ADAMS COUNTY
2026 COMMUNITY REPORT
Local Government at Work for You
Dear Adams County Residents,
Every day at Adams County, our staff is hard at work to create programs and services our residents can be proud of. We work to build safer roads, help families access services, support local businesses, care for animals, create opportunities for people to thrive, and strengthen neighborhoods block-by-block.
As your Board of County Commissioners, we are dedicated to making sure taxpayer dollars are used in ways that directly impact our community. Whether through infrastructure, housing, public health, community programming, and resident services, our goal is simple: deliver responsive, responsible government that improves the quality of life for the people who call Adams County home. This Community Report is a snapshot of that work in action and the many ways your county government aims to show up for you.
This year, Adams County employees continued meeting residents where they are. Human Services connected more than 200,000 residents with benefits and assistance. Community Safety & Well-Being expanded programs focused on stability and opportunity, from tenant-landlord mediation and safe parking initiatives to financial empowerment programs supporting education, home ownership, and small-business goals. Public Works continued investing in thoughtful planning and infrastructure improvements to help keep Adams County residents on the road and connected to the things that matter most, no matter if they live in rural communities, suburban neighborhoods, or urban corridors.
We also invested in projects designed to strengthen community joy. Residents gathered at events like Adams County Pride, Festival Latino, Stars & Stripes, and the Adams County Fair, while neighborhood-focused programs like the Tool Shed and Block Party Trailers helped communities come together and support one another close to home. Through projects like the 58th Avenue reconstruction and youth mural collaboration, we continued improving transportation corridors while also creating spaces that reflect the creativity and identity of the people who live here.
Innovation and modernization efforts that serve all people remained a major focus in 2025. Departments across the organization embraced new technologies, strategic planning, and long-term investments that will help us better serve residents for years to come. Adams County launched a redesigned website and new .gov domain to improve accessibility, security, ease of access to information, and above all, public trust. The Colorado Air and Space Port continued building momentum in 2025, seeing strong operational growth and new business development opportunities, including through partnerships with Community & Economic Development.
Behind every number, program, and project in this report are dedicated public servants working hard on behalf of this community, just as you, our residents, work hard for your neighborhoods and loved ones each day. You’ll read stories throughout these pages that highlight not only what Adams County accomplished this year but also the partnerships, resilience, and local pride that made it possible.
Thank you for being part of Adams County and for allowing us the opportunity to serve you. We’re proud of the efforts happening across this county and committed to continuing that work in service of community—and in service of you.
Thank you,
The Adams County Board of Commissioners
Left to Right: Steve O'Dorisio, Julie Duran Mullica (Chair), Lynn Baca, Kathy Henson (Vice Chair), Emma Pinter
This year, Adams County is ramping up our town halls—which means more opportunities for residents to engage with our elected officials and county leadership about important topics your community is facing. Visit adamscountyco.gov/town-hall to see all the upcoming events!
About Adams County
With rich traditions and history, Adams County offers the best of suburban and rural life—vibrant cities, quiet towns, and miles of recreation. Located in the Denver metro area, Adams County is the state’s fifth-largest county serving a population of more than 551,000 residents. Adams County is home to the cities of Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Northglenn, and Thornton; portions of Arvada, Aurora, Lochbuie, and Westminster; and the Town of Bennett. Unincorporated communities include Henderson, Strasburg, and Watkins.
For almost 125 years, Adams County has been a place where Coloradans can build their futures—and because of that, we are a hub for population, cultural, and economic growth.
At Work in Our Community
Elevating Voices
In July, our Community Safety & Well-Being department hosted their first Elevating Voices: Art Showcase and Market. Participating artists all have lived experience with homelessness, and their unique talents creating quilts, jewelry, watercolor art, and more were on display at this special event. Elevating Voices was coordinated with EarthLinks, earthlinks-colorado.org, and Angelica Village. Check the recap video!
Back-to-School Bash
Held in late July, the Back-to-School Bash provided backpacks and other school supplies for hundreds of families. Attendees shopped for those supplies and learned about many other county and community partner resources. This event supported 1,427 students as they prepared for the 2025–2026 school year. See more photos from the event and check out the Back-to-School Bash recap video!
North Pole Gift Shop
In early December, the North Pole Gift Shop offered families a holiday-shopping experience to provide gifts for their children. In addition to the gift shop, families can learn more about available programs and community resources, and children are able to shop for gifts for their loved ones. In total, the 2025 gift shop provided 1,476 children with gifts, socks, and hoodies. See for yourself what a joyous event this was for attendees in our recap video!
