CKLECC is the Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Lincoln Counties Early Childhood Council. The Early Childhood Council works to improve and sustain the availability, accessibility, capacity and quality of early childhood services for children and families in the counties of Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Lincoln. The Council focuses on three domains of early childhood: Family Support & Education Health & Well-Being Learning & Development Recognizing that children are impacted by positive early childhood experiences, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Lincoln Counties will strive for children and families to be healthy, well-educated, and part of a caring community that values people at every stage of their life. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive, high-quality, coordinated, and accessible system of support through collaborative community partnerships and resources for all children and families to ensure they are healthy and thriving as part of a caring community.

The State of Kansas and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, sharing a desire to enhance housing opportunities in rural Northwest Kansas, recently established a roadmap to effectively assist with housing development. This joint venture, known as “Kansas Housing Cooperative” (KHC), was awarded $4 million when the Kansas Legislature passed a budget for fiscal year 2025, which began in July, as part of a total provision to transfer $7.3 million from special revenue funds to the Northwest Kansas Housing Economic Development Fund. The KHC program will target a cumulative fund of $12,000,000 to be established and distributed over a four year period — with the State of Kansas, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, and local investment each contributing $4 million. With a total housing investment of $12M, the KHC program aims to incentivize development of approximately 160 single family homes and 85 apartments across Northwest Kansas. For the Eastern Colorado Bank Giving Back grant, Wallace County Community Development respectively requests $10,000 to serve as local investment for the KHC program, to effectively assist in incentivizing new home construction in Wallace County.

Wallace County Community Development is focused on projects and activities that promote improvement and positive change for the residents and businesses of Wallace County, Kansas, providing a wide range of resources and services to all communities in Wallace County.

Wallace County Community Development, while housed within the local county government, currently does not have a direct allocation for project funding, and therefore must seek out grant funding and other sources to accomplish specific projects as the arise. WCCD will benefit from the sponsorship by having funds ready for the Kansas Housing Cooperative program.

The local investment of $10,000 being request in the application will provide enough match to incentivize the build of approximately one single family home or two apartments in Wallace County through the KHC program. The Kansas Housing Cooperative opportunity has several beneficial outcomes, going far beyond just providing housing. It provides for the creation of personal wealth (equity build up through homeownership) and community wealth (tax base). For rural communities to survive they need to continually build their tax base, so the property tax burden does not fall on only a few residents. Single family homeownership is a stabilizing force for rural communities.

Kit Carson Rural Development is respectfully requesting help with gap funding in the construction of two 1,258 square foot 2 story, 2 bed 1.5 bath affordable housing units in a brand-new duplex to be built by Big Sandy Builders out of Limon, CO. This project is shovel-ready and is scheduled to start early August 2024. This duplex will be built on a lot in Kit Carson that KCRD purchased from the Town in May 2024. These two units will be rented, or sold, to low-income individuals or families. The Project has a total estimated cost of $602,000. KCRD is contributing $255,500 along with an interest only loan of $300,000 that has been secured from Cheyenne County. We are seeking grant funding to cover the remainder of this estimated cost. This duplex is part of an ongoing initiative aimed at building more affordable housing in our community.

KCRD would benefit greatly from this sponsorship, allowing us to fill the gap we have in our funding, and allowing us to build a duplex that will have two affordable housing units. This duplex project will help us meet our Proposition 123 goal of building one affordable housing unit per year for the next three years, and increasing the amount of rental housing units in the town of Kit Carson, which currently has no housing available for rent.

This sponsorship will help with the long-term survival of our community. Kit Carson is a small, rural town of roughly 250 residents. This sponsorship will help KCRD build more affordable housing in our town, allowing us to provide a decent living space for people in our community and hopefully attract members from outside our community. A housing inventory completed earlier this year revealed that 22% of the housing in Kit Carson is abandoned, dilapidated, and uninhabitable. It is clear there is a pressing need for more housing. KCRD has have been successful in creating affordable housing in the past. With a potential restaurant, new potential gas station\truck stop, and one of the largest wind farms in North America being built north of Kit Carson later this year, having more affordable housing will help the town capitalize on these and other growth opportunities. This will increase the chances of long-term survival of our community, allowing KCRD to revitalize and sustain our hometown

Downtown Limon, as a part of Colorado Mainstreet is working on plans to revitalize the downtown business community. One of the first projects is to upgrade current E Avenue public benches, and add picnic tables, awnings, benches and trash cans to be placed from Wendy’s to the stop light at Highway 24 junction. The purpose of the benches and tables is to provide a more walkable and inviting experience for residents and visitors. This is part of “Love Where You Live” and “Turquoise Tables” Initiatives. $3000 in funding has been received from the Lincoln County Tourism Board to date. The $25,000 project will move forward incrementally as funding is available.

