A crowd gathered to meet U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse on the morning of April 23 at Granby Town Hall. Billed as “Java with Joe”, the informal town hall gave Neