The city of Steamboat Springs has received $1.3 million in congressional funding for the currently in-the-works workforce housing and child care project known as the Campbell property, according to a Feb. 5 news release from U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet’s office.

The funding, requested by Sens. Bennet and Michael Hickenlooper, is part of $141 million in congressional directed spending for 110 projects total across the state and will be used for site work and construction at the properties next to the Steamboat Springs Community Center, according to Deputy City Manager Kelly Romero-Heaney. 

The city unanimously approved the purchase of two parcels owned by CDOT at 1707 Lincoln Ave — otherwise known as the Campbell property — for a total of 4.0 acres in November, with a closing date set for March 5. 

“The City of Steamboat Springs appreciates the advocacy by U.S. Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper to secure $1.3M in CDS requests for the proposed child care workforce housing project,” said Romero-Heaney in a statement to the newspaper.

“These CDS funds are an important piece of the funding puzzle for a project that aims to tackle housing and child care workforce shortages through the development of a transit-oriented, walkable community, adjacent to the Steamboat Springs Community Center and Transit Center,” she continued. 

“This assemblage within the greater community center and transit center campus offers a prime redevelopment opportunity to meet the community’s needs,” she added. “Details of how best to develop and operate the proposed project will need to be determined by a community-informed master plan design process.”