Sen. Schwartz congratulates five Southern Colorado school districts awarded BEST grants

STATE CAPITOL CELEBRATES
B.E.S.T. ANNOUNCEMENT

DENVER – Today, Senator Gail Schwartz ( Senate District 5 ) joined Governor
Bill Ritter, State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, and former Speaker of the House
Andrew Romanoff to officially announce the schools receiving new schools
buildings and improvements under the B.E.S.T. (Building Excellent Schools
Today) program.

Of the eleven school districts selected to receive grants, five are from
Southern Colorado. The five Southern Colorado school districts and projects are:

Alamosa School District RE-11J;
two new elementary schools will replace three elementary schools

Sangre De Cristo School District RE-22J;
new PK-12 school

Centennial School District R-1;
new PK-12 school

Sargent School District RE-33J;
new junior/senior high school and elementary school renovation

Mountain Valley School District RE-1;
roofing and repair under designed structure

Officials and students from the Sangre de Cristo School District traveled
to the State Capitol to take part in the announcement. Superintendent Lynn
Howard and Lyle Nissen, Chairman of the Capital Construction Committee,
thanked Senator Schwartz and state officials for their support of rural
school districts.

“In Colorado’s current economic climate, securing the funding for these badly needed projects is critical to help provide safe schools for our children,” said Senator Gail Schwartz. “New schools also mean hundreds of new constructions jobs in these communities that will help stimulate the local economy. I am thankful for the support of State Board of Education for Southern Colorado’s public school systems and the families that rely on them.”

The total cost of the first round of B.E.S.T. grants totalled over $98,000,000.

Senator Schwartz was a key sponsor of the 2008 legislation that created the
B.E.S.T, or Building Excellent Schools Today, program. B.E.S.T. increases
the financial assistance provided to school districts by the State of
Colorado for desperately- needed capital construction projects,
particularly in rural school districts.


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JOB CREATION AND FOREST MANAGEMENT

Senate Chamber
State of Colorado
Denver

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

CONTACT

Alejandra Garza de Gutierrez (303)866-5288
Abigail Vacanti (303) 866-4882

JOBS COMMITTEE ENCOURAGES FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR JOB CREATION AND FOREST MANAGEMENT

DENVER— Wednesday, Democratic members of the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to encourage continued federal funding to strengthen Colorado’s economy, part of which would come from the federal recovery President Obama signed into law yesterday.

Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass), the Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth, submitted the letter Wednesday after a briefing at the Joint House and Senate Agriculture Committee meeting on 2008 Forest Health Report by Jeff Jahnke, State Forester, and Rick Cables, the U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester.

Tuesday President Obama traveled to Denver to sign the $787 billion “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” into law at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. That bill included $3.1 billion for repair restoration and improvement of public facilities on public and tribal lands. Colorado is hoping some of this funding could go toward important projects in the state which will create jobs for Colorado workers.

"Colorado is well positioned to use the federal recovery money to stimulate job creation, particularly in the forestry industry and new energy economy," said Senator Schwartz. "We must find jobs for the thousands of people who have lost theirs here in Colorado, and this is a huge opportunity to put people to work and help our environment. This is something everyone needs to step up on, we have our children's future at stake and must not let this opportunity pass us by."

The letter reads: “Colorado’s land base is comprised of a majority of federal land ownership which creates a unique relationship between federal land management agencies within the state and our citizens.” The letter goes on to describe forest improvement projects that are shovel ready and waiting for federal funding: “We can complete these projects through many means that offer jobs to the citizens of the state.”

The Democratic members who signed the letter include: Senator Gail Schwartz, Chair, (D-Snowmass), Rep. Joe Rice (D-Littleton), Senator Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver), Rep. Judy Solano (D-Adams), Senator Rollie Heath (D-Boulder), Rep. Buffie McFadyen (D-Pueblo).

Join me in Chaffee County!

Saturday February 14th
Buena Vista & Salida

BUENA VISTA at 10 am
Buena Vista Community Center
715 E. Main Street
Buena Vista, Colorado

SALIDA at 2 pm
Bongo Billy’s Meeting Room
300 W. Sackett Avenue
Salida, Colorado

With today’s economic issues on all of our minds, take advantage of this opportunity to speak directly with your State Senator for Chaffee County. Gain perspective on how Colorado’s budget decisions may affect your neighborhoods, communities and businesses.

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Topics to be covered include:
The state of Colorado’s budget
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Schwartz
Renewable Energy & Transportation
Select Committee on Job Creation & Economic Growth
Ideas for stimulating growth within our local economy


For more Information please contact:
(303) 866-4871
gail.schwartz.senate@gmail.com

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SEN. SCHWARTZ ATTENDS INAUGURATION

JANUARY 20, 2009...HISTORY WAS MADE!

(Gail & Alan Schwartz)

Tuesday January 20, Senator Gail Schwartz attended the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, President Barack Obama, in Washington, D.C.

“It was an honor to be a part of this historic inauguration. As I stood in the crowd of millions of people and listened to the words of President Obama, I truly felt inspired to be a part of this new hope. I am very enthusiastic about working with the new administration to bring jobs to Colorado and particularly to District 5.”


It was wonderful to be surrounded by a crowd so unified and energized by the new President. We have all worked tirelessly to help get him elected, traveling to Washington to share in the day and personally be a part of history was remarkable. Everyone in attendance seemed committed to doing their part to help ensure President Obama’s success going forward.

The inauguration was a very inclusive occasion — the culmination of a nationwide team effort -- with a real feeling that we have helped change of the tide of our nation, and own a tiny piece of it. I look forward to working with the new administration to chart a better course for Colorado and our nation.

(Sen. Schwartz & Senate Pres. Groff)