West End Pay It Forward Trust Provides Resiliency Grant Opportunity

MEDIA CONTACT

Contacts: westendpift@gmail.com

 Sara Bachman; 970.865.2440; sara@bachmanlawllc.com

Jane Thompson; 970.428.7179; jane@nntcwireless.com

Paul Koski; 970.428.2276; pdkoski@gmail.com

West End Pay It Forward Trust Provides Grant Opportunity

Tri-State Donation to Fund the West End Pay It Forward Trust’s “Resiliency Grants”

            NATURITA, Colo. – (August 12th, 2020) – As the result of a generous $500,000 donation from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., the West End Pay It Forward Trust, a local endowment fund supporting community development in the West End of Montrose County, is excited to announce that it is offering $400,000 total in resiliency grants, over the next 2 to 5 years. The maximum request amount is $25,000. However, if projects have a matching component of 2 to 1 or more (other funding in addition to WEPIFT funding), up to $50,000 will be considered. These grants will be separate from the annual WEPIFT Community Grants, which are available to any nonprofit organization, local taxing entity, or organization working under the umbrella of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that strives to benefit the community and its residents. The Tri-State Resiliency Grants will be available to nonprofits, governments or taxing entities, and potentially for-profit businesses as a mission related or program related investment.

The West End Pay It Forward Trust will deploy this $500,000 donation by investing $100,000 into the Trust’s long-term endowment and by distributing the remaining $400,000 over the next five years by providing resiliency grants to nonprofits and community organizations within the West End.

As Tri-State shifts some operations outside of the Nucla-Naturita region, this contribution to support economic and community development in the West End recognizes the hardship that the closure of the power plant causes, acknowledges the numerous years of teamwork the cooperative association and the West End community have shared, and supports efforts to ensure the community remains vibrant for the future. The goal of these resiliency grants is to facilitate economic development and resiliency and to promote the overall well-being of the community. Grant applications that demonstrate longevity, collaboration, resiliency, promise, and innovation as well as applications that leverage other funds and focus on community and economic development will be prioritized. For more information on the specifics of the WEPIFT resiliency grants, please visit www.westendpayitforward.org.

For downloadable applications, please go to www.westendpayitforward.org or pick up a paper copy from Bachman Law, LLC at 140 E. Main Street, Naturita, CO. Applications must be received by September 15th, 2020 via one of the following options: mail a completed application to WEPIFT, PO Box 171, Naturita, CO 81422 or send an electronic copy to westendpift@gmail.com. You can also drop off a completed application at Sara Bachman’s law office at the address listed above. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.  For questions, please contact the WEPIFT board at westendpift@gmail.com.

WEPIFT was created in 2013 with the mission to improve the West End communities now and for future generations. Its purpose is to create and grow a permanent, locally controlled endowment fund to support community and economic development projects. Interest generated from the endowment supports community projects and charitable causes. WEPIFT policy states that it will use 5% of the total endowment each year for grants to the community.  Starting with only $400 in July of 2015, the WEPIFT board has now raised over $90,000 to date.

WEPIFT will continue raising funds for its endowment so that it can keep providing an increasing amount of support to the community for many years to come. To make that possible, the Trust hopes to increase the number of donors who give monthly. Currently, WEPIFT is collecting approximately $700/month from donors who pledge a monthly donation through Citizens State Bank of Naturita or their primary bank. Donations of $10 per month make a huge difference!  WEPIFT is a simple and lasting way for residents of the West End to make a difference in their community by paying it forward to help the community now and for future generations. 

Currently, WEPIFT’s board includes Jane Thompson, Susan Rice, Paul Koski, Sara Bachman, Hank Nelson, Sarah Carlisle, and Alexander Price.  If you are interested in learning more about WEPIFT, please contact  westendpift@gmail.com, look for us on Facebook, or visit westendpayitforward.org. If you are interested in joining the WEPIFT board, please send letters of intent to westendpift@gmail.com. The board also invites anyone interested to attend their meetings on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:00 p.m., which are currently being held as video-calls due to COVID-19. Please email the address above if you are interested in attending.

April Montgomery