The Growth and Success of KCRD
Kit Carson Rural Development (KCRD) is a non-profit 501c3 that was founded in July of 1993 through a grant from the USDA. After several years KCRD went dormant, in 2005 KCRD was reinstated. KCRD began with small projects such as town clean up days, installing a town welcome sign, and the installation of streetlamps and landscaping on Main Street. The following is a list of other completed and ongoing KCRD Projects.
Completed Projects:
- 2007 - KCRD received its first grant, a Great Outdoors Colorado Grant (GOCO) to improve the town park (renamed Prairie Park).
- 2009 - KCRD worked with the The Colorado Brownfields Foundation and received a $200k EPA Grant to clean up a large brownfield site on Highway 40/287 (aka the Paxson building). Other essential partners in this project included CDPHE, and OPS.
- 2009 – Worked with Prairie Development Corporation on a project to remodel the former Hilltop Apartments to create three new homes for rent.
- 2010 – Awarded $1 Million HUD HOPE IV Main Street Grant to build five new, single-family, affordable homes. KCRD leveraged $338,000 in additional funds and in-kind work.
- 2014 – Awarded $500k HUD HOPE VI Main Street Grant to build two new, single-family affordable homes and remodeled a third single family affordable home. KCRD leveraged $160,000 in additional funds and in-kind work.
- 2017 – Purchased and remodeled the Sage Brush Business Center and created business incubator space for three businesses which were immediately rented out.
- 2019 – Abated asbestos at a house at 504 Highway 59, then demolished it, cleared the site, and brought in a brand new Champion modular home that was immediately sold.
- 2020 and 2021 – In cooperation with the Town of Kit Carson, Cheyenne County Road and Bridge, Kit Carson School, Aspen Leaf, and numerous volunteers cut down and removed over 100 dead trees from the town for local property owners.
- 2020 – Purchased Old Texaco Site which was then sold in March of 2022 to a family that will be building a new truck stop in 2023.
- 2020 - Purchased, abated asbestos, and demolished all structures at .9-acre site (106 Park Street). This site is for sale and could be used for a home or a business.
- 2021 Sage Brush Business Center becomes Wildcat Corner– In addition to the 2 renters we have had for years, the Kit Carson School opened a School Store, Wildcat Corner, run by students.
- 2022 - Received a DOLA Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) grant, Boettcher Foundation Grant, and matching contributions to build a 4,224 commercial building with shared workspace on the empty lot that was cleared with the help of an EPA Grant in 2009 (Paxson building).
- August 2022 - The Kit Carson HUB with Shared workspace opened for business. Two commercial spaces are available for rent.
- 2023 - Awarded Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) Direct Effect Grant to paint a Mural on Wildcat Corner (work completed by Some Girls and a Mural)
- 2023– More parking lot work at Hub building with Shared Workspace (with the help of DOLA REDI funding) - work included new ADA pad, curb stops, and more rock
- May 2023 - Work completed on Five Brand New Homes - $500k HUD HOPE VI Main Street Grant and $225k DOLA Division of Housing Grant to build 5 new, two-story modular homes on 2 sites in Kit Carson; 402 Main Street and 502 Park Street. Asbestos was abated with the help of CDPHE grant at 402 Main and the old home was demolished. 502 Park was cleared. Received Cooper Clark Grant to financially assist affordable housing project. Five hew homes arrived in January 2023, were set in February of 2023, all received Certificates of Occupancy in May 2023. Four were rented immediately and one was held open to sell.
- October 2023 - DOLA IHOI grant funding work complete on all five brand new homes, this added garages, driveways, walkways, fences and landscaping.
- 2024-NPI Program - $40k grant awarded to increase capacity for KCRD, a part time special project coordinator and a housing consultant were hired in March 2024.
- 2024 DOLA Local Planning Capacity Grant - was applied for and awarded in 2024, allowing the Town of Kit Carson to hire a housing specialist and a housing consultant to address the many barriers to building affordable housing in Kit Carson.
Projects in Progress:
- 2024-2025 Affordable Rental Housing- Construction on a new duplex began 8/1/24 and is set to be complete in February 2025.
- Partnership and work continues between KCRD and the Kit Carson Housing Specialist - addressing flood plain issues, water and sewer infrastructure, 21% vacant housing inventory, and the safety of roads in the Town of Kit Carson.
Articles about KCRD
El Pomar Foundation -"Awards for Excellence 2017 - Kit Carson Rural Development"
U.S. EPA Region 8 - "The new Kit Carson Hub..."
Colorado Sun -"In rural towns like Kit Carson, a housing and development conundrum born of rising.."
Kiowa County Independent -"Kit Carson Rural Development is Turning Blight Into Business Opportunity"
Colorado Sun -"In housing-starved Kit Carson, Coloradans band together to find a solution"
Board of Directors
Amy Johnson
Marilyn Ward
Marilyn Ward
Chairperson
Amy has lived in Kit Carson since 1995 and is currently the Vice President of Collins Ranch.
Marilyn Ward
Marilyn Ward
Marilyn Ward
Co-Chairperson
Marilyn has lived in Kit Carson since 1974. She is currently retired from The Eastern Colorado Bank where she worked as Assistant Vice President of Operations.
Joel Maxcy
Marilyn Ward
Joel Maxcy
Treasurer
Joel has lived in Kit Carson since 1982. He is currently the Kit Carson Branch President of The Eastern Colorado Bank.
Karen Wolf
Marilyn Ward
Joel Maxcy
Secretary
Karen has lived in Kit Carson since 1985. She is currently retired but was formerly the Deposits Operations Officer at the The Eastern Colorado Bank.
A Special Thank You To ALL Our Supporters
These projects have been made possible through partnerships with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing (DOLA DOH), Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), Boettcher Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, Anschutz Family Foundation, Cooper Clark Foundation, CU Denver School of Architecture, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ENEL Green Power, Town of Kit Carson, Cheyenne County Commissioners, Eastern Colorado Bank (ECB), Cheyenne County Abstract Office, Kit Carson R-1 School District, Colorado Brownfields Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Flying Diamond Ranch Foundation, Collins Johnson Family Foundation, Loren Mitchek, and all the local plumbers, electricians, HVAC, contractors, and other trades people. Lastly our most valuable contributors are our many volunteers, THANK YOU!