East Denver Colfax Partnership Inc

THE FAX PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHENS AND SUPPORTS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALONG THE EAST COLFAX CORRIDOR WHILE ADVANCING A VISION OF EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT.

BUSINESS SUPPORT OFFICE: IN 2023, THE FAX PARTNERSHIP HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ASSISTING 89 BUSINESSES WITH GENERAL BUSINESS SUPPORT. WE CONDUCTED 15 CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED) WALKS FOR BUSINESSES ON THE EAST COLFAX WHICH ALLOWED US TO ASSIST EIGHT BUSINESSES IN MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR PHYSICAL SECURITY, SUCH AS INSTALLING SECURITY CAMERAS, IMPROVING CASH REGISTERS, AND CONDUCTING MAINTENANCE ON THEIR PROPERTY. WE ALSO HELPED 17 BUSINESSES APPLY FOR GRANTS AND LOANS TO SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH AND EXPANSION.EAST COLFAX CULTURAL DISTRICT: IN 2023 THE FAX AND THE COMMUNITY FINALIZED A LOGO FOR THE NEWLY CREATED EAST COLFAX CULTURAL DISTRICT. THE LOGO WAS DESIGNED BY A DENVER ARTIST, FOLLOWING MONTHS OF COMMUNITY INPUT. THE LOGO WAS UNVEILED AT AN EVENT IN MARCH 2023. LATER IN JUNE THE FAX HOSTED AN EVENT WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE LOGO ARTIST PAINTED THE LOGO ON THE WALL OF A LOCAL BUSINESS. IN THE FALL OF 2023, THE FAX LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE CULTURAL DISTRICT; TEN LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS. THE COMMITTEE WILL GUIDE THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT IN FUTURE YEARS.

EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE:IN SEPTEMBER 2022, THE FAX PURCHASED TWO EAST COLFAX MOTELS. THE WESTERNER MOTEL AND THE SAND & SAGE MOTEL, LOCATED AT 8405 AND 8415 E. COLFAX, WERE ACQUIRED WITH THE VISION OF DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AVOIDING INVOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE NEXT SIX YEARS. IN SEPTEMBER 2023, VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OF COLORADO STARTED THEIR LEASE OF THE FAX'S MOTEL PROPERTIES IN WHICH THEY WILL OPERATE THEIR FAMILY HOUSING PROGRAM WHILE THEIR THEODORA FAMILY MOTEL IS REHABILITATED. THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FAX'S MOTELS WILL BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER 2028, ONCE THE EXISTING BILLBOARD LEASE AT THE PROPERTIES EXPIRES.

RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT OFFICE: IN 2023 THE FAX PARTNERSHIP INITIATED ITS FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM AND BY THE END OF THE YEAR, 258 HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM RECEIVING NUTRITIOUS, ETHNICALLY DIVERSE FOOD. THE FAX ALSO ORGANIZED A FRESH FOOD POP-UP IN OCTOBER WHICH PROVIDED FRESH FOOD TO 60 FAMILIES, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE NOVEMBER FOOD AND COAT DRIVE DISTRIBUTING 350 COATS, 200 BOXES OF FOOD, AND 63 TURKEYS. BY THE END OF 2023, THE RSO DISTRIBUTED IN EXCESS OF 20,000 DIAPERS AND 11,000LBS OF FOOD. ATTENDANCE OF OUR 2 SUMMER FAIRS EXCEEDED 750 PEOPLE WHERE ATTENDEES RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 568 BOOKS, 544 PAIRS OF SHOES, 500 BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND 250 COVID TESTING KITS. THE RSO ALSO CONTINUED ITS COLLABORATION WITH TAX HELP COLORADO TO OFFER TAX PREPARATION CLINICS FOR A 2ND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, WITH 47 HOUSEHOLDS FILING THEIR TAXES THROUGH THE PROGRAM RESULTING IN OVER $75,000 IN REFUNDS THAT MAY OTHERWISE NOT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THE RSO ASSISTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THEIR LEAP AND SNAP APPLICATION AND BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSE POPULATION IN EAST COLFAX, REGULARLY SENT OUT INFORMATION IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, BURMESE, AND AMHARIC TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE AWARE OF THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO THEM.