The organizations listed below have been awarded Rico Center grants.
The descriptions of the award purpose were provided in the grant applications.
Community Grantees
2024 Grantees
A. Mann’s World is an artistic entity dedicated to finding new and creative ways to be vulnerable and make space for oneself through writing, graphic design, photography and cooking. This grant will support a five week long creative writing workshop and will cover supplies, guest speakers and venue rental.
Friends of CAIC was created to support the CAIC (Colorado Avalanche Information Center) while contributing to avalanche awareness and education throughout Colorado. This grant will support the Trailhead Outreach Program which includes in-person trailhead visits, installation of avalanche safety signage, transceiver checkpoints and training parks, and distribution of safety brochures.
Rico Elevated Collective’s mission is to promote a healthier and more active community by providing accessible, inclusive, and high-quality fitness facilities and programs to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. This grant will be used to purchase fitness equipment for various community classes.
$50,000 will go towards purchasing a new light rescue truck; $21,785.75 will support annual firehouse operations; $12,356.25 will support 2024’s Tri-State Fire Event, hosted in Rico this year; $1,490 will go towards annual 4th of July activities.
The Historical Society received grant awards for the following projects: $3,090 towards museum building exterior maintenance and improvements; $15,000 for the salary of the Museum Office Manager and $2,000 to support continued Oral History recordings.
The Rico Land Collaborative’s mission is to encourage our Rico community’s connection with place and local lands, through the stewardship of intergenerational connection and regional education. This year’s grants will support two projects: $4,075 will help pay start-up costs for the Community Garden; $2,890 will support redesigning the website for the Rico Geothermal Project in order to communicate and educate Rico on this long-standing project.
Rico Trails Alliance’s mission is to steward local and regional trail systems in and around Rico, focusing on user educations and the access, development and use of non-motorized trails. $6,500 will be used to reroute a section of the RGS-Burnett Connector trail with the help of a certified trail construction contractor; $20,000 will be used for the hiring of a Development Director to create and execute a fundraising campaign strategy and to build RTA’s organizational capacity.
This grant will be used as partly matching funds to support the Rico Town Park and Outdoor Recreation Hub project.
This grant will be used to continue website development and upgrades, including features to relate website information to on-the-ground visits. It will be a user-friendly interface to encourage participation with the site.
2023 Grantees
The Artists of Rico’s funds will be used to create opportunities for Rico community members to directly engage with aRc through projects that will eventually be installed in public places throughout Rico.
$66,226 will support rescue equipment purchasing as well as ongoing training for all volunteers; $2,975 will go towards annual 4th of July activities.
The Historical Society received grant awards for the following projects: $9,999 towards Engel House improvements; $11,500 for the salary of the Museum Office Manager; $2,000 to support continued Oral History recordings; $3,000 to purchase a new eCommerce and point-of-sale system; and $575 towards daily operational costs of the Museum.
Rico Poetry Collective aims to bring Rico residents together around a positive, creative community by sharing poetry. Look for upcoming poetry events in Rico funded through this grant award.
$6,500 will be used towards 2023 trail work days as well as a hosting a fundraising event; $6,617 is allocated to the ongoing RGS trail construction project.
The Rico Frequency plans to host the “Rico Independence Day Street Dance” this year, featuring Niceness.
The purpose of this grant was to purchase a side by side and track system to allow for more reliable grooming on trails within town.
This grant will be used to continue focusing on: repairing family plots, fallen or leaning headstones; general annual maintenance and tree/vegetation management; a tree study to identify problem trees for future management and maintenance; expanded website development including features to relate website information to on-the-ground visits.
2022 Grantees
This grant provided continuing support for KSJD staff to support the KICO studio’s volunteer DJs, maintain and upgrade equipment and continue operations and programming to the Rico community.
To fund a one-day community workshop with a professional facilitator and local co-creators in order to identify core Rico values that should never change, as we creatively draw forward to today’s needs and shared mission.
$32,774.25 supported necessary capital purchases, training and administrative costs; new beacons were purchased with a $1,000 grant; $2,875 went towards annual 4th of July activities.
This grant award funded a paid position to manage museum operations and coordinate volunteers to staff the museum.
Funds were used to prepare an improvement plan and to recruit, train and manage the volunteer trail crews to repair west-side trails on USFS land.
The Rico Frequency would like to build a modest stage in the park and host a monthly music series featuring local music.
The purpose of this grant was to help augment the cost of keeping town roads maintained during the year and clear of snow during the winter.
To protect and preserve the historic cemetery, maintain records and accommodate people and families who want to be interred at the Valley Rico Cemetery.
2021 Grantees
To provide year round art opportunities to the young emerging artists of the Rico community.
A grant from the Rico Center will provide continuing support for the 89.5 KICO Rico transmitter and studio that enable Rico residents to receive locally produced news and music everyday.
$39,185.98 for pre-construction services and purchase of equipment for: firefighting, general firehouse improvements, EMS, Search and Rescue, Training.
$2,775 request for food and related supplies, plus pass through expense, to support Fire Department community events during the Fourth of July weekend.
Matching funds for GOCO grant to construct bridge and to construct trail through non-USFS portions of the RGS River Trail.
$20,000 for the proposed revisions of the Rico Land Use Code are in need of a legal review prior to adoption by the Rico Planning Commission and the Rico Board of Trustees. The purpose of another $20,000 grant would be to ensure adequate snowplowing in the Town of Rico this winter.
Focus on repairing family plots and fallen or leaning headstones, plus general maintenance and tree/vegetation management, continue grid markers on east side and update website.
2020 Grantees
Support to advance civic engagement and improve the quality of life in Rico through public media resources.
$34,017.06 supported necessary SAR capital purchases, firehouse improvements, district expansion training and administrative costs. $2,775 went towards annual 4th of July activities.
This grant award funded printing & marketing needs, the salary of an office manager and launched the Oral Histories project.
The purpose of this grant is to provide the community with opportunities for fitness, recreation and social gathering, while maintaining the assets and civic and public places owned by the town.
The purpose of this grant is to financially assist in the building of a public skate park in Rico Colorado.
New trails and pump track construction (extension of 2018 grant) and overhead funds.
The Town of Rico is seeking funding to engage in necessary repairs on the loader that keeps the alleys free of snow and a new set of chains for that loader. The Town is also seeking funding to offset plowing costs should we have another snow year that exceeds the capacity of our maintenance staff.
Valley Rico Cemetery used this grant for general maintenance costs and repair costs at the cemetery.