The Littleton City Council is ringing in the new year with an investment in the community, approving a substantial amount of grants intended to bolster local organizations, cultural entities, and tourism efforts, according to an announcement on December 9. The council, in its November 19 meeting, doled out grants across three funding frameworks for the upcoming 2025 fiscal year, distributing funds to various groups that aim to enhance the city’s social, educational, and cultural fabric.
In what has become a vital support system for organizations that directly impact the lives of Littleton residents, the Local Partnership Funding (LPF) grants, totaling $71,850, have been awarded to 21 recipients like the non-profit Break Bread, offering free community meals and HAAT Force South Metro Inc., engaging with solutions for homelessness, in addition to the Littleton Merchants Association, according to the City of Littleton. Additionally, eight in-kind event sponsorships were awarded, further bolstering the city's social offerings.
Not to be overshadowed, the Stadium District Funding (SDF) grants drew from a $1.2 million pot originating from Littleton’s inclusion in the Metropolitan Football Stadium District, with this year's allocation amounting to $352,500 and distributed among 14 varied groups such as YMCA of Metro Denver, the Littleton Public Schools Foundation, and North Littleton Promise, designed to uplift the city's youth through activity programs. As per the City of Littleton, leftover funds are available for next year's distribution, hinting at a possible last hurrah for the SDF grants as they may not continue beyond 2025.
The Lodgers Tax Funding (LTF) emanates from a votive decision back in 2022, whereby a 5% tax on short-term lodging like hotels and motels became a source of financial support for arts, culture, and tourism projects, and the 2025 grants amount to $750,000. The grants are split into four tiers, with the so-called "big four" cultural assets of Bemis Public Library, Hudson Gardens, the Littleton Museum, and Town Hall Arts Center, each bagging $100,000, while a collection of more than 30 local cultural organizations such as the Littleton Symphony Orchestra, the Depot Arts Center, and Arapahoe Community College shared the Tier 2 amount of $213,000; in addition, the city’s communications and marketing department is set to receive $100,000 to promote the "Visit Littleton" tourism campaign and lastly, $35,000 will fuel the city's mural program along with culture and art partners, helping to further enrich the communal landscape and draw visitors to Littleton's expanding tableau of attractions.
