History

In 2005, the Colorado Defense Mission Coalition (CDMC) recognized a community-wide need to prepare the region for rapid military growth. The organization approached PPACG about developing a proposal for the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) at the Department of Defense.

In August 2006, the Department of Defense awarded a $518,000 grant for PPACG to launch the Fort Carson Regional Growth Plan to assist the region in preparing for the impacts of military growth.

Over the next two years, PPACG conducted the first phase of the study, and in July 2008 the PPACG Board approved the Phase I Fort Carson Regional Growth Plan report. The Phase I Plan achieved several important goals:

• Provided a high-level look at the issues facing the Pikes Peak region as a result of the coming population increases
• Developed recommendations for further research and action steps to meet Fort Carson growth-related needs
• Initiated regional communication and infrastructure to ensure a coordinated approach to address Fort Carson growth impacts,

The Phase I Plan also identified the need for further research and planning in order to effectively meet community needs. The OEA responded by granting PPACG $1.98 million in additional funding for further planning efforts.

Phase II analyzed in greater detail the effect that Fort Carson’s population increase will have on a multitude of resource areas. The final Phase II plan, completed in July 2010, provides the region with a comprehensive analysis of expected growth, as well as a coordinated approach to addressing the growth-related opportunities and challenges in the Pikes Peak region.

Phase III of the Growth Plan was initiated in July 2010 and focuses on regional communication and coordination, as well as implementation of the Phase I and Phase II recommendations.