Rep. Salazar Announces Grant Awards For Otero Junior College, Durango Economic Development Group, And Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John Salazar (CO-3) announced three federal grants awarded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to Otero Junior College in La Junta, Region 9 Economic Development District of southwest Colorado, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

“I am grateful that these struggling areas of my district will receive assistance in their long-term economic development efforts,” said Rep. Salazar. “Local leaders know the difficult task in attracting and retaining businesses to rural areas like La Junta and southwestern Colorado.”

Otero Junior College in La Junta received $279,192 to support the development of the Southeast Colorado Business Retention, Expansion & Attraction (SEABREA).  It’s a three-year program that would help retain, expand, and attract businesses to the six-county southeast Colorado region that has been adversely affected by the recent closure of two major businesses.  Earlier this year, Salazar wrote the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Sandy Baruah, requesting that the EDA fund the request.  His letter is attached.

The second grant of $51,000 was received by the Region 9 Economic Development District of southwest Colorado in Durango.  The Assistant Director of the Region 9 Economic Development District of southwest Colorado Laura Lewis said, “This investment will support long-term regional economic development planning efforts. The EDA funding directly impacts the region because it allows a better commitment of staff time to work with the individual communities on their priority projects for economic growth.  Providing a variety of technical assistance from facilitation to grant writing greatly assists our more rural communities to be successful over the long-term. This funding also allows our organization to continually update community data such as employment and income trends so that policy makers and citizens have correct information on which decisions to make.” For more information, Lewis can be reached at 970-247-9621.

The final grant was received by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in Towaoc.  The tribe received $44,000.  This investment will fund staff time for the tribe to work with the Economic Development Agency in developing strategies to promote long-term economic growth. For more details on how the grant funding will be used contact Troy Ralstin.  He can be reached at 970-565-6485.