Colorado Grants Return For Energy Production Impacts
DENVER (AP) - An improving Colorado economy means municipalities affected by energy and mineral production will be eligible for money that lawmakers were using during tough budget times.
Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper said Tuesday that state would make $20 million available to communities as part of the state's Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance grant program. The funding has been unavailable since August 2010.
Hickenlooper says the money goes to repair and build roads in communities impacted by energy and mineral production. The funds are also used to build and restore water and sewer systems.
The Legislature created the program in 1977.
Lawmakers did not use severance tax dollars to balance next year's budget. The money for the program comes from severance taxes and revenue from federal mineral leases.
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