Front Range Community College lands $1.3M grant for Larimer campus

FORT COLLINS — Front Range Community College has been awarded a multiyear Trio Student Support Services grant for the college’s Larimer Campus. The $1.3 million federal grant, which will be distributed over a five-year period, will fund a new campus program from September 2025 through September 2030.  

The federal grant “reinforces FRCC’s commitment to ensuring success for every learner, with a particular focus on students who are first-generation, come from low-income backgrounds or have documented disabilities,” according to a press release. Existing Trio SSS programs at FRCC’s Westminster and Boulder County campuses also continue to receive federal funding. 

The award will allow FRCC to expand its support services that help students persist, complete and transition to further educational and career opportunities. Over the next five years, the college will use the funds to provide academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, financial-literacy support, transfer guidance and career exploration to eligible students at the Larimer Campus. 

“This additional Trio SSS program will be transformative for our students,” Gabriel Castaño, vice president of enrollment management and student success, said in a statement. “It allows us to deepen our commitment to success for every learner by providing resources, coaching and guidance to students who face the greatest barriers to completing their education.” 

A U.S. Department of Education evaluation found that Trio students at two-year institutions are 48% more likely to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year college than their peers not in the program. 

“We will use this funding strategically to ensure every participant receives proactive, holistic support,” said Vanessa Mendez, FRCC’s senior director of retention and support services. “Our goal is to not only help students stay in college, but to help them graduate, transfer and launch meaningful careers.” 

Under the Trio SSS program, FRCC anticipates serving 140 students per year who meet federal eligibility criteria.

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