58th Avenue Project
In August, the Board of Commissioners (BoCC) joined project stakeholders, community members, and staff to celebrate the completion of the 58th Avenue project. The full corridor reconstruction from Washington Street to York Street widened 58th Avenue to four lanes, including a center turn lane; added curb, gutter, sidewalk, and bike lanes; created a safe and passable corridor for traffic and pedestrians; relocated major water and sewer lines; added a signal to the Franklin Street intersection; and constructed a retaining wall. In addition to the roadway improvements by Public Works, our Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts (POSCA) department helped beautify the project in their partnership with local artists Jolt and CoCo of Guerilla Garden. The artists created a sprawling 308-foot mural that ran along the improvements of 58th Avenue, and they worked with eight youth artists from the Keystone Leadership Program at the Suncor Boys & Girls Club for a six-week workshop series to design and install the mural. Learn more.
Website Launch
In September, residents got an upgraded Adams County website and domain—adamscountyco.gov. The new site was fully redesigned with resident usability in mind; shifted the domain to a .gov URL to improve access and public trust; and enhanced security, accessibility, and credibility. The website launch was a key milestone in the county’s broader efforts to modernize public services, enhance community engagement, and increase accessibility.
Asset Development Program
Our Community Safety & Well-Being (CSWB) Department introduced the Asset Development Program in 2025. This program helped reduce wealth gaps by supporting Adams County residents in building long-term financial stability through matched savings, financial literacy, and coaching. Participants saved up to $1,000 and received a nine-to-one ratio county match, enabling them to invest up to $10,000 toward home ownership, post-secondary education, or small-business development. In November, the program had 23 active participants—five pursuing home ownership, 12 pursuing education, and six working toward small-business goals.
Tenant-Landlord Mediation and Housing Counseling Program
Residents needing assistance with neutral mediation and housing navigation can utilize our Tenant-Landlord Mediation and Housing Counseling Program, provided by the CSWB Department. In 2025, the program managed 201 mediation cases, with 40% resolved successfully outside of court. Each avoided eviction saves taxpayers an estimated $10,400, and the program demonstrated a 4:1 return on investment by diverting households from costly homelessness response systems. In addition to remediation, the program supported more than 250 households annually through housing counseling and continues to expand landlord participation. This reduced housing instability, strengthened renter-landlord relationships, and prevented unnecessary court involvement.
Public Outreach Sites
Our Human Services team provides public outreach sites where residents can learn more about all our assistance programs and get answers to questions about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and cash assistance. There are sites in Arvada, Bennett, Brighton, Commerce City, Thornton, and Westminster, and walk-ins are always welcome. To see the full list of locations, visit adamscountyco.gov/outreach-events/.
Tool Shed & Block Party Trailers
The Tool Shed Program is in its fifth year of operation, and the Block Party Trailer Program is in its third year. These programs provide free, resident-focused resources that support property care, mutual aid, and neighborhood connection across the county. In 2025, the Tool Shed was used by 120 individual reservations and supported 27 community-led cleanup efforts. The Block Party Trailer was reserved 23 times and helped residents of unincorporated Adams County host inclusive events that brought neighbors of all ages and backgrounds together. These programs illustrate how resident-driven resources can strengthen neighborhoods, encourage collaboration, and support community pride across the county.
Gravel Road Rehabilitation Program
Our Public Works Department’s Gravel Road Rehabilitation Program enhances gravel road longevity at the lowest cost. Our experience shows spending $1 on gravel maintenance will save or delay spending $6–$10 on future rehabilitation or reconstruction costs. Roadway traffic volume, resource availability, and maintenance capability ultimately dictate how a gravel road is constructed and surfaced. While gravel roads are typically less expensive to construct and often less to maintain, monitoring and maintenance are needed more frequently. To learn more about the program and see the maintenance maps, visit adamscountyco.gov/gravel-resurfacing. You can also learn more in this video.
Long-Term Recovery & Resiliency Strategic Plan (SPARC)
In May, Adams County created the Long-Term Recovery & Resiliency Plan to strengthen the county’s ability to anticipate, respond to, and recover from disruptions such as natural disasters, health crises, and economic challenges. Coordinated by the Office of Strategic Partnerships & Resilient Communities (SPARC), this plan brings together existing projects, programs, and partnerships into a single, coordinated framework. This plan will help identify available resources, address service gaps, and ensure essential services remain operational during emergencies. Learn more about the plan at publicinput.com/s0172.
Second Poet Laureate Named
In September 2025, Adams County and Anythink Libraries proudly announced Aerik Francis as the second Adams County Poet Laureate. This joint initiative celebrates the role of poetry in building community, fostering creativity, and amplifying the diverse voices across the county. Francis' two-year residency will connect communities through poetry and host events at locations across Adams County and Anythink Library locations, inviting the public to learn the craft of writing and performing poetry.
Take a look back at some of the Best Moments in Adams County throughout 2025.
Adams County Health Department (ACHD)
- $1.3 million in tax refunds saved for 561 families who participated in the Maternal, Child, and Family Health team’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site. Some individual refunds reached as high as $20,000 thanks to the Family Affordability Tax Credit.
