Great Outdoors Colorado announced $3 million in grant funds for outdoor recreation benefiting the Montezuma Inspire Coalition and a newly established Generation Wild Ute Mountain Ute Tribe group focused on youth programs, to be made official when the GOCO board votes on the award Thursday afternoon.
The funding comes through GOCO’s Generation Wild program, which aims to foster a connection between youths and the natural world, according to a press release.
The press release announcing the award was shared on the Ute Mountain Ute-run Weenuche Smoke Signals Facebook page, but GOCO Director of Communications Rosemary Dempsey told The Journal “these grant awards are not official until the GOCO board votes on them between 2:30-3:00 p.m. this coming Thursday.”
The funds are set to support programs ranging from outdoor education and environmental conservation to traditional knowledge engagement, community health initiatives, family experiences and youth employment opportunities.
The Montezuma Inspire Coalition, part of the Montezuma Land Conservancy, would receive $2.1 million to work with kids in Mancos, Dolores, Cortez and Towaoc. Coalition members include San Juan Mountains Association, High Desert DEVO, Dolores River Boating Access, Medicine Horse Center, Montezuma School to Farm Project and Southwest Conservation Corps.
The newly formed Ute Mountain Ute Generation Wild would receive $900,000 to develop programs that tie outdoor experiences with cultural and traditional knowledge. Developed with Ute leadership, the coalition aims to reduce socioeconomic and health disparities within the tribe.
Participants in the tribe’s Generation Wild initiative will include the Ute Mountain Ute Higher Education Department, Ute Mountain Ute Sleeping Ute Diabetes program and Kwiyagat Community Academy.
“This partnership reflects not just an investment in programs, but in the power of collaboration and community values,” said GOCO Executive Director Jackie Miller. “We can’t wait to see what visionary leaders and youth in this community accomplish next.”
This article was updated on the afternoon of Sept. 16 to say that the $3 million award will not be official until a GOCO board vote between 2:30-3:00 p.m. on Sept. 18.
