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A New Vision For Public Safety

Transforming Public Safety Through Community Development

The Transforming Safety project invests in North Aurora and Southeast Colorado Springs to support community development through small business loan and grant programs. The project uses a new safety framework that focuses on preventing crime in the first place by:

Focusing on economic and community development in specific neighborhoods more impacted by crime and justice system involvement
Empowering local community members to identify priorities and solutions
Providing funding to the community
Using a private sector approach that braids both for-profit and non-profit strengths

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North Aurora and Southeast Colorado Springs

SMALL BUSINESS LOANS

$1 million a year to Community Development Financial Institutions for small business lending. The loan program will expand small business lending in the target communities of N Aurora and SE Colorado Springs. Small business loans are limited to 5 years and $50,000.

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COMMUNITY GRANTS

$3 million a year for a grant program, managed by The Denver Foundation, that will award grants based on the crime prevention priorities identified by each local planning team. Grant application information is available for both North Aurora and Southeast Colorado Springs.

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LOCAL PLANNING TEAMS

Through an open application process, local planning teams will be selected for N Aurora and SE Colorado Springs. Each planning team will determine their community’s crime prevention priorities for the grant program. The planning teams are required to represent a diverse cross-section of the community including: education, business/workforce, youth & families, nonprofit direct service, faith leaders, law enforcement/local government, and residents, including those that have been directly impacted by crime and involvement in the criminal justice system.

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Investing in Safer Communities

How does this work?

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Community Voices

Hear from North Aurora and Southeast Colorado Springs

Hassan Latif, Executive Director, Second Chance Center, Aurora

“When given the opportunity, individuals and by extension communities, will seize upon ways to improve their overall condition. HB17-1326 is a unique example of justice reinvestment’s potential to improve economic growth and increased safety through entrepreneurial support and community development.”

Pastor Taj Stokes, Executive Director of THRIVE and SE Colorado Springs resident

“This bill is an opportunity to begin a new way of building community. Empowering people can directly impact public safety and prevent crime and here’s our opportunity to prove it.”

Anthony Perez, President, Concilio Hispano de Empresas de Colorado Springs

“Thanks to leadership and a new vision, the City of Colorado Springs is on the rise with growth and innovative economic development. We’re seeing it every day. Growth and innovation brings opportunities and House Bill 17-1326 will allow the citizens of Southeast Colorado Springs access to the funding needed to seize these new opportunities. I believe House Bill 17-1326 will provide current business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs the resources needed to offer their services and goods throughout the city, while also giving people new work skills to take advantage of the opportunities created in Olympic City USA.”

Omar Montgomery, President, NAACP-Aurora chapter

“The Aurora Branch of the NAACP believes that House Bill 17-1326 will open doors of opportunity for individuals looking to launch their business or develop innovative strategies to make our community safe. The goal is to change the way we look at criminal justice reform by encouraging entrepreneurship and developing grassroots strategies that will support the City of Aurora in keeping our city safe. The NAACP looks forward to witnessing how House Bill 17-1326 turns dreams into a reality!”