Littleton Independent 022422

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Week of February 24, 2022

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

LittletonIndependent.net

VOLUME 133 | ISSUE 31

Bemis Library restores hours Community hub was one of hardest hit by cuts during pandemic BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When she took over as director in December 2020, Nancy Trimm faced a dire reality for Littleton’s Bemis Library: It’s staff was cut by 30%, a result of several pandemicfueled early retirements and one layoff. And the virus was once again surging, with the library only able to offer curbside pickup and some online appointments. “It was certainly challenging,” said Trimm, who added that Bemis was among the hardest hit of the city’s services. Now, as it nears two years since COVID first forced it to shut its doors, Bemis Library is preparing to turn the page on its pandemic story with a full restoration of its usual hours and a bolstering of its staff and programs. “It feels fantastic,” Trimm said. “It’s such a relief to be able to return to the level of service that we believe our community deserves and it’s really exciting to be able to both hire some new staff and also put staff who are working in temporary positions into regular status.” Beginning March 6, the library will be reopened Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m., extend its closing hour to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and open its doors an hour earlier, at 9 a.m., on Saturdays. With an influx of tax revenue last year spurred by the city’s rebounding economy, city council signaled its support during a Jan. 25 meeting to approve $456,718 from its general fund to restore staff and services to pre-pandemic levels. SEE LIBRARY, P21

Colleges help support businesses with work training grants ACC is part of longstanding program offering $1,400 per employee to hone skills BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As it nears two years since COVID first forced it to shut its doors, Bemis Library is preparing to turn the page on its pandemic story with a full restoration of its usual FILE PHOTO hours and a bolstering of its staff and programs.

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 22

For over three decades, Colorado’s community colleges have worked with the state government to offer a grant-based jobs training program for businesses. At Arapahoe Community College (ACC), based in Littleton with campuses in Parker and Castle Rock, businesses can apply to be reimbursed $1,400 per employee for training programs that are tailored to their needs. Funded through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the program, Skill Advance Colorado, is administered by 18 community college campuses across Colorado that, combined, can support $4.5 million in grants per year. The goal, according to ACC Workforce Business and Development Coordinator Emily Martini, is to “ensure that Colorado has a robust workforce so that business that is here, or considering locating here, has opportunity.” “If we have a business here whose growth is stifled because they do not have training for those employees they need, they’re going to be going somewhere else,” Martini said. Amid a volatile job market, where businesses are seeing fewer and SEE COLLEGES, P23

VAN LIFE

With four wheels and a view, let it roll P14


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