Operational Issues
Great Outdoors Colorado heard many comments related to the implementation
of the Strategic Plan and operational issues during its public
process. In response to these comments, the Board is considering
the operational changes described below.
Matching requirements: For grants to local governments, the Board will adopt a carefully
tailored policy permitting it to modify match requirements for
small communities provided there is a demonstration of compelling
need. Specific guidelines for implementing this policy will be
developed in consultation with stakeholders.
The Board also recognizes that the resources of DOW and DPOR are
not increasing at the same rate as those of GOCO. The Board will
work with the Divisions to add flexibility to these matching requirements
as well.
Stewardship: The Board acknowledges that helping to provide resources for
stewardship of open space, parks, and wildlife habitat acquisitions
that have been funded by GOCO is an important part of its mission.
These stewardship activities, from the Board’s perspective, might
include grants to support restoration and protection activities.
Except for certain newly acquired state agency properties, the
Board does not anticipate funding routine operations and maintenance
activities. The Board, in consultation with stakeholders, will
develop guidelines for distinguishing between stewardship and
maintenance, and for providing such resources.
Caps on grants: The Board will increase caps for all grants. Specific limits
for such funding will be developed in consultation with stakeholders.
Multi-year grants: The Board will consider multi-year grant requests for all types
of eligible projects, except for mini-grants. Generally, the projects
must rank in the top ten percent of successful projects to receive
a multi-year funding commitment.
Timing of grant cycles: Some grant cycles will be conducted semi-annually rather than
annually. New schedules will be established in consultation with
stakeholders.
Accelerating revenue: The Board will look at a variety of mechanisms to see if it is
fiscally prudent to make more of GOCO’s dollars available for
land protection in the next three to five years.
Requiring projects to be part of an overall plan: The Board will continue to attempt to strike a balance between
supporting the need for projects to be integrated into overall
local planning efforts, as well as supporting its goal of streamlining
the application process.
Staffing: In response to suggestions that the size of the GOCO staff needs
to be increased to provide more technical assistance, develop
better connections with and understanding of local needs and projects,
and for quicker administration of grants, the Board will consider
gradually expanding the size and location of the staff. If pursued,
this expansion will be moderate in scale and will reflect, to
at least a partial degree, the increased number and size of grants
anticipated for future years.
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