Thank you to the Big Sandy Fire Protection District, Limon Area Fire Protection District and the Hugo Fire Protection District for doing such an incredible job with the wildfire south of Limon, Colorado on February 17, 2026. They all worked together with County Bridge & Road Crews and local area Farmers to put our the fire and save structures on that terribly windy day!

Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium (EPHC) will use the $10,000 grant funds from Eastern Colorado Bank Giving Back – Looking Forward grant program to support scholarship funding for rural healthcare professionals to attend the EPHC Annual Conference in August 2026. The EPHC Annual Conference is a critical convening of leaders, clinicians, and innovators from rural hospitals across Eastern Colorado. As independent Critical Access Hospitals face mounting financial pressure—with many operating at or below break-even margins—it is increasingly difficult for them to afford travel and registration expenses to attend professional development and strategic learning events. This scholarship initiative will directly support frontline staff and executives from member hospitals who would otherwise be unable to attend due to financial constraints. Conference programming is built around collaborative problem-solving, shared best practices, and equipping rural health leaders with tools to strengthen operations, workforce retention, and patient care access in medically underserved areas. The conference scholarships will ensure rural providers can learn from each other, amplify solutions, and preserve essential hospital services in the communities ECB calls home.

This project aligns with ECB’s commitment to building future growth and prosperity across Eastern Colorado. EPHC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit collaborative of rural hospitals working to strengthen care delivery, promote regional innovation, and ensure the long-term sustainability of local healthcare. The Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium (EPHC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization representing a collaborative network of independent rural hospitals across Eastern Colorado. Formed to address the growing challenges facing rural healthcare, EPHC works to strengthen local hospital systems, improve patient access to quality care, and build sustainable health infrastructure in underserved communities. EPHC supports its member hospitals through shared services, regional data initiatives, professional development programs, and collaborative strategies for workforce retention, care coordination, telehealth expansion, and operational excellence.

Our consortium functions as a “system without walls,” bringing together rural healthcare leaders to share best practices, solve common problems, and deliver smarter, more connected care—without requiring mergers or loss of local governance. Headquartered in the heart of Eastern Colorado, EPHC is committed to protecting and promoting rural health by keeping care local, supporting our rural healthcare workforce, and ensuring every community we serve has access to the care it needs to thrive.

The West Cheyenne Fire Protection District in Kit Carson, Colorado will use the grant funds for new turn out gear for our volunteer fire department.  Turn out gear is what the firemen put on to protect themselves from extreme heat and other dangerous chemicals. Adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for the safety of firefighters responding to calls. Much of their old gear is over 20 years of service and is either worn out or in poor condition. By receiving this grant, they will be able to properly fit three firefighters with the proper gear they need and to replace some of the old worn-out gear for a few of the other firemen.
The West Cheyenne Fire Protection District is a government entity, but its members are all volunteers.

Wallace County will use the  funds to support the resurfacing of the Wallace County North Park playground in Sharon Springs, Kansas. The project will replace deteriorated wood chips with approximately 245 cubic yards of loose-fill rubber mulch made from recycled waste tires. This upgrade will significantly enhance playground safety, accessibility, and long-term sustainability in a public park that serves as a primary outdoor recreation area for local families, youth, and visitors. The project has already secured $43,000 in support from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment through its Waste Tire Grant Program, $10,000 from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, and $2,500 from the Wallace County Foundation; which leaves the resurfacing project $13,000 short.

Once funding is secured, Wallace County employees will remove the existing wood chips, level and compact the dirt base, and prepare the site for installation. Volunteers from the community will assist in spreading the new mulch, underscoring local investment and shared responsibility for the park’s upkeep. In Northwest Kansas, where dry winds and harsh weather cause wood chip surfaces to degrade within just a few years, the use of recycled rubber mulch provides a more durable, low-maintenance, and environmentally responsible solution. This material not only improves fall protection for children but also reduces future maintenance costs. North Park is centrally located and highly used year-round by residents from Wallace County’s three communities – Sharon Springs, Wallace, and Weskan – as well as surrounding rural areas. By improving one of our most visible and well-used public spaces, this project will enhance everyday quality of life and contribute to the long-term appeal of Wallace County as a safe, family friendly rural community.

Living Local was created to provide an underserved, rural area with options of community and economic growth opportunities. Living Local is dedicated to helping people in their communities feel engaged and welcomed.

They are in the process of creating a space for young and old in Weskan, Kansas. The building was purchased in 2023 and the upstairs has been transformed into a coffee shop/bakery ran by two local ladies. The basement is going to be a youth center. We will use the grant funds to purchase games, furniture and a tv for the basement youth center area.

