Julie Lukela sees many older adults walk into the Pierce Senior Center on a weekly basis to socialize with each other. And most every Tuesday, one patron Lukela affectionately calls “the puzzle guy,” strolls across the tan carpet and past the pool table to sit down at a card table that houses puzzle boxes and a half-finished puzzle. His wife, on the other hand, joins Lukela and the other women to chat about life and compete in fun trivia games.

While the town owns the senior center, it’s run by the Pierce Senior Center nonprofit, of which Lukela is a member. She loves seeing the joy the space brings to the people who enter its doors. She is even more excited for older adults to come to the center now that the dining room has new walls — the previous walls were wood paneled — and a ceiling that isn’t teeming with asbestos. And in the coming months, the bathrooms, which are not compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, will be upgraded along with the tiny kitchen off the dining room.

“The center has been around since the 1970s and hasn’t really been updated since,” Lukela said, while looking at the wood-paneled walls, carpet and tiny kitchen. “For an older adult, having modern amenities in a place where they come to socialize is key.”

These improvements are being completed to the tune of $120,000 from Weld County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The benefits to the seniors who visit the center are further emphasized when Lukela thinks about not having access to the CDBG program.

“The money for the upgrades would have needed to come via donations from families who utilize the senior center,” she said. “With this funding, the repairs to the dining area were made in a matter of months. The bathrooms and kitchen have yet to be remodeled, but that should happen before the end of the year.”

Pierce is far from the only municipality to benefit from the CDBG program. In fact, 12 municipalities have received funding to complete community improvement projects since Weld County began implementing the program in 2020. Funding for CDBG projects began in 2021.

In 2019, Weld County was notified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that Weld County’s population exceeded 200,000 residents, excluding the population of any other entitlement cities in the county, such as Greeley, Brighton and Longmont, which qualified Weld County as an entitlement county. To date, more than $3 million has been distributed to municipalities in Weld County.

One of the biggest benefits of the CDBG program is its versatility. While dollars must be used to help communities address urgent needs, eliminate slums and areas of blight and benefit low- to moderate-income persons, communities and residents have had a say in what those projects should be — making the CDBG money the county has distributed uniquely beneficial countywide.

“Seeing the projects come to fruition and the efficiencies they’ve created in our communities is the highlight of this program,” said Cynthia Martin, Weld County CDBG Analyst. “I’m proud to work with a county that is able to help residents have better amenities and thrive.”

Funding has helped construct ADA compliant ramps in Milliken, Eaton, Hudson, Keenesburg and Firestone. Funding was also used to transform Idaho Street in Evans from dirt to paved asphalt that residents can walk down with ease. For 60+ Ride Services, a wheelchair-accessible van was fully staffed while a 40-unit affordable housing apartment complex is being constructed in Frederick. Safety issues in Firestone and Erie homes were reversed, a 50-year-old waterline in Dacono was replaced and water fixtures in as many as 50 houses in Evans were upgraded.

Lukela is proud of the improvements that have been made to the senior center in Pierce this year and is hopeful that even more will be made soon.

“We’re going to apply for more CDBG funding to make further upgrades to the center. The kitchen, dining room and bathrooms are a fantastic place to start, but we’re wanting to upgrade the entire facility for the older adults who enjoy socializing here. It’s the least we can do to support them,” she said, before a chuckle escaped her mouth. “And we’ve assured ‘the puzzle guy’ that these improvements will be made around his workstation.”

Meeting a need

Before the CDBG program was established in Weld County, municipalities had to compete against each other and every other county in the state for funding. Being able to apply directly with the county has created a smoother application process while increasing a community’s chances of receiving funding.  After five years of assisting with the facilitation of the CDBG program, Martin is in awe of its benefits.

“Back in 2020, we only had three municipalities apply and be awarded funding,” Martin said with a soft chuckle. “But over the course of these five years, the program has flourished into a sought-after resource by the 25 municipalities that participate. We now have around 10 to 15 applications each year, and we’re hoping even more are received annually in the years to come.”

In September, the county received more than $1 million to fund various projects in 2025 — money that will undoubtedly help the CDBG program continue to have an impact and communities continue to thrive.

The Weld County Department of Public Works knows quality road construction starts well below the driving surface. That's why there are employees dedicated to shaking, sifting through and looking, rather intensely, at dirt. In the next issue of County Roots learn more about this work and the positive impact it has on delivering the best road improvements possible.