Moffat County approves conceptual event center master plan, backs $2 million DOLA resiliency grant application

Moffat County commissioners on Nov. 26 approved a conceptual master plan for a multipurpose event center at the county fairgrounds and authorized staff to apply for a Department of Local Affairs resiliency planning grant to advance design and resiliency work.

The action followed a presentation noting the master plan is phased and conceptual. The chair said the plan is a starting point and not final design, adding, “this is a phased plan… Nothing is set in stone here.” Commissioners framed the project as part of a broader effort to diversify local revenue after past economic shifts and to market county assets such as Trapper Industrial Park.

County staff explained the grant option: the county can apply to DOLA for up to $2,000,000 with a 10% local match; staff said they chose this route rather than a $1,000,000 option that would require a 50% match. The staff member told the board the grant committee had reviewed the proposal and recommended moving forward.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that the master plan will require subsequent design, engineering and funding decisions before any construction. “It’s a lot of money, and we gotta find out how we pay for it, but you have to start with this,” the chair said in support of approving the plan.

The board voted to approve the master plan as presented and to authorize submission of the DOLA resiliency grant application. Next steps include advancing engineering and design work and pursuing identified funding sources if the county is invited to apply further or awarded grant funds.