The Flagler Food Pantry was created to serve families and individuals who are suffering from a lack of nutritional food to make meals with. We service around 100-150 people/families twice a month. When we moved to Seibert, the number of people we served doubled and still growing. We continue to serve individuals and families from Arriba, Flagler, Seibert, Vona, Stratton and some from Burlington. The increase in the number of clients that we serve has left our budget stretched beyond limits. We have rent, utilities, and insurance to pay now and also a whole lot more people to serve.

The bulk of our clients are elderly or disabled and unable to work. Their social security payments put them over the SNAP income limits. I have talked to individuals that are so thankful for what they get from us that they almost break down in tears. They use their social security for rent or housing payments and maintenance. With the cost of everything going up they don’t have the money to go into the grocery store and purchase the food they need to feed themselves and their families. We are in desperate need of financial support to continue what we have started; helping people in eastern Colorado.

The Early Childhood Council for Yuma, Washington, and Kit Carson Counties (ECCYWK) will use the grant funding to support the Imagination Library program in Kit Carson County. This program delivers free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to children from birth to age five, helping build early literacy skills and school readiness. Currently, ECCYWK has no dedicated funding to support Imagination Library in Kit Carson County.

The program costs $2.60 per child per month, with the State of Colorado covering 50% of the cost through at least 2027. This leaves ECCYWK responsible for $1.30 per child per month. At present, we have 152 children enrolled in Kit Carson County and continue to enroll more each month. Your support will help ensure continued access to this vital early literacy program for young children in our rural communities.

The Bethune School District will use the funds to fix a water issue on the north side of the elementary and gymnasium. This has been a terrific summer for rain but much of it has entered our building. This is not a roof issue but an issue with the landscaping. The water is coming under the slab and has entered the preschool and the central office. The water has also worked its way under the gym wall. It has only been a very small puddle at this point and has done no damage to the gym floor as of yet. We have a bid to mitigate this water problem that falls outside of an insurance claim so far. We would pour a 5 foot (basically sidewalk) around the 102 feet of wall affected. We would also pour a V pan in a corner to move water along. This is a very necessary project. The Bethune School would pay for the finishing touches of the grass landscaping if we could just get the concrete wok completed.

Smoky River Golf Course in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado assists in Advancing Community Health and Youth Development Through Recreation Infrastructure Since 1991, Smoky River Golf Course has been more than just a recreational facility—it has been a cornerstone of health, youth development, and community connection in our rural area. Our mission is to provide inclusive, accessible recreation that promotes active lifestyles, intergenerational engagement, and a sense of belonging for individuals and families alike. We are currently seeking funding to complete and expand our walking and biking path system. These partially developed paths offer much-needed space for walking, running, and cycling—encouraging healthy, year round physical activity for all ages. In an area with limited public infrastructure, this safe and scenic space supports residents who may not play golf but still seek opportunities to stay active.

Our youth golf program is a key component of our impact. Last summer, we served more than 30 youth ages 7–17 through camps and a junior/senior tournament grounded in Positive Youth Development (PYD). Participation is expected to grow this year, and we are in need of additional age appropriate clubs, balls, and training materials to ensure all youth can participate regardless of background or skill level. All youth programming is 100% volunteer-led by community members who give their time after full workdays. Each has been trained or briefed in PYD principles, ensuring the environment is safe, inclusive, and focused on positive mentorship. Youth involved in the program gain not only athletic skills but also values such as respect, teamwork, and community responsibility. Smoky River Golf Course also plays a broader role in giving back to the community: We host memorial tournaments where all proceeds are directed into scholarships for local youth. We maintain a strong partnership with the local school district, offering free course access to student golf athletes and highly discounted rates to all.

The Cheyenne Wells Recreation Association will use the awarded funds to replace these outdated infrastructures on all three ball fields. The following highlights the reason for updates on the fields. Lighting is inefficient and inadequate for evening use, limiting playing time and raising safety concerns. Bleachers are worn, uncomfortable, and do not meet ADA accessibility standards, the existing scoreboard is outdated, frequently malfunctioning, or nonexistent. The sound system is unreliable, hindering communication and event engagement. Upgrading these systems is essential to modernizing the facility, increasing its usability, and creating an environment that is welcoming and safe for all.

The primary goals for this CWRA project include, improving safety and extend field usability with energy-efficient LED lighting, provide safe and inclusive seating through ADA-compliant bleachers, enhance game-day experience with a modern, and digital scoreboard and improve event communication and fan engagement with a new sound system.