Securing Federal Funding for Douglas CountyIn 2024, Douglas County secured more than $90 million in federal grants to support local programs that directly benefit our community—ranging from WIC and childhood vaccines to the County’s crime lab, emergency services, road projects and behavioral health resources.
This total includes American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which the Board of County Commissioners invested in critical needs such as domestic violence prevention, suicide and homelessness services, veterans’ mental health, wildfire response, water and wastewater infrastructure, and support for older adults and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By reinvesting ARPA interest earnings, the Board has added an extra $6.6 million in funding, stretching every federal dollar further.
Annual visits to Washington, D.C., and ongoing collaboration with congressional leaders and federal agencies continue to expand these opportunities, most recently helping secure $12 million in projects championed by Congresswoman Lauren Boebert and positioning Douglas County for additional federal support in 2025.
Forest Service Meeting with Deputy Chief for the National Forest Systems Chris French
Issues: Wildfire Helicopter/Helitack Team, shooting locations on Forest Service lands, BioChar and grant opportunities.
Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08-R) and Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Supporting local law enforcement, Wildfire Helicopter/Helitack Team, jobs, Broadband funding,sanctuary cities lawsuit, boarder security, jobs, anti-human trafficking bill, Microtransit
Sen. Michael Bennet and Senior Staff (CO-D) Meeting
Issues: Wildfire Helicopter/Helitack Team, Congressionally Directed Spending requests, anti-human trafficking bill, keeping Space Command in Colorado.
Sen. Ted Cruz (TX-R) Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Wildfire Helicopter/Helitack Team, border security, supporting local law enforcement, sanctuary cities lawsuit, conservative Western issues.
Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-02-R) Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Aerospace, Infrastructure funding, Microtransit, border security, supporting local law enforcement
Rep. Jeff Crank (CO-05-R) and Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Keeping Space Command in Colorado, anti-human trafficking bill, Microtransit bill, supporting local law enforcement, Wildfire helicopter/Helitack Team, sanctuary cities lawsuit, border security.
House Transportation Committee Staff Meeting
Issues: Transportation and Infrastructure priorities, Microtransit bill, aerospace, jobs, Community Project Funding requests, federal grants.
Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-05-R) Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Securing the border, supporting President Trump’s deportation plan, anti-human trafficking bill, sanctuary cities lawsuit, supporting local law enforcement.
Bureau of Reclamation Meeting with Deputy Commissioner David Palumbo and Senior Staff
Issues: Water and intro meeting
Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21-R) and Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Securing the border, supporting President Trump’s deportation plan, supporting local law enforcement, anti-human trafficking bill, sanctuary cities lawsuit.
House Natural Resources Committee Staff Meeting
Issues: Wildfire Helicopter/Helitack Team, shooting locations on Forest Service lands, General Committee issues/support, active forest management, American energy dominance, BioChar
House Leadership Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Reconciliation, border security, human trafficking, Microtransit, supporting local law enforcement, sanctuary cities lawsuit.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-04-R) and Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Aerospace, jobs, Infrastructure funding, Microtransit, Human Trafficking, Community Project Funding Requests, Wildfire Helicopter/Helitack Team, securing the border, supporting local law enforcement, sanctuary cities lawsuit.
Rep. Ron Estes (KS-21-R) and Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Aerospace, jobs, securing the border, supporting local law enforcement, sanctuary cities lawsuit
Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19-R) and Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Securing the border, supporting local law enforcement, sanctuary cities lawsuit, Second Amendment, and reining in federal spending.
Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Wildfire Helicopter/Helitack Team, Congressionally Directed Spending requests, Human Trafficking, Infrastructure funding, Microtransit.
Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05-R) Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Securing the border, supporting President Trump’s deportation plan, supporting local law enforcement, anti-human trafficking bill, Microtransit bill, sanctuary cities lawsuit.
House Appropriations Committee Staff Meeting
Issues: Transportation and Infrastructure priorities, Community Project Funding requests, federal grants.
Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07-R) Meeting
Issues: Securing the border, supporting President Trump’s deportation plan, anti-human trafficking bill, sanctuary cities lawsuit, supporting local law enforcement, Wildfire Helicopter/Helitack Team.
Department of Transportation Senior Staff Meeting
Issues: Transportation and Infrastructure priorities, Microtransit bill, jobs, Community Project Funding requests, federal grants.
Total Cost (conference registration, hotel, airfare, meals, UBER, parking): $2,227.05
Photo: Commissioner George Teal with federal staff in Washington, D.C.
Jacob Settle, White House staff
Issues: EPA regulations of woody biomass, National Garden of American Hero’s and the potential of Hero’s Hall being a site to celebrate a prominent historical figure. Federal agencies desire to move out of sanctuary cities, specifically the SBA.
Representative Boebert
Issues: FBI issue regarding the fingerprinting/background check issues for massage parlors. Transportation priorities including HWY 85 and microtransit program.
Ben DeMarzo, Senior Advisor, Office of the Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development
Issues: Homelessness and the need to drop “housing first” as a prerequisite for federal support. Discussed the possibility of a new domestic violence support center receiving funding from the HUD, specifically for individuals who would otherwise be unhoused due to the escape from domestic violence.
Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director
Issues: Local governments partnering with ICE to ensure violent criminals are being arrested and detained. Discussed the opportunity to enter a partnership with ICE to allow trained local officers assist in immigration enforcement.
Total Cost (NACo Conference Registration, Hotel and Airfare): $3,023.35
Photo: Commissioner Abe Laydon with then Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Caleb Vitello.
Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (AR-03) Staff Meeting
Issues: US Highway 85 between Sedalia and Castle Rock Community Project Funding (CPF) request Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests, as well as EVOC wildfire/law enforcement and Heroes Hall CDS requests.
House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (ID-02) Staff Meeting
Issues: Plum Creek to Rueter-Hess Reservoir Pipeline and the Louviers Water & Sanitation District Drinking Water Distribution Replacement CPF Requests
Senator Michael Bennet (CO) Staff Meeting
Issues: Thank you for Congressionally Directed Spending request and inquire what it is, Biochar facility update, Microtransit, Happy Canyon Department of the Transportation BUILD Grant.
Senator John Hickenlooper (CO) Meeting
Issues: Thank you for EVOC wildfire/law enforcement, Heroes Hall, and Highway 85 CDS requests, Biochar facility update, Microtransit, Happy Canyon Department of the Transportation BUILD Grant.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-04-R) Meeting
Issues: Thank you for US Highway 85 between Sedalia and Castle Rock, Plum Creek to Rueter-Hess Reservoir Pipeline, and the Louviers Water & Sanitation District Drinking Water Distribution Replacement CPF Requests, Microtransit, Human Trafficking, Biochar facility update.
Senate Appropriations Committee Staff Meeting
Issues: EVOC wildfire/law enforcement, Heroes Hall, and Highway 85 Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests submitted by Senator Hickenlooper, Senator Bennet 1 CDS Request
Department of Energy Meeting
Issues: Biochar facility intro and update, flag for future grants
FAA Meeting
Issues: Overhead flights/Centennial Airport issues
Department of Transportation Meeting
Issues: Transportation and Infrastructure priorities, Microtransit, Highway 85 CDS and CPF requests, federal grants.
White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Issues: County’s Sanctuary City lawsuit and other border security measures, other county priorities
Department of Homeland Security Meeting
Issues: Sanctuary cities, border security, lawsuit
