Douglas County ARPA Success Stories
Douglas County recently completed its allocation of ARPA funds and is in the process of implementing funding agreements with subgrantees where appropriate. Funding was allocated to seven priority investment areas:
Wildfire Suppression and Mitigation: $3.6 million
- Expansion of the County’s defensible space program, working with property owners engaged in brush removal and thinning by matching their 25% investment with 75% follow-on funding.
- Staffing for a Helitack Team in support of the County’s Wildfire Aerial Support Strategy.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Community (IDD): $6.75 million
- A partnership with Wellspring Community for an independent living solution for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxZRo7fvZME&t=30s
- A partnership with Arapahoe Community College for the expansion of internships, scholarships, and student support for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and those with Traumatic Brain Injury
Mental and Behavioral Health: $9 million
- Additional funding for The Care Compact – a program of the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative. The program supports individuals with mental health, substance use disorder, or intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) needs by linking existing care coordination service providers. Through a networked system of care, The Care Compact reduces duplication of services, improves transitions between levels of care, and ensures fewer gaps in treatment while producing better outcomes for members of our community.
- Expansion of Douglas County Community Response Teams in conjunction with municipal partners in Castle Rock, Lone Tree, the Town of Parker, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. These teams are comprised of a mental health clinician and law enforcement personnel, who respond in the community to streamline access to mental health and substance abuse services for individuals in Douglas County.
- Suicide Prevention Grants
- A Walk-In Crisis Stabilization Unit open to all ages and a 10,000 square foot, 16-bed Child and Adolescent Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) for ages 5 to 21. This facility, to be built in partnership with AllHealth Network, will be a first in Douglas County and would address a known youth mental health need for Douglas County families.
- Veterans Mental Health Services
- Operational support for Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners, Colorado’s operator of the Crisis hotline and Suicide Prevention hotline, during its transition to operation of the 988-suicide prevention hotline.
Homelessness: $1.17 million
- The Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team (HEART) pilot program, consisting of three navigators who respond to community calls, assist law enforcement, and provide support to homeless individuals, thus strengthening the system of support for those experiencing homelessness.
- A Reintegration Deputy working to aid those being released from the County jail.
Water and Wastewater: $35.7 million
- $2.6 million grant to Sedalia Water and Sanitation District for community-wide water line replacement.
- A $26.8 million partnership with Castle Rock Water and the Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority Highway to bring central wastewater service to the Highway 85 corridor.
- A $4.3 million partnership with Dominion Water and Sanitation District to extend a water distribution line capable of delivering renewable water sources to the village of Louviers.
- A $1.96 million grant to the Louviers Water and Sanitation District for treatment of their water supply for radium.
- (Video overview of water and wastewater investments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2b5TxfUGVk
Broadband: approximately $8 million
- Countywide broadband needs assessment
- Reservation of up to $8 million for projects that improve “middle mile” and “last mile” broadband connectivity for unserved and underserved County residents.
Community and Economic Priorities: $5 million
- Douglas County will partner with Arapahoe Community College (ACC) to enrich the talent pipeline for primary employers in Douglas County through: Acquisition of equipment for ACC’s new Advanced Robotics and Automation Lab, and construction of a Mobile Health and Medical Skills Lab and EMT Simulation Classroom.
- The County has also dedicated more than $3 million in support of Park Meadows Retail Resort and the Park Meadows Business Improvement District for lost revenue and expenses incurred during the pandemic.
