Empire, CO (November 9, 2017) – The Freeport-McMoRan Foundation has announced 2017 Henderson-Area
grant recipients.
A total of $200,000 will be awarded to four organizations serving two counties – Clear Creek and Grand.
The Foundation has pledged to invest $1,000,000 in the two counties from 2017-2021. $200,000 will be invested per year through an RFP process and will align with priorities identified by the communities through their work with the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
The company facilitates the Grand and Clear Creek Community Partnership Panels (CPP), stakeholder
engagement processes established by Freeport-McMoRan in 2010 to foster open and ongoing dialogue with the community. The CPPs allow the company and the communities to work together to develop thoughtful
solutions that address community issues. Foundation investments support programs and projects that help
create sustainability and reduce dependency on any single industry.
Clear Creek County – $50,000
Clear Creek Housing Assessment Update & Goals Implementation
Clear Creek County, Clear Creak Economic Development Corporation, local business owners and community
members will collaborate to solicit a housing consultant to reevaluate the 2012 housing needs assessment,
update the analytical information and provide strategies to implement at least one workforce housing
development in 2018.
Grand Foundation – $100,000
Community Housing Impact
Led by the collaborative work of the Grand County Leadership for Sustainable Communities Cohort, the
investment builds infrastructure around the identified critical need of lack of attainable housing. The work will provide opportunities to make housing available in the short-term while also building a plan to address the issue in the long-term.
Kapoks – $20,000
Grand Enterprise Initiative
Funding will build a strong and diverse economic base in Grand County by nurturing entrepreneurs with free
and confidential business management coaching. The investment will provide support through the year 2020.
Freeport-McMoRan 2
Town of Georgetown – $30,000
Georgetown Gateway Project
The town of Georgetown will use these funds to complete final design and prepare for improvements to the
gateway road entering the Historic Downtown Commercial District. This part of the project is critical to allow the town to utilize state funds awarded for project completion. The goal is to attract more visitors to the Historic District resulting in an increase in economic vitality for the community.
Additionally, in response to a request from the town of Empire, Freeport-McMoRan will provide a used CAT
420E Backhoe. By utilizing inventory that the company had on hand, we were able to invest more dollars in the community while still meeting a need for the town.
Through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, our goal is to enable the community to adapt and meet the social and economic needs of its residents, becoming increasingly sustainable over time,” said Tracy Bame, President, Freeport-McMoRan Foundation. “We are pleased to be a partner in supporting processes and activities that assist in creating a vision for the future, establishing action plans, and implementing the kinds of programs and initiatives that will help the community reach its goals. The projects supported through this process represent the path to a viable future and we thank the engaged community leaders, members and nonprofits who are working to create successful, sustainable communities.”
Additional information about Freeport-McMoRan community investments and programs may be obtained by
visiting www.FreeportInMyCommunity.com or by contacting Tara Hosick at thosick@fmi.com.
