WALSENBURG — On February 6, leaders of local non-profits met with representatives of El Pomar in an informal gathering facilitated by the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, at Huerfano Ambulance Building in Walsenburg. The purpose of the gathering was to determine how El Pomar can better provide for the needs of Huerfano County, one of the poorest yet least grant-supported in the state. The Honorable Dennis Maes, favorite son and member of El Pomar’s SE Regional Council pointed out that El Pomar has granted $540,000 to Huerfano County organizaions since 1983. El Pomar President Peter Maiurro suggested increasing collaborations among local entities to stretch resources and better utilize both funds and the most scarce of resources, grantwriters. Maiurro was anxious to learn of the needs of the organizations present, eliciting “wish list” items from each. Of great interest was talk of using Washington School as a community recreation center. El Pomar recently funded a recreation center project in Bent County, and the listening
session ended with a tour of Washington School and an enthusiastic, “we like this project” from El Pomar. An important part of moving forward on funding requests is to strengthen community engagement. A solid start has been made with the LiveWell Community Recreation Committee. LiveWell is now inviting all community members interested in all facets of a community recreation center to join them in developing information to be turned into a grant presentation to El Pomar and other funders. Those interested should come to the next meeting, Thursday, February 19th at noon in the basement of Washington School. Lunch will be served.
