Historic Colfax Aims for Up to $120K in Levitt Grant to Bring Free Concerts Downtown
After months of tireless work, strategic planning, and fierce competition against hundreds of cities nationwide, the Historic Colfax Downtown Association is proud to announce that Colfax CA Downtown Revitalization has advanced to the public voting round for the prestigious Levitt AMP Music Series Grant.
This isn’t just another grant opportunity—this is a historic moment for our town. Only 100 cities in the entire country made it this far. Last year, just 33 communities received this funding, making our advancement an extraordinary achievement.
If we win, Colfax could receive up to $40,000 per year for three years in matching funds from the Levitt Foundation. That means as much as $120,000 in total funding to host up to ten free concerts annually—bringing world-class live music, new visitors, and fresh energy to our historic downtown.
The impact goes beyond music. This grant represents an opportunity to reignite our local economy, boost tourism, and create lasting cultural experiences that will bring our community closer together.
How Colfax CA is revitalizing its downtown with live music
Imagine warm summer evenings where families, neighbors, and visitors gather under the stars to enjoy top-tier live music—for free. Picture our streets alive with local food vendors, artisans, and businesses buzzing with customers drawn by the events. That’s what this grant could deliver.
Over the three-year funding period, these concerts would:
- Drive Economic Growth: Increased foot traffic means more business for local restaurants, shops, and lodging.
- Boost Tourism: Colfax could attract visitors from across Placer County and beyond.
- Enhance Community Pride: Public spaces would become vibrant gathering places that bring our diverse community together.
- Preserve and Showcase Local Culture: Each event would highlight Colfax’s rich history while building new traditions for future generations.
The Road to the Final Round
Getting to this stage wasn’t easy. To pass the first round, our team had to:
- Create a comprehensive event budget that detailed every dollar’s purpose.
- Design an official event logo as if the concerts were already happening.
- Develop a full-scale marketing plan to promote the events and maximize attendance.
- Collect numerous letters of support from community members, nonprofits, and local leaders to prove that Colfax truly wants—and deserves—this opportunity.
This effort took nearly 100 hours of dedicated work and meticulous strategy, positioning Colfax as a competitive contender among much larger cities.
A Call to Action: Community Support Needed
Now comes the most important step—public voting.
The voting period runs from September 5–15, 2025, and the Levitt Foundation has already sent us $1,500 to promote community engagement during these ten days. But that’s just the beginning—winning depends entirely on how many votes we can rally.
We’re calling this an “all-hands-on-deck moment” for Colfax.
Some doubters—outside our community—once told us we had no chance. But here we are, proving them wrong. Now we just have to cross the finish line together.
How We’re Mobilizing Colfax
We plan to host a community meeting at City Hall to bring together:
- Local nonprofits
- City of Colfax
- Business owners
- Residents of all ages
- Anyone passionate about Colfax’s future
The meeting will focus on:
- Community Outreach Plans – Reaching every household and business in Colfax.
- Social Media Campaigns – Leveraging Facebook, Instagram, and local groups to spread the word fast.
- Vote Collection Strategies – Making it easy and convenient for every supporter to cast their vote.
We already have a framework for this campaign, but we need voices, hands, and hearts from across the community to make it happen.
Our Mission: Breathing New Life into Downtown Colfax
The Historic Colfax Downtown Association’s mission is clear:
To breathe new life into downtown Colfax by honoring its history, uplifting its people, and creating spaces where community can truly take root.
Colfax is a town built on grit and rooted in history—a place where stories still matter. We believe true revitalization happens when those stories are preserved, when neighbors are connected, and when every person feels like they are part of that legacy.
With this grant, we can take a giant step toward transforming Colfax into a bustling, connected, and economically strong hub in Placer County—one that honors the past while building an exciting future.
Ways to support Colfax CA during the Levitt Grant voting period
- Mark Your Calendar: Voting runs September 5–15, 2025.
- Spread the Word: Tell friends, family, and colleagues—every vote matters.
- Join the Meeting: Help us refine our outreach plan and get involved.
- Follow Us on Social Media: Stay updated on voting instructions and events.
Together, we can make Colfax a shining example of how small towns can achieve big dreams.
Colfax stands on the brink of something transformative. Winning the Levitt AMP Music Series Grant means more than just concerts—it’s about revitalization, community pride, and economic opportunity. We’ve come this far against all odds. Now, with your help, we can take the final step and secure a future filled with music, connection, and prosperity for our historic downtown.