FIRC to open Breckenridge office

As Summit County’s needs continue to change, the Family and Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC) will soon open a second office on Airport Road in Breckenridge. The new location will offer all of the services currently out of its Silverthorne office, including appointments with family support managers, health navigators and parenting and cooking classes.

“I can’t overstate how essential FIRC’s services are to this community,” Summit County Commissioner and FIRC board member Thomas Davidson said in a statement. “By adding a location in Breckenridge, those services are going to be far more accessible to those living and working in the southern portion of Summit County, and FIRC staff will be able to deliver them more efficiently.”

Every year, more than 3,500 locals use the FIRC’s services, including parenting classes, the food bank, cooking classes and home visits for young children. Last year, more than 700 Breckenridge residents used FIRC programs. For those without a car, the commute to Silverthorne by bus takes nearly an hour.

“There’s definitely poverty in Breckenridge, which a lot of people don’t realize,” FIRC executive director Tamara Drangstveit said. “This will really make it easier on everyone.”

With a large portion of Summit County residents putting 30 to 60 percent of their income toward housing, the cost of raising a family only increases year-to-year. In addition, nearly half of the FIRC’s clients are below the federal poverty line.

With more workforce housing planned for the town of Breckenridge, some designed for families, programs director Anita Overmyer noted that the time was right to open a second office.

The new office will be located in the former Summit County District Attorney’s office, which was moved next to the Summit County Justice Center last year. Summit County agreed to sell the facility to FIRC for $475,000, taking into account the many services the organization provides.

With the help of the town of Breckenridge, Breckenridge Grand Vacations and private donors, a $100,000 down payment was raised to help cover the cost of the move. Summit County is providing financing for the remaining balance, which FIRC will pay back to the county over a period of 30 years.

“We’re so excited about this opportunity to serve the growing population in Breckenridge that could benefit from our services,” Don Dankner, Breckenridge resident and FIRC board president, said in a statement. “I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to make this purchase possible.”

With a closing date set for Feb. 29, the new office is planned to open in March. For more information, visit SummitFIRC.org.

Senior Center preps for winter games

The Summit County Community and Senior Center’s annual winter games are coming up at the end of the month. The fundraiser gives older adults the opportunity to compete in alpine, Nordic and ice skating events.

The games first started in Summit County in 1983, hosted by Arapahoe Basin and the Frisco Nordic Center. Since then, Keystone and the Frisco Nordic Center have become the primary hosts.

The games are one of the main fundraisers for Summit County Senior Citizens, providing a wide range of activities for seniors in the community. This year, the games will take place from Sunday, Feb. 21 through Tuesday, Feb. 23. Anyone who wishes to participate can download the registration form from http://www.co.summit.co.us/DocumentCenter/View/13127.