Economic Stability (ES)

Goal 1

Increase benefit program enrollment among the eligible population.

Objective A (ES.1.A)

Engage single adult householders in Mesa County in focus groups to understand their unique enrollment barriers in order to craft a tailored communication campaign.

Action Item Status Note
1 Engage at least 20 Mesa County single adult householders in focus groups on the topic of benefit enrollment. In Progress Assigned
2 Conduct a communication campaign for single adult households informed by feedback and addressing the challenges identified in focus groups. Pending Completion of ES.1.A.1 Assigned

METRICS

  1. Engage at least 20 Mesa County single …
    • At least 20 total participants with presentation from single parent participants, working age (24-64) participants, older adults participants, and women participants Report on key takeaways from focus group to inform communication campaign.
  2. Conduct a communication campaign for …
    • At least six partners share or repost the campaign At least 3k views and engagement with the campaign Communication campaign for at least three platforms.

Objective B (ES.1.B)

Conduct a feasibility study for a universal application and tracking system for local benefit programs.

Action Item Status Note
1 Write a work plan for the feasibility study to identify key staff members, stakeholders, and resources. Not Started Looking for funding.
2 Implement feasibility study according to work plan. Publish results in formats appropriate for key stakeholders, potential funders, and community members. Not Started Looking for funding.

METRICS

  1. Write a work plan for the feasibility …
    • Produce work plan
  2. Implement feasibility study according …
    • Study report including recommendations for next steps Publish study including audience-appropriate reporting and a meeting for community partners to explain results and ask questions.

Goal 2

Increase engagement in job training and career ladder opportunities to improve household economic stability.

Objective A (ES.2.A)

Strengthen bilingual employees’ employment skills and service delivery capabilities through interpreter training, positioning it as a pathway for career advancement.

Action Item Status Note
1 Offer interpreter training for bilingual employees to develop critical interpretation and language skills, with a focus on effective communication in service settings. In Progress Assigned
2 Facilitate opportunities for trained interpreters to practice and refine their skills in health care clinic settings. Unknown Assigned

METRICS

  1. Measures for success
    • 40 participants enrolled and trained.
    • At least 3 industries are represented.
    • At least 85% of participants indicate they feel more prepared to provide interpreter services after the training.
    • At least 85% of participants intend to use the training in their professional environment.
  2. Opportunities for trained interpreters
    • At least X participants complete practice opportunities.
    • Participant feedback on readiness for interpreter roles and enhanced service delivery quality (using a retrospective survey).

Objective B (ES.2.B)

In partnership with the Mesa County Workforce Center, convene key stakeholders to map the workforce development ecosystem in Mesa County to understand resources and career pathways available

Action Item Status Note
1 Partner with the Mesa County Workforce Center to convene job training stakeholders to network, map the landscape of training opportunities, and learn best practices for referrals. Unknown Assigned
2 Identify specific needs, barriers, and assets for job seekers who are English language learners and job seekers who are bilingual. Unknown Assigned
3 Partner with the Mesa County Workforce Center to publish findings in an appropriate communication style for job seekers, programmatic connectors and employers. Unknown Assigned

METRICS

  1. Partner with the Mesa County Workforce Center …
    • At least 10 organizations participate in the meeting Representation from government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations
    • At least 2 Mesa County Public Health Grand Valley Connects Resource Navigators participate
  2. Identify specific needs, barriers, and …
    • Each meeting activity includes a specific follow up to evaluate how the conclusions do and do not fit the specified community members
  3. Partner with the Mesa County Workforce Center to publish …
    • Publication of findings for both audiences

Broad Economic Stability Metrics

Income Gap

Description Value Year
Gap between self sufficiency standard and median household income for female single parent households $31,152 2022
Self sufficiency standard income for female single parent households		 $64,730 2022
Median household income for female single parent households		 $33,138 2022
Gap between self sufficiency standard and median household income for female single adult over 65 households $6,382 2022
Self sufficiency standard income for female single adult over 65 households		 $30,985 2022
Median household income for female single adult over 65 households		 $24,603 2022

Medicaid Enrolment

Description Value Year
Medicaid Enrollment (Children) 48.9% 2023
Medicaid Enrollment (Adult) 23.3% 2023

SNAP Usage

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of families in need so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.

HOUSEHOLD RECEIVING SNAP

HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING SNAP
Name 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Colorado 8.7% 8.6% 8.2% 8.0% 7.5% 7.2% 7.4% 7.6% 8.0%
Mesa County 11.3% 11.7% 11.3% 11.5% 10.8% 9.7% 9.6% 10.1% 10.6%
United States 13.2% 13.0% 12.6% 12.2% 11.7% 11.4% 11.4% 11.5% 11.8%
Source
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, Table S2201; FOOD STAMPS/SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP).
Update Schedule
1-year estimates from ASC data are typically available mid September of the following year.
Next Update
2024 data in Mid September 2025

Housing cost burden

Renters pay a higher percentage of their income for housing expenses than homeowners in every community in Mesa County except the Rural South region. Nearly half of renters throughout the county are experiencing a housing cost burden, defined as paying 30% or more of their income towards rent.

HOUSING COST BURDEN
Region Percent Renters Total Household Burdened Renter household Burdened
Mesa County 28.1% 31.6% 49.1%
Colorado 33.7% 33.4% 52.2%
United States 35.0 31.7% 50.4%
Source
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 1-year estimates, Table: DP04; SELECTED HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS 2023.
Update Schedule
1-year estimates from ASC data are typically available mid September of the following year.
Next Update
2024 data in Mid September 2025