West Greeley Project Updates

Residents may see crews working near the Catalyst site through mid-October. This activity is part of the Boyd Water Transmission Line Relocation project and does not indicate a new phase of Catalyst construction.

The City is working to minimize construction impacts and maintain reliable water service throughout the project.

The city is sharing a clear breakdown of how Certificates of Participation (COP) funds are anticipated to be used during the pre-development phase. In short, the largest share is expected to support design/engineering and site readiness work, including critical infrastructure like the Boyd waterline relocation and grading.

Total anticipated COP-funded spending shown in the chart: $100.6 million. Where the funding is anticipated to go:

Pie Chart of West Greeley COP Funds Used

• Design & Engineering at $46.7M: This includes architectural/engineering design for major components (arena, hotel, waterpark, civil and site work), plus project management and preconstruction oversight.
• Site Work at $24.1M: Planned for site readiness items such as Boyd waterline relocation, overlot grading, erosion control, site access, and related field oversight.
• Cost of issuance/interest carry at $10.9M: Financing-related costs, including issuance fees and capitalized interest.
• Other project engineers/consultants at $5.7M: Project-specific support for engineering/management tied to design, entitlements, and preconstruction services.
• City land costs at $5.2M: Costs associated with City land acquisition.
• Additional City and project support costs combined at $7.8M: Includes City owner’s representatives ($3.5M), developer fee ($2.9M), City legal costs ($0.9M), and other City project costs ($0.5M).

Why this Matters
This breakdown highlights the essential preliminary work required to prepare for the next steps of the project. It outlines the practical tasks needed early on, as agreed under contract, including planning, design, engineering, and site and infrastructure preparation. These crucial infrastructure and planning phases are vital for the west side of Greeley as the city continues to grow and focuses on intentional development for the future. This groundwork allows the city to make informed decisions and be ready for the upcoming steps.

In spring 2026, the City of Greeley formed the West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee to promote transparency and involve the community after the February 2026 referendum. The committee consisted of nine Greeley residents with different opinions: three who voted for the referendum, three who voted against it, and three who were unsure.

West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee Summary

What the Committee Did
From May to June 2026, the committee met every week for six weeks. Members reviewed information on the project, its costs, and design plans. They asked questions and considered different options for moving forward.

Key Takeaways the Committee Considered

As shared in the project overview brochure, the committee’s work took place in the context of:

• The community’s direction from the February 2026 referendum, which the City interpreted as a signal to slow down, find the right financing approach, and bring residents into the process.
• The reality that nearly $100 million had already been committed to feasibility studies, engineering, infrastructure development, and planning—meaning that walking away without a path forward could create pressure on existing City funds.

The Committee’s Recommendation to Council
At the June 9, 2026, City Council Work Session, the committee presented its first formal recommendation. The committee recommended that the City continue exploring a financial partner to help secure more favorable interest rates and recommended pausing the committee’s work until additional information becomes available.

A brochure summarizing the committee’s work is available on the project's official document repository page.

• Cascadia, a privately owned project developed by Water Valley Company, can continue moving forward.
• Catalyst, the City-owned entertainment district project, remains paused while the City evaluates funding options.

Read the full update for details on the court's reasoning and next steps.

Last week, August 13, the West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee held its final scheduled meeting. The committee reviewed the project’s status, discussed options for moving forward and shared perspectives on potential paths to financing the project moving forward.

Committee members discussed the project’s history, including work completed to date and the need to identify a workable path forward. The conversation reflected broad support for continuing to explore financing options to move the project ahead, while also recognizing that committee members held differing views on how that should happen and what approach would be most realistic and beneficial to the City of Greeley.

The meeting also surfaced continued interest in clear, high-level information about project costs, timelines and what has happened to date. Those topics will remain important as the City considers next steps and future communication with the community.

The committee’s discussion and input will be shared with City Council as it continues to consider the project’s path forward, including potential financing options.

Watch the meeting recording on the City's Meeting Portal.

The City of Greeley selected GroundFloor Media to help with communication and community involvement for the West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee. This partnership aims to keep residents updated about the West Greeley Project and help the City communicate large projects in the future.

Hiring expert consultants is common for cities handling big projects like this. These consultants have special skills in public communication and community engagement. The city selected GroundFloor Media for its strong plans and proven success.

"GroundFloor Media impressed us with their clear plan to help residents understand the West Greeley Project," said Bret Naber, deputy city manager. "Their team knows how to explain complex topics in simple language and create opportunities for real community conversation."

Why GroundFloor Media

GroundFloor Media is a Colorado-based communications firm with over 24 years of experience. They have worked with many cities in Colorado, including Denver, Lakewood, Grand Junction, Black Hawk, and Castle Pines. Their team is good at:

• Turning difficult information into easy-to-understand materials like infographics, timelines, and short videos.
• Planning town hall meetings and community events that allow the public to share their thoughts.
• Creating messages that are easy for everyone to understand.
• Supporting oversight committees and city staff with reliable information.

GroundFloor Media will help develop strategies, create content, train committee members, support town hall meetings, and provide regular updates to the City Council and residents.

To learn more about GroundFloor Media, visit their website at https://groundfloormedia.com/.

About the West Greeley Project

The West Greeley Project is a proposed effort focused on intentional community development, economic growth, and long-term benefits for the community. The Oversight Committee will keep reviewing project details, financing, and community impacts. GroundFloor Media will help share accurate information and encourage open discussions as this important work continues.

Below is an official news release from the City of Greeley:

City of Greeley Seeks a Communication Consultant to Support West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee and Public Education Materials

Short-term engagement will help ensure consistent, transparent communication and timely delivery of materials

GREELEY, Colo. – The City of Greeley seeks a skilled communication consultant. This agency will support the West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee and create educational materials. The consultant will also help the city give clear and accessible information to residents, as well as share feedback and recommendations.

The city and the previous consultant mutually agreed to discontinue the contract. The city is now moving forward with a search for a new consultant to continue communication support.

The city plans to choose from consultants who already have master service-level agreements. These firms have been vetted through the city’s process. This allows work to begin quickly and ensures continuity for the public.

The West Greeley Citizen Oversight Committee was established to support transparency and public engagement. The committee helps ensure informed decision-making as the city considers the next steps for the West Greeley project. The support of a new consultant will:

• Share clear and regular updates about the committee’s work and key project updates.
• Create educational materials to help residents understand the project and the information available.
• Help make complex information easier to understand and present it in a way that is friendly for the public.

The city hopes to engage a new consultant by the end of June. For updates on the West Greeley Project, https://speakupgreeley.com/west-greeley-project-update.

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