Yampa Valley Housing Authority was one of 22 entities across the state recently awarded funding through Colorado Parks and Wildlife for this year’s Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant.

The housing authority was awarded $73,000 for two trash and recycling enclosures to be constructed at an apartment complex and a mobile home park in Steamboat Springs to fortify areas of highest human-bear conflict.

This year’s awards statewide of almost $1 million through a competitive grant process will provide funding for communities, municipalities, businesses and nonprofit organizations working to create innovative ways to reduce human-bear conflict and keep communities and wildlife safe. 

In 2021, Colorado leadership approved a bipartisan law that directed CPW to distribute funding to local communities to help reduce human-bear conflicts and support native species conservation.

“Human-bear conflict measures cannot be successful without collaboration between local communities, wildlife managers and individuals,” CPW Grant Manager Travis Long said. “Fortunately, CPW has seen success with this grant program.”