars
Aspen, Colo. – Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 –
With the ending of the grant application window, the City of Aspen is pleased to announce receipt of 99 applications totaling $2,359,151.75 from local non-profits serving the Roaring Fork Valley community. The city’s grants program has a total budget of $1,407,760 available for distribution. Funding requests have increased 24% over 2021, rising to $2,123,605.75 from $1,667,550.
“The Roaring Fork Valley is fortunate to have numerous non-profit agencies that better the quality of life for our community,” said Ann Mullins, Grants Steering Committee Chairperson. “The City of Aspen is privileged to be able to provide support through our grant program that helps these organizations continue the vital work they do to keep our community healthy, protect our environment, and enrich our culture.”
Non-profit organizations applied to three distinct grant programs: Arts & Culture, Community Non-profit, and Health & Human Services (HHS). For the first time, applicants for Health & Human Services applied directly to the city for grant funding instead of as an addendum to Pitkin County’s Healthy Communities fund application. This change, and other best practices have been introduced after a consultant-led review to improve the objectivity and transparency of the grant program.
Funding requests exceed available funding in the Arts & Culture and Community Non-Profit programs. In contrast, the Health & Human Services program has more funding than the number of requests received due to City Council appropriating additional monies to the HHS grants program from the local tobacco tax. The city is exploring several options to ensure that all available HHS funding is distributed to the community.
Arts & Culture:
- Total Applications – 27
- Cash Requests - $980,706.75
- In Kind Requests - $57,577
- Total Requests - $1,038,283.75
- Program Budget - $400,000
Health & Human Services:
- Total Applications – 32
- Cash Requests - $411,050
- In Kind Requests - $25,000
- Total Requests - $436,050
- Program Budget - $520,750
Community Non-Profit:
- Total Applications – 40
- Cash Requests - $731,750
- In Kind Requests - $141,468
- Total Requests - $873,218
- Program Budget - $487,010
Applications will be evaluated by volunteer review committees with a focus on non-profits that support environmentally and physically healthy communities; provide protection for our natural environment; and create opportunities for connections for all community members, through partnerships, ease of access, stewardship, arts and cultural enrichment, and innovation. Funding decisions will be announced in Spring 2022 based on an objective and thorough process.
A variety of city funds are dedicated to the grants, which contributes to our community’s diversity, vibrancy and social capital. For more information on the City of Aspen’s Grant Program, please visit aspen.gov/383/grants.
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Contacts: John Barker, Strategy and Innovation Office Management Analyst, john.barker@aspen.gov, 970.920.5716, or Alissa Farrell, Administrative Services Director, alissa.farrell@aspen.gov, 970.920.5743