Local nonprofits receive $633,000 in HSC grants

More than $840,000 in grant requests were submitted by 33 human services nonprofits

Press release
October 19, 2023

The Garfield County Human Services Commission (HSC) has announced $633,000 in grant awards for local nonprofits. The commission addresses human service needs in Garfield County through education, awareness, and interaction with stakeholders, service providers, and members of the public receiving assistance.

The grant money comes from a one-percent dedicated sales tax, which also helps fund 911 services and road and bridge projects in Garfield County. Thirty-three grant requests totaled $843,000, ranging from $10,000 to $75,000. The $633,000 in grant awards spanned from $10,000 to $52,000 between 32 recipients. Specifics on the grant awards are available online.

HSC Chairperson Sara Sims told the board that the commission membership recently voted to approve the proposed grant awards. Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky, who sits on the HSC grants committee, said that the nonprofits range countywide, and that priority is given to basic services, such as food assistance and providing shelter for those in need.

“We only had $7,000 in funds more than the year prior, so it becomes very difficult to add new programs without removing an existing one,” he said of the process. “This year, we did add Valley Settlement and Valley Meals and More to the grants program and we dropped one previous grantee down to the mini-grants level ($5,000 or less) to open up some funds.”

The HSC grants were approved by the Board of County Commissioners unanimously, 3-0.