- 17,623 individuals served from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, with an average monthly caseload of 11,589 residents per month.
- The Love My Air program through the Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN) expanded the number of sensors from 24 to 27 in 2025. Each new sensor means another school, neighborhood, or community partner had reliable information to make healthier day-to-day decisions.
Budget & Finance
- Adopted five-year Capital Improvement Funding totaling $64.5 million—$45.7 million in capital projects and $18.8 million in major maintenance projects.
- Awarded the Government Finance Officers Association Triple Crown Award: Excellence in Financial Reporting, Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
Colorado Air and Space Port (CASP)
- 125,584 takeoffs and landings.
- 100,000 sq. ft. of private hangar development and investment.
- Welcomed Boom Supersonic and McAir Aviation as new tenants. Boom will be testing and developing a new jet engine design, and McAir, in partnership with the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, will offer flight training.
Communications
- 1,400 total design, video, writing, photography, and other projects for both internal-facing and external-facing departments.
- In partnership with Information Technology & Innovation, one brand new website was launched, providing better access and easier navigation of county programs and services for residents.
Community & Economic Development (CED)
- $2.54 million in grant funds: Grant funding secured to support beneficial electrification and building policy work—$1.04 million from the Colorado Energy Office Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant and $1.5 million from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG).
- Celebrated ground-breaking for Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM)'s new facility at Rocky Mountain Rail Park.
- Completed new Strasburg Subarea Plan with a Neighborhood Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), which was developed with significant community engagement and in collaboration with staff from Arapahoe County.
Community Safety & Well-Being (CSWB)
- $468,000 saved by taxpayers through the Neighborhood Stability Project. A total of 26 households were prevented from eviction.
- 10,473 nights of unsheltered homelessness averted thanks to the Severe Weather Activation Program.
- Animal management officers responded to 3,562 calls in 2025—an 18% increase from 2024.
- A total of 3,459 instances of graffiti were removed in 2025. By removing graffiti across neighboring jurisdictions, the program disrupts spread; strengthens prevention; and contributes to cleaner, safer public spaces.
- Code compliance responded to 1,867 new cases, up 12% from 2024.
Facilities & Fleet Management (FFM)
- 250 attendees and 15 local vendors attended the first regional Earth Day event, launched by FFM.
- 60 county facilities provided with maintenance and improvement projects—including multiple roof replacements—to ensure safe, reliable, and well-maintained spaces for staff and the community.
- Conducted strategic review of approximately 40 key county properties to evaluate facility condition, capacity, and utilization and develop a long-term plan that aligns with the county's mission for the next 20 years.
- Replaced eight vehicles in the county fleet and added two new electric vehicles (EV), resulting in a total of 10 new EVs.
Human Services
- Adams County served 212,645 residents with food, medical, and cash assistance.
- Provided benefit assistance to 22,401 residents at 446 outreach sites throughout the county.
- The Workforce & Business Center (WBC) career center served as a vital community hub with 12,282 in-person visits and nearly 20,000 service calls, providing residents with essential tools and resources, program eligibility, training opportunities, workshop registration, referrals to partner agencies, and general navigation of services.
- Head Start was fully enrolled and 287 kids had a successful school year, including 187 children who transitioned to kindergarten.
- Supported 85 families with the challenges they were experiencing and reunified 136 children with their parents through the Children, Adult & Family Services (CAFS) division.
Information Technology & Innovation (ITi)
- In partnership with Communications, ITi migrated the old website adcogov.org to the new, user-friendly adamscountyco.gov.
- Upgraded critical network infrastructure and laid the groundwork for large-scale modernization of servers, connectivity, and security.
- Completed a major organizational realignment into five specialized ITi divisions and continued executing the multi-year strategic roadmap.
Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts (POSCA)
- Celebrated with 203,811 guests at all the summer events—Pride, Stars & Stripes, the Adams County Fair, and Festival Latino.
- Hosted 1,746 rentals at Riverdale Regional Park.
- Distributed $2,461,701.88 in Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) funding to 91 Tier III organizations serving Adams County.
- Installed 146 new wayfinding signs including directional signs, trail system identifiers, mile markers, park signs, and more along Clear Creek Trail, Little Dry Creek, Niver Creek Trail, and the South Platte River Trail.
People & Culture Services (P&C)
- The Learning and Development division delivered 98 classes, with 1,090 attendees, and achieved improved satisfaction
scores—rising from 4.5–4.6 to 4.7–5.0. - Employee Relations provided extensive support with 394 cases, including coaching, behavior and performance matters, and increased leader capability through training programs.
- The Compensation and HRIS team completed 352 compensation requests and implemented a new request form.
