Chaffee County has released its 2026 investment plan for the voter-approved Common Ground initiative, along with a new five-year financial strategy aimed at strengthening long-term stability while continuing to deliver community impact.
Since its launch in 2018, the Common Ground program has funded projects focused on forest health, wildfire risk reduction, conservation of working lands and rural landscapes, and managing the impacts of growth and outdoor recreation.
In 2026, the program expects to distribute more than $1 million generated through county lodging tax revenues.
The Board of County Commissioners has adopted a five-year funding and reserve strategy designed to honor existing and anticipated multi-year grant commitments while maintaining flexibility to support new projects and opportunities.
The next competitive grant cycle will be announced this summer, with awards expected to be made in January 2027.