Downtown Limon was designated as a Colorado Mainstreet Community in the fall of 2023 after two years of preparation during the application process. The purpose of Downtown Limon is to revitalize the business community and make it more successful. The non-profit is governed by a nine member board of directors that was chosen from business, government, and community leaders.

The PLACE serves youth, ages 15-24, experiencing homelessness in Colorado Springs. Our vital programs help hundreds of homeless and runaway youth in the Pikes Peak region take steps toward leaving the dangers of the street so they can stabilize with dependable housing, improve their self-sufficiency, and restore their health and self-worth: Emergency Youth Shelter, Street Outreach, Drop-in Center, and Housing Services. The PLACE’s primary strategy is to intervene in the lives of homeless and runaway youth and address the neglect, abuse, and trauma they endured to prevent further harm, lessen their long-term risks, and reduce their overall likelihood of becoming homeless adults. Youth need age-appropriate, trauma-informed interventions and support to overcome these barriers and gain self-sufficiency. While other agencies in the community assist adults and families experiencing homelessness, The PLACE alone provides secular, wraparound programming and services exclusively for youth experiencing homelessness in the Pikes Peak region.

The PLACE has operated a 20-bed shelter for homeless youth aged 15-20 for decades. Youth are assigned a case manager who supports them while navigating through both The PLACE and other community services. For youth over 21 or those who are not comfortable with the shelter environment, The PLACE has a Street Outreach team that frequents the areas where homeless youth stay, building relationships and breaking down trust barriers. The Outreach team is equipped with vital supplies – from clean socks to HIV testing – to respond to the immediate needs of the youth they encounter. The Outreach Team also staffs The Drop-In Center, which opened as an independent location in December of 2021. It serves as an access point for services, a respite from the harsh realities of the street, and a source of community and connection. In addition to the shelter and outreach programs, The PLACE operates four housing programs, which vary in duration and case management support depending on youth needs. Overwhelmingly, youth we serve express their greatest need as housing assistance. The Launchpad is a new 50-unit permanent supportive apartment home community for young adults as young as 18 through their mid-20s. Residents will sign a 1-year lease, with the option to renew at the end of the term. The elements that are described above and woven throughout all of our current programs will be the foundation of the wrap-around services The PLACE will provide at The Launchpad, which is set to open in late 2024. All program services at The PLACE build on engaging youth in trusting interactions to promote their social and emotional wellbeing, while addressing the profound and lasting impact of trauma. We use evidence-based models of care, including trauma- informed care, positive youth development, motivational interviewing, and stages of change. All staff receive training in these approaches and receive supervision to ensure fidelity to the models.

Special Kids Special Families (SKSF) is a non-profit organization that formed in response to the limited resources available to support individuals with emotional, cognitive, and physical disabilities and their caregivers. SKSF first opened the Zach's Place Center in 1998, a care facility for children with disabilities. Since then, SKSF has expanded its reach by developing a therapeutic foster care program, day programs for adults with disabilities, adult foster care, emergency respite, behavioral health program. and more. In recent years, elements have been added to increase the benefit to clients and caregivers, for example, transportation to and from programs, a staff RN to address medical needs, and community resource referrals for caregivers. We are celebrating 25 years of serving the Pikes Peak region and looking ahead to 25 more and beyond!

Individuals with disabilities and their caregivers have unique needs. Our programs exist to meet those needs and allow for the inclusion, integration, and support of individuals with disabilities and their families. We assist not only the person with the disability, but also their caregivers. We know that caregiving is often isolating, overwhelming, and can cause financial hardships. By offering services on a sliding scale to families from low income backgrounds, and by providing transportation to those whose needs preclude general transportation options, we become a lifeline to families without other resources. Our purpose is to address their full range of needs.

