WASHINGTON, January 20, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill).

SDA Board Member James T. Walker passed away on January 18, 2012 at the age of 83, surrounded by his family. The SDA Board and Staff will feel the loss of this longtime Board Member, a genuine character, always quick with a quip and an opinion.

Mr. Walker has served on the Special District Association of Colorado Board of Directors from 1977 to 2012, a distinction that he regarded as his way to help special districts. He truly represented “a district’s point of view.”

After 28 years of lobbying at the state legislature, I feel that I have earned the right to muse a little, don’t you?  We haven’t had a real good muser around here since Pete Smythe, and we probably still don’t have a real good one.

SDA Provides Designated Election Official Training Online for Your Convenience

The Board of Directors of a special district is authorized to appoint a Designated Election Official (DEO) to conduct the District’s election.  However, just what does that mean to you and your District?  Who trains the DEO on the responsibilities of that position?

Click here to view

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2012/lr22215.htm

Staff members from Lottery-funded Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) will be offering grant-writing workshops around the state in January to assist local communities in preparing applications for GOCO’s Local Government Park, Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Education grants.  Applications are due March 2 with grant awards to be made in June 2012.

DOLA executive director Reeves Brown announces payments of more than $10 million for local governments

 DENVER ­- Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 - Reeves Brown, executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), announced $10,740,475 in quarterly Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) payments has been made to 467 counties, municipalities, and Title 32 special districts that provide park and recreation services in their service plans. 

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Douglas Bruce