Colorado Big Country awarded 2008 partnership grants to the following organizations. Eagle County Qualistar Early Learning Four Star Rating Project – Eagle County is exploding in population, especially in the category of young children. Current licensed child care capacity meets only 40% of the need for preschool care, leaving 60% of families without a suitable option for preschool. Only 7% of early childhood teachers have a degree in early childhood education. Current service gaps are significant and without action, those gaps in service will force families to move from the community, will place children at risk and will further threaten the quality of Eagle County Schools. BLM-Eagle Ranch Habitat Improvement Project This is a cooperative habitat enhancement project, using vegetation manipulation practices to improve forage quantity and quality for mule deer in the area south of the Town of Eagle on approximately 2670 acres of BLM land and 110 acres of town open space. The proposed project area is classified as critical winter range for both deer and elk. Current vegetation is proposed to be manipulated through a variety of techniques to produce increased new growth, reduce competition between vegetative species, drill or inter-seed with more palatable plants, reduced noxious weeds and plants of poor forage quality. Garfield County Garfield RE-2 School District-Pole Vault- Rifle High School has begun the process of rebuilding their track and replacing the stands of Bear Stadium. Pole vault has been a long standing event in high school and collegiate competition across the country. After completion of this project, Rifle will be the only high school in Garfield County with pole vault. The coaching staff and students athletes are excited about bringing pole vaulting back to Garfield County. Parachute Ball Field Dugouts Improvement The 4 softball field dugouts were constructed in 1986. The recreational use has outgrown the capacity. The dugouts need to be increased in size and add a gravel and/or concrete floor to the structure. RESTORE-A Recycling Project Habitat for Humanity of the Roaring Fork Valley builds affordable homes in partnership with homeowner families, sponsors, volunteers, and communities to help eliminate poverty housing in the Roaring Fork Valley. It has also recently opened a Restore Supply Store. This store allows people to recycle construction and renovation waste by accepting gently used home furnishings and building supplies. The store needs a palette jack and palette rack system for the warehouse, a cash register and steel shelving. Mesa County Plateau Valley HS Agricultural Education Welding Program – The communities of Collbran, Mesa and Molina are being greatly influenced by the energy industry, but still have strong roots in agricultural production. Many students look toward vocational programs that will provide needed education in agriculture as they think about employment after high school. The shop needs several improvements that will allow them to offer welding, a skill useful in agricultural work. DeBeque School District Educational Programming DeBeque School District does not have access to the educational offerings that satellite companies and cable companies have in their programming. Having access to this programming would benefit the students and staff by providing a 21st century education through technology. Moffat County Sherman Park Ox-Bow Project – The Wyman Museum is establishing a “Fishing is Fun” facility and recreational park/picnic area for the public within the Wyman Museum boundaries. The purpose of the project is to improve the existing ox-bow, create a sustainable native aquatic wildlife habitat, and provide a recreational area of public use, free of charge. Rio Blanco County 4-H Youth Educational and Community Center – 4-H meets the needs of and engages young people in positive youth development experiences. These experiences are based on the idea that young people should be regarded as resources to be developed. After the 2006 Rio Blanco County Fair, the local Fair Board, Fair Grounds Committee and CSU Extension staffs met and determined that the current space at the fairgrounds was inadequate for the 4-H program because of a 64% increase in livestock projects. The new 4-H Educational Center will be used for agricultural and community activities, workshops and training institutes.