The Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease (FML) District Board is pleased to announce the creation of the 2011 FML District grant program. Using the newly formed FML District to receive federal mineral lease funds, this competitive grant process was created to provide a new opportunity for eligible organizations to strengthen and enhance the communities of Mesa County.

The Mesa County FML District has adopted, as a foundation for funding priority, the 2011 Economic Development Priority of becoming an “Epicenter for Energy Innovation”. This approach was selected because of the business-driven, community-wide economic development process that established this goal. The District Board recognizes Mesa County has an opportunity to not only be the first to respond to the Governor’s Bottom Up Economic Development Plan Request, but to also be the first to invest meaningful resources towards implementing it.

Said Local Business owner and FML Board Member Craig Springer, “Mesa County’s FML Board has worked hard to create an FML funding process that invests today’s Federal Mineral Energy Dollars into our community and local economy for a better tomorrow. We feel fortunate to have these dollars available and want to be careful and thoughtful in how they are invested.”

The Mesa County FML District Board has received approximately $1.6 million from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for the 2011 grant cycle. Please note that availability of the funds for future grant cycles will depend on statutory and regulatory developments.

“We are extremely pleased that the FML Board chose to focus on the first goal of the Mesa County ED Plan for this funding,” noted Diane Schwenke, Grand Junction Chamber and a member of ED Partners. “This moves the plan forward into an implementation stage much more quickly. “

You can find the full grant application and additional information about eligibility at www.mesaFML.org. Please email info@mesafml.org for additional information.