HUERFANO- The following information is based on the latest information available to the Governor’s Office. This report is not comprehensive because new Recovery Act awards are announced frequently. This does not include funds – including income tax cuts, increased COBRA benefits, increased funds to cover Medicaid services and others – that cannot be broken down by county. The numbers below represent funds that have been awarded and are expected to be received over the life of the Recovery Act. The funds are distributed to a wide range of groups in the county and do not necessarily touch county government.
COMMUNITY SERVICES / SAFETY NET:
• $84,441 Community Services Block grant to the South Central Council of Governments for poverty reduction and revitalization of low-income communities in Huerfano and Las Animas counties. The agency will partner with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Rocky Mountain SER, and Trinidad State Junior College to increase jobs for rural youth.
• $150,207.58 Extra 13 percent in food stamp benefits to about 1,200 people in Huerfano County between April 1- October 31, 2009.
• $34,256 Grant for the Child Care & Development Fund awarded to the Judiciary Courts of the State of Colorado in Huerfano County.
PUBLIC SAFETY:
• $12,187 Justice Assistance grant to the City of Walsenburg for law enforcement programs.
WORKFORCE SERVICES AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS:
• $573,152 Workforce Investment Act Funds for job training to the South Central County Region, which includes Alamosa, Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, and Las Animas counties.
• $244,678 Wagner Peyser (WP) & Reemployment Services (RES) to the South Central County Region.
• $754,961 Extra 20 weeks of benefits, through the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, for 154 people (as of March 31, 2010) in Huerfano County.
• $214,825 Extra $25 per week in unemployment benefits through the Federal Additional Compensation program, for 349 people (as of March 31, 2010) in Huerfano County.
• $84,745 Additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits through a new state law given to 36 people as of March 31, 2010 in Huerfano County.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT:
• $307,700 Estimated funds to be spent for free energy efficiency upgrades in low-income homes in Huerfano County
• $85,000 Energy Efficiency Conservation Block grant to the Southern Colorado Council of Governments for energy efficiency improvements in Huerfano and Las Animas counties.
EDUCATION:
• $47,197 IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Part A funds to South Central BOCES for services to disabled pre-school students in Huerfano Re-1 schools and 14 other school districts.
• $169,687 Title I funds awarded to Huerfano School District # RE –1 for programs at schools with high percentages of low-income students.
• $20,380 Title I funds awarded to La Veta Re-2 School District for programs at schools with high percentages of low-income students.
• $99,750 Technology funds through a competitive process to Huerfano School District # RE –1 for technology improvements.
• $32,408 Technology funds awarded to Huerfano School District # RE –1 for technology improvements.
• $1,327,843 IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Part B funds to South Central BOCES for services to disabled pre-school students in Huerfano Re-I schools and 14 other school districts.
• $74,455 Grant to improve school lunch services in Huerfano County Schools.
HOUSING:
• $262,598 US Department of Housing and Urban Development Public Housing Capital Fund grant to the Walsenburg Housing Authority.
SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES:
• $1,551,000 Loan to Colorado Food Stores Inc. through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
OTHER FEDERAL GRANTS:
• $25,000 US Department of Agriculture funds to Spanish Peaks Library for community facilities.
