DOLA awards $1M to Ski Hi project

DENVER– A conditional grant award of $1,000,000 for the Ski Hi Park Multi-Purpose Facility project was approved this week by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA).


In a letter to Monte Vista Mayor Dale Becker, DOLA approved the request for state Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance funds. Revenues are derived from oil, gas, carbon dioxide, coal and metals extracted in Colorado.


In a separate award, the City of Creede received a grant of $322,847 for completion of the Creede Early Learning Center expansion project from the same fund.


Both grants will be from state severance tax proceeds which may cause the cities to go to a vote to receive and spend the funds.


Both projects were reviewed by DOLA based on a variety of factors such as their connection to energy impact, degree of need, measurable outcomes, amount of request, relationship to community goals, level of local match and community support, management capacity and readiness to go.


The Ski Hi grant is conditional on the City of Monte Vista securing the remaining matching funds for this project within nine months in order to be under contract within 12 months.