PPACG awarded $518,000 grant from DOD

The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) has been awarded a $518,000 grant from the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment to develop a regional growth coordination plan related to the expansion of Fort Carson.

The local match required is $58,000. The arrival of over 22,000 military personnel, civilian personnel and their families in the next four years will have a discernible impact on the Pikes Peak Region, particularly in areas such as housing, transportation, schools, public utilities, social services and the economy. Through the 18-month program, PPACG will continue a partnership with the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations to develop long-term strategies for accommodating the growth at Fort Carson and addressing its impact. A policy committee comprised of elected officials from El Paso, Pueblo and Fremont counties and the existing Colorado Defense Mission Coalition (CDMC) will help oversee and promote the plan. The CDMC, which includes representatives from the EDC, the Chamber, the Colorado congressional delegation, the military and other stakeholder groups, helped lay the foundation for this grant and worked closely with PPACG to gain its approval.

Michael Kazmierski, President and CEO of the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation, said of the collaboration, "The CDMC is a very important community effort that was established to identify and mitigate the impacts of the projected growth at Fort Carson and other Colorado installations before these impacts adversely affect the community or the service members and their families that will join our community. The OEA grant, awarded to the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, will help us to sustain this community effort and will enable us to resolve many of the issues that we have already identified and will help us to identify and resolve additional issues as they arise.”

Brian Binn, President of Military Affairs for the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, said of the new funding, “The approval of the grant from the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment to thoroughly evaluate and prepare for the projected growth at Fort Carson recognizes the significant effect such growth has on a community and the willingness of the Defense Department to support those communities as they prepare to effectively manage the growth. Fort Carson has been a valuable asset to our region, Colorado, and the nation for over 65 years. We are looking forward to welcoming the new soldiers and their families to our community. This grant is a result of the hard work of many in the Chamber, the Economic Development Corporation, and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments and will allow our community to better serve the military in our region.”

Rob MacDonald, Executive Director of PPACG, added, “This grant proves that a regional approach to problem-solving can and does work. Several local, state and federal partners came together to discuss a solution to the future impacts of Fort Carson’s expansion and to take advantage of the opportunities that the expansion will bring to our region.”

Similar to other expansion initiatives in places like Fort Riley, Kansas, PPACG’s plan will provide strategies for municipal and county governments to address growth, recommend capital improvement projects, offer program planning tools such as a housing market affordability study, and identify funding opportunities. PPACG will create a website to disseminate information to stakeholders and the general public.

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