“Thank you to all the voters who supported ballot issue 2A. While this issue unfortunately did not pass, I know we are a community who supports our police department. To our police officers, who we rely on to keep us safe, please know that our city and my administration is firmly behind you. Our residents are asking for a safer Colorado Springs, and we are committed to delivering on that expectation. Despite this result, the new facility for the Police Training Academy will still be constructed. As always, we will get creative piecing together the funding needed to ensure our community is safe. Public safety remains my top priority, and we are focused on improving recruiting, retention and response times. In the spirit of delivering a government that is transparent, proactive and approachable, you can continue to follow the progress of the new police training facility at ColoradoSprings.gov/PoliceTrainingFacility.”  - Mayor Yemi Mobolade

As Colorado Springs and its airport grows, so too does Peak Innovation Park (Peak), an inspired new business park that is developing at the Colorado Springs Airport in the southeast part of our city. Right now, you can start to see new buildings going up around the entrance to the airport, highlighted by a new 104,000-square foot facility that Frito-Lay plans to use as a distribution center.

The Colorado Springs Police Department has worked closely with the City of Colorado Springs City Attorney’s Office to investigate and remove vehicles that repeatedly commit major traffic violations from our streets through a new strategy utilizing the Vehicle Public Nuisance Ordinance (VPNO).

The City of Colorado Springs has received a “Safe Streets and Roads for All” grant from the US Department of Transportation to fund a citywide traffic safety action plan to reduce roadway deaths and serious injuries. 

During Wednesday’s tenth annual Mayor’s Young Leader Awards, Mayor Yemi Mobolade recognized seven individuals for making extraordinary efforts in their field while having a positive impact in the Colorado Springs community. Sgt Daryl Griffin, Matthew Minneman, Connie Ryan, Matt Radcliffe, Ashley Cornelius, Latisha Quintana, and Brianna Goodwin received awards. The award ceremony launched in 2015 to celebrate the outstanding achievements of young professionals age 40 and under, the 2023 winners were selected from 30 finalists.

Applications are open now for the Survive and Thrive: Accelerate COS – Small Business Loan Fund program. Exponential Impact (XI), in partnership with the City of Colorado Springs will provide loans, along with mentorship and learning opportunities through the Survive and Thrive program. This program offers a unique opportunity for small businesses in our community to gain access to capital, education, and mentoring to help them grow their businesses. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West will open three Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to meet the needs of businesses and individuals who were affected by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes that occurred June 8 – 23. SBA customer service representatives will be on hand to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the process and help each individual complete their application.

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services announced the arrival of two new Trackchairs to assist visitors with mobility challenges in exploring the trails and open spaces in Colorado Springs. This program, a part of the Therapeutic Recreation and Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) programs, will remove barriers and allow visitors to explore designated trails not suitable for regular wheelchairs. 

The Planning Department accepted two awards from the American Planning Association (APA) Colorado Awards for the RetoolCOS project, which resulted in the adoption of a new and modernized Unified Development Code earlier this year. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services received two awards from the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association. Former City Council Member Stephannie Finley-Fortune posthumously received the “2023 Community Champion Award”, which recognizes an individual who truly is a dedicated supporter and voice for the parks in our community. The PRCS Department also received an award for the renovation of Panorama Park, which was completed last year. 

On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council passed a resolution opposing Proposition HH, An Undue Limitation on Municipal Budgets and local control of Property Tax Relief.