Spring mineral lease district grants announced

Street and pedestrian improvements in four Garfield County communities and new boilers for six Garfield District Re-2 schools were among more than $2 million in spring grants announced Tuesday by the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District.

The special FMLD, which utilizes the county’s share of money from mineral leasing on area federal lands, awarded eight traditional large grants totaling nearly $1.9 million, and another $197,500 in mini grants, according to a news release issued by the district’s granting board.

Topping the list was a $400,000 grant to the city of Rifle for pedestrian improvements along White River Avenue.

Another $350,000 each will go to the town of New Castle for downtown-area improvements, and to the town of Silt for improvements to the south side of its Main Street.

Parachute is slated to receive a $250,000 for major maintenance along the portion of Parachute Creek Road (CR 215) that passes through town.

In addition, the Garfield Re-2 School District was awarded $250,000 for the replacement or repair of boilers at six schools in Rifle, Silt and New Castle.

For the second straight FMLD grant cycle, the city of Glenwood Springs did not receive funding for the project it submitted for consideration.

Glenwood had requested $400,000 to build a new West Glenwood pedestrian path connection along Midland Avenue from the west side of the Glenwood Meadows shopping center to the Highway 6&24 roundabout north of the Interstate 70 interchange.

The trail link would allow for safer pedestrian access between the Meadows and the residential areas north of I-70, as well as to Glenwood Springs Middle School and the new Two Rivers Community School. City officials said that and other pedestrian links in West Glenwood will remain on the future projects list, regardless of achieving grant funding.

In addition to the major grants awarded this spring, the FMLD board also awarded smaller “mini grants” of $25,000 or less to eight entities for such things as mechanical and communications equipment, vehicles and facility upgrades.

See the full list of spring traditional and mini grants accompanying this story.

The latest round of FMLD grants brings the total awarded to cities, towns, school districts and other political subdivision in Garfield County to date since the organization was formed three years ago to more than $12 million.

Grants are awarded twice a year. The fall grant cycle will begin in August, with award announcements anticipated in October.