Rocky Mountain Inclusive Connections (RMIC) would greatly appreciate any grant from ECB to help our organization provide skills to young adults with special needs to gain employment, progress in their independence and workshops to the families & young adults of special needs to continue self advocacy, planning, and safety skills. We would like to have bike safety skills, cooking classes, job development skills, social skills/events to aid in these young adults becoming more functioning in society. Our dream is to one day have a building that is all in one with PT,OT, ST, ABA therapy , mentors/job coaches, mock apartment living for personal care skills and education center to provide money management skills, planning , job training & more!

Our mission at Rocky Mountain Inclusive Connections (RMIC), is to support individuals with disabilities physically, emotionally, and spiritually. RMIC will help them find self-worth and support them in gaining independence by teaching basic life skills, social skills, and skills for the workforce. RMIC will provide a safe space to come and socialize and grow in skills and abilities. We will provide opportunities for meaningful training to help this community thrive and become capable and productive members of society. And finally, we will achieve these things with love, understanding, and acceptance for all.

Greccio Housing is a community housing development organization in Colorado Springs, and their mission is to provide stable, safe, and affordable housing, offer resources for residents to achieve stability, and promote solutions to the affordable housing needs of our community. In 1990, Greccio’s Founder Claudia Deats-Rodgers had a dream of improving the quality of life for people in need of affordable rental housing. Greccio’s first property, 321 N Weber St, has only 9 units and is still one of our properties. Greccio has grown to 599 apartments and 1,000 residents across dozens of properties in El Paso and Teller Counties. Housing stability is provided through lower rents, access to a variety of services, guidance, community events, educational workshops, and ongoing assistance that helps residents on their path toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Greccio is committed to leading the charge in meeting the needs of our community through the revitalization and development of affordable multifamily properties. Most recently, indicative of Greccio’s success in expanding operations to meet the community’s need for affordable housing, Greccio took over management of Valley View apartments which added an additional 24 units to its portfolio.

General operating funds will help Greccio sustain its operations and simultaneously lay the foundation on which it can achieve the following organizational goals: Affordable Housing • Increase the housing developments owned and managed by Greccio • Increase housing developments owned by a third party and managed by Greccio • Increase the property management through leasing and maintenance Resident Resources • Improve the frequency and availability of existing Resident Resources • Respond to changing community needs by adding additional Resident Resources (ongoing) Community/Advocacy • Leverage the name and reputation of Greccio Housing through media and press releases • Increase the number of grants applied for and secured • Increase individual donors and giving In the coming year, Greccio plans to construct Centerpoint Apartments, an affordable housing complex on the site of our current administration building.

Brothers Redevelopment, Inc (BRI) respectfully requests support for our Paint-A-Thon (PAT) program in the Pikes Peak region. The PAT program delivers essential services including exterior home painting, minor repairs, and yard maintenance for low-income homeowners aged 60 and above, as well as those with disabilities. The cost of painting a home’s exterior can exceed $5,000 – a prohibitive expense for individuals on fixed incomes. Our programs address this need by mobilizing dedicated volunteer groups from March through October each year to provide these services at no cost to the homeowners. To ensure the successful delivery of PAT services, we actively recruit civic-minded volunteers committed to enhancing the lives of low-income seniors and disabled individuals. Our PAT staff meticulously coordinates with homeowners in need, volunteer teams, and ensures the provisions of necessary materials and additional labor to facilitate the Paint-A-Thon. Through collaborative effort, we strive to create a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable community members, improving their quality of life and maintaining the integrity of their homes.

Founded in 1971, Brothers Redevelopment, Inc (BRI) is driven by a mission to provide essential housing repairs for low-income households in Southwest Denver. This commitment has fostered a strong sense of volunteerism and community spirit, united by the common goal of assisting neighbors with home painting, vital health and safety repairs, and connections to services that enhance their quality of life and enable long-term residency. This mission has been integral to our operations for over 50 years, and it continues to shape our work at every level of the organization. Today, BRI serves over 40,000 individuals annually through housing provision and various housing programs. Our primary service areas include Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, and El Paso counties. In recent years, our services have expanded statewide, addressing housing challenges faced by many of Colorado’s 64 counties.