Public Works
- Maintained or repaired a total of 8,194 lane miles (7,800 lane miles of gravel road maintenance, 150 miles of paved road maintenance, and 244 miles of pothole repair).
- Secured $35 million in financing to support and smooth active construction in the Capital Improvement Projects delivery schedule.
- Worked toward accreditation with the American Public Works Association (APWA).
Riverdale Animal Shelter (RAS)
- Provided over 140,000 days of shelter to companion animals.
- 8,277 pets were vaccinated.
- 10 mass impound cases were handled with care.
- 4,030 animals adopted into their forever families.
- 3,587 spay/neuter, dental, and other surgeries provided to the animals in RAS' care.
In Service of Adams County
- All our county departments work together to build one strong county community.
Support that
Strengthens Communities
Adams County Scholarship Fund (ACSF)
Sixty Adams County high school students were awarded scholarships totaling more than $1.1 million in May 2025 through the Adams County Scholarship Fund. Adams County Commissioners introduced the Scholarship Fund in 2016, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, making this the 10th group of recipients. The scholarships were funded with the voter-approved 3% sales tax on retail marijuana sales in the county. In addition, the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative matched the sales tax funds to increase the scholarship pool. First-generation and low-income high school seniors were among those eligible to apply for one of the scholarships.
Telephone Town Hall
In April 2025, our Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) hosted a telephone town hall for residents, business owners, employees, and visitors. We covered many topics for the attendees, and the full recording is available to listen to on our website. We also provided a recap of the town hall in our All In Adams podcast.
Town halls were provided throughout the rest of 2025 and will continue into 2026 and 2027. Find information about the next event at adamscountyco.gov/town-hall.
Community Enrichment Grants
The BoCC awarded $800,000 in Community Enrichment Grants to 21 nonprofit organizations serving residents throughout the county. These grants help fund programs that assist individuals and families with their basic needs and provide the support they need to stabilize households and foster long-term community well-being.
By partnering with these nonprofit organizations, the county was able to reach deeper into the community and address specific needs through the expertise of each group. These collaborations not only amplify the impact of the county’s efforts but also ensure vital resources and services are available to those who need them most. Through this funding, Adams County continued to build a strong network of nonprofits, giving organizations the tools they need to do what they do best while improving the lives of countless families across the county.
Open Space Grants
More than $33 million in open space grants has been awarded to recipients through the 2025 Open Space Sales Tax Grant Program across both spring and fall grant cycles. This significant investment reflects Adams County’s continued commitment to preserving and enhancing the natural spaces that make our community special.
When we invest in our community, it builds a sense of pride and creates places where residents can gather, play, and enjoy the outdoors.
The awarded projects cover a wide range of improvements, including open space land acquisitions, new trail construction and upgrades, park renovations, and athletic field improvements. Each project plays an important role in ensuring residents of all ages have access to safe, welcoming, and well-maintained outdoor spaces for years to come.
Community Events
Get ready for the 2026 Adams County Fair and Festival Latino with a look back at the full suite of our 2025 signature events.
For video with captions, please visit our YouTube channel.
For video with captions, please visit our YouTube channel.
Adams County Festival Latino 2024 video. For video with captions, please visit our YouTube channel.
Adams County Festival Latino 2024 video. For video with captions, please visit our YouTube channel.
There's more where
that came from on the
All In Adams podcast.
Your go-to podcast for in-depth stories about the programs, people, and progress shaping Adams County. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Learn more.
Adams county LEADERSHIP
Elected Officials
Commissioner Julie Duran Mullica
Chair, District 1
Commissioner Kathy Henson
Vice Chair, District 2
Commissioner Emma Pinter
District 3
Commissioner Steve O'Dorisio
District 4
Commissioner Lynn Baca
District 5
Thomas Swingle
Assessor
Josh Zygielbaum
Clerk & Recorder
Monica Broncucia-Jordan
Coroner
Brian Mason
District Attorney
Gene Claps
Sheriff
Alex Villagran
Treasurer & Public Trustee
Executive
Leadership
Team
Dionne Stroter
County Manager
Alisha Reis
Senior Deputy County Manager
Kristin Sullivan
Deputy County Manager
Jeff Holliday
Deputy County Manager
Heidi Miller
County Attorney
Senior
Leadership
Team
Dr. Kelly Weidenbach
Bettina Schneider
Jeff Kloska
Amber Ferguson
Jenni Hall
Matt Rivera
Ameer Faquir
Katie McDougal
Jason Schultz
Byron Fanning
Andrew Segrest
Stay in touch with Adams County!
Keep up with us online and on social media:
adamscountyco.gov
Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | Nextdoor
Sign up for our semimonthly Absolutely Adams newsletter.
Adams County Government Center
4430 S. Adams County Pkwy.
Brighton, CO 80601
Ph: 303.659.2120 | 800.824.7842
Built with Shorthand