Garfield County supports local nonprofits

Three local organizations granted a combined $180,000 for 2018

PRESS RELEASE
February 9, 2018

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners supported local nonprofits to the tune of $180,000 in grants this week. The Rifle Animal Shelter received $150,000; Community Counts Colorado was granted $20,000; and Roaring Fork Leadership (RFL) $10,000 from the nonprofit general fund.

The Rifle Animal Shelter reported a record year in the amount of pets received, taking in 1,578 animals in 2017. Heather Mullen, executive director for the shelter, told the commissioners that the average cost to care for a healthy animal is between $300 and $400. That amount includes spaying or neutering, and food, medical care and housing.

Community Counts Colorado, which promotes open communication between energy companies and the public, reported that it has 66 partners it regularly works with on the Western Slope. Nita Smith, executive director of Community Counts, said 35 issues were reported by the public in 2017, mostly from odors and trucks speeding with “Jake brakes” on.

“The calls were all handled very well, and the contractors and operators were all good to work with,” she told the commissioners.

Roaring Fork Leadership, which offers leadership and business acumen training in the community, has grown in its 30 years. Andrea Palm-Porter, executive director of the Roaring Fork Center for Community Leadership, told the commissioners that RFL empowers people to give back to the community in numerous ways. “We have people creating businesses right here in our valley, which helps out local economy,” she said. “We also have people being appointed to leadership roles in local nonprofits … this impact continues to grow more and more each year with what we’re doing.”

Thirty-four percent of RFL’s 2017 graduating academy class was from Garfield County, while 37 percent was from Pitkin County, and 24 percent in Eagle County.

All three grants were approved, 3-0.