About Us
The GES Investment Fund exists to redistribute power and resources by funding community-led programs and projects that disrupt inequity and foster generational well-being in Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea.
We are fiscally sponsored by Colorado Nonprofit Development Center. The CIF is a group of community volunteers seated by former councilwoman Ortega and CdeBaca.
Our Guiding Principles
Mission
To redistribute power and resources by funding community-led programs and projects that disrupt inequity and foster generational well-being in Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea.
Values
Accountability, Cooperative Economy, Transformative Justice, Interdependence & Solidarity, Ownership, Neighborhood Power.
Vision
Thriving and healthy GES neighborhoods that leverage our cultures, resilience, ancestral memory, imagination, skills, and collective power to create a world where prosperity is shared.
Values in Action
Prioritize community ownership, reject extractive models, resist displacement, and ensure GES retains control and benefits.
Our Funding Categories
Grant-making
Housing, health, wealth-building, arts, youth/older adults, community voice, environment, food access, education, scholarships.
Investment
business incubation, co-op development, commercial real estate development, endowment.
Revolving Loan Fund
lending circles, development loans, business loans, criticial home repairs, ADU/ACU support, legal support.
Outreach & Education
financial coaching, trainings, events, scenario planning, technical assistance (RFP process support, grant writing support, applying for 501c3, CBA negotiations, legal.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Globeville, Elyria, Swansea Community Investment Fund (GES CIF) is an entity that was formed in Spring 2021 intended to distribute funds to Globeville, Elyria and Swansea community and neighborhood residents.
In 2015, the City and County of Denver, the Western Stock Show Association, and Colorado State University entered into a binding partnership in the development of the National Western Center through a document called the Framework Agreement (FA). The Framework Agreement called for a “Community Investment Fund” (CIF) to be formed to support projects, programs and other community benefits in the surrounding neighborhoods of Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea.
The GES CIF exists to support and fund community wants, needs and aspirations that focus on the inequalities in the surrounding neighborhoods of Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea.
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Community Investment Funds (CIF) provide dollars targeted to communities that have been affected by policies and decision making that systemically harm people economically, educationally, environmentally, and/or sociologically. Communities receiving CIF resources can be neighborhoods, cities, countries, etc., or as particular populations in an area.
CIFs typically prioritize funding ideas that look to solve imposed inequities that prevent a community from thriving in place, and sustaining healthy, productive living across generations.
In the long-run, CIF projects and initiatives can directly contribute to deconstructing inequitable systems and replacing them with equity-based investment systems. However, the model has a mission and strategies to immediately impact lives in communities constructively – improving in the near-term the day-to-day health of and opportunities for residents and businesses.
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On September 28, 2017, after a six-year process to secure the National Western Center Campus (NWCC) Development master planning and funding authorizations, three Equity Partners - City and County of Denver, National Western Stock Show Association, and Colorado State University- signed the binding National Western Center Framework Agreement, for an initial fifty-year term with two twenty-five-year term extensions possible. The Framework Agreement also established the National Western Center Authority Board to oversee the administration of the Framework Agreement requirements.
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The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is a 16 day event held each January. The Western Stock Show Association (WSSA) is the supervising non-profit organization for the NWSS. The National Western Stock Show now leases land and venues from the National Western Center Authority for the Stock Show and other events.
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The 2017 Framework Agreement incorporated the GES CIF as a Structured Obligation of the National Western Center Authority and the National Western Center Campus Equity Partners to prioritize NWCC Development tied Benefits for the Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea Neighborhoods. The GES CIF and the promise of a guiding Community Benefits Agreement, are both outlined in the Framework Agreement.
The Community Investment Fund Board was formed in Spring 2021 and is made up of Globeville, Elyria and Swansea residents that are defining the Community Investment Fund’s systems, structure, and functions moving forward. The CIF is an independent entity that is not part of the National Western Center Authority nor the City and County of Denver Government.
The Framework Agreement called for the Community Investment Fund to support projects, programs, and other community benefits in the Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea neighborhoods specifically - due to the severity of the likely impacts of the NWCC Development within these neighborhoods particularly.