Castle Rock groups request $1 million for 2027 programs

Eight organizations have requested a combined $1,009,436 from Castle Rock for 2027 economic development, senior services, events, housing assistance and other community programs. Town Council is scheduled to consider the requests Oct. 20; no awards have been approved.

The largest requests are $265,579 from the Castle Rock Economic Development Council and $235,000 from the Downtown Development Authority. The Economic Development Council’s application seeks support for staff, office costs, marketing and technology, along with efforts to attract employers, help existing businesses grow and recruit retailers. The Downtown Development Authority’s application requests a Town match for its district mill levy to fund personnel, downtown improvements and programs such as patios, flower boxes and carriage rides.

The Castle Rock Senior Activity Center requests $170,000: $90,000 for transportation and $80,000 for operations. The center says it serves more than 3,000 older adults and offers more than 150 activities and events each month. It describes its classrooms, meeting areas, fitness spaces and common areas as often full or beyond capacity, and asks the Town to consider expansion, shared-use space or earlier access to rooms in other facilities.

The other applicants are seeking funds for these services and activities:

• The Castle Rock Chamber requests $145,000 for community events, including Artfest, the county fair parade and Starlighting, as well as workforce and business programs, marketing and visitor-center operations.
• The Downtown Merchants Association seeks $106,000 for staffing and downtown events, including concerts, a car show, Boots and Brews and Oktoberfest.
• The Douglas County Housing Partnership requests $45,000: $35,000 for operating costs and $10,000 toward matching funds for a Housing Action Plan. Proposed services include homebuyer education, down-payment assistance and foreclosure counseling.
• The Douglas County Youth Initiative seeks $25,000 for youth and family programs, including WrapAround, youth leadership and work with young people involved in truancy court.
• The Douglas County Community Foundation requests $17,857 for administration, saying Town support for those costs helps direct private donations to grants, community funds and nonprofit programs.

The Town’s staff report describes an annual Council review of funding for service organizations and recommends that Council consider approving the requests as presented. It says staff would prepare service contracts for the Town Manager to administer and execute based on Council direction. The Oct. 20 agenda lists the funding summary and related resolutions for consideration. The staff report says the requests are included in the proposed 2027 budget; that inclusion is not an approval.