With the new year comes a new opportunity for Cortez community members to take the helm and chart a new course for their city.
The city of Cortez is looking for residents of all ages, occupations and interests to participate in the Heart & Soul Community Planning Initiative.
Having recently been awarded a $100,000 Orton Family Foundation grant, the city is now looking for participants to form a community advisory team to help steer the project.
We want to see all facets of the community represented, said Kirsten Sackett, director of planning and building for the city. We dont want it to be exclusive.
This could include representatives of non-profit organizations, governments, schools, youth groups, local media, businesses or the general public. Multiple individuals from the same organization are welcome, Sackett said.
While she doesnt want participants to get their expectations too high, Sackett hopes community members will jump in and take an active role in guiding the grant project through the next two years and into the future possibly writing the next chapter of the citys history.
There is currently no limit to the size of the advisory team, which may be broken into subcommittees to tackle such tasks as hiring a project coordinator, designing the project, creating a budget, creating a website to communicate with the public and making decisions.
Meeting times and leadership structure for the advisory team have not yet been established, but a informal meeting to get the ball rolling is planned for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9, at the Cortez Library, 202 North Park St. Light refreshments will be served.
Those interested in participating on the advisory team should have letters of interest submitted to Sackett by Friday, Jan. 13. or mailed to 110 West Progress Cir., Cortez.
Letters should include an outline of why individuals would like to participate, what they can bring to the table, and what they hope to accomplish.
Cortez was one of five communities in the nation selected for this years Orton foundation award.
Sackett previously said the grant could facilitate more community involvement in the local economy, education system, an overhaul of the land use code or plan development in certain areas of the city.
The selection came after numerous community members pitched in for the application process, producing a promotional video and hosting foundation representatives in a tour of the community.
For more information, contact Sackett at 565-7320 or ksackett@cityofcortez.com.
Reach Reid Wright at reidw@cortezjournal.com
