Fort Morgan council authorizes $24,500 police wellness grant application
The unanimous vote came three days before Colorado’s July 24 deadline; the grant requires no local match, but the application has not been awarded.
Fort Morgan City Council unanimously authorized the police department Tuesday to apply for a $24,500 Colorado Department of Local Affairs grant supporting psychologist-led wellness checks, peer support and a financial-wellness app for officers.
The vote came three days before the state’s July 24 deadline for the grant round. It authorizes an application, not an award; DOLA will decide which applications receive funding, according to the city council meeting recording.
Police Chief Sharp told the council the grant would support “peace officer’s behavioral health support and community partnerships.” He described psychologist-led wellness checks, support for the department’s peer-support program and access to the Guide app on officers’ phones. The public discussion did not specify a project start date, participant count or service term.
The department would not need to provide a local match. Sharp said the grant would be “100% paid for by the grant” and the city would have “no financial obligation on it.” DOLA’s official funding notice also says applicants are not required to provide a local match.
DOLA’s FY 2026-27 program page identifies the program as the Peace Officer Behavioral Health Support and Community Partnership Grant Program and lists about $1.6 million in new statewide funding. Municipal police departments are eligible applicants. The state notice lists peer-support programs, counseling, therapy, training, education and software licenses among allowable uses, but the available Fort Morgan records do not say whether DOLA has specifically approved the proposed financial-wellness app.
DOLA says applications will be evaluated on their purpose, stated need, connection to organizational goals, measurable objectives and line-item budget. Fort Morgan’s public discussion did not establish its own success measures or an award date. The application and any subsequent grant agreement would show how the city plans to track the program.