Tiny Towns Recap | Holiday Preparations + Water Resources
DCI's final Tiny Town Meeting of the year took place last week on December 5th and afforded the Tiny Town Team a moment to reflect on the topics that were the most meaningful as well as ones to explore in the new year. Communities also shared their holiday plans in Colorado’s Tiny Towns, all while these community leaders continue to wrestle with finalizing the budget. In addition, the meeting had guest speakers Dawn Thilmany and Rebecca Hill from Colorado State University to share resources for Tiny Towns.
- Eads- Merry on Main
- Ophir- Sledding Party
- San Luis- Maneto (Little Brothers) Christmas do Oremos along with a town tree and luminari all down main street
- Yampa- Parade with Santa Clause
- Walsenburg- Parade of Lights
- Hot Sulphur Springs- Christmas and Winter Songs concert
- Brookside- Holiday brunch
- New Raymer- lights and Santa Claus visit
Beyond holiday plans, the Tiny Town team reviewed the discussions held throughout the past year and highlighted some favorite topics and potentials ones for next year. Topics ranged from understanding what stores work in small towns, to grant applications and management, and public private partnerships for redevelopment opportunities. The towns also shared resources regarding helpful grants, agencies, and support networks for each other.
BIG THOUGHTS FROM TINY TOWNS
The Tiny Town participants are a great resource for one another, and the following ideas were shared as big picture concepts that might benefit multiple communities.
- Two weeks of Christmas and New Years is the busiest time for the Tiny Towns and businesses,
- Budgets absorb most of the staff time for the end of the year.
- Using benefits of fishing/tourism to study in-stream flow rights to add resources for community economic vitality.
- Many Tiny Towns may not meter the water and getting metering set up is an important step to tapping funding.
TINY TOWN WATER RESOURCES
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION: The CSU Regional Economic Development Institute, representatives Dawn Thilmany and Rebecca Hill, joined to share how their team helps tiny towns understand the resources that are available to help support infrastructure and redevelopment, as well as entrepreneurship and other economic vitality initiatives.
Dawn Thilmany: Dawn.Thilmany@colostate.edu
Rebecca Hill: rebec.l.hill@gmail.com
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Municipalities under 10K, can tap into USDA Rural Development Programs for grants and very low interest loans. May include updates or enhancements to improve usage or conservancy for water. www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs
DOLA has planning grants that can help identify the first stage looking at what you need and the steps needed to get projects done. Contact your DOLA Regional Manager: https://cdola.colorado.gov/regional-managers
DOLA Water and Wastewater Program Manager: desiree.santerre@state.co
Colorado Water and Wastewater Funding Quick Reference-rev. 2-2021.pdf
CDPHE is also a great resource for federal dollars to support wastewater and other water plant issues. Contact Erick.Worker@state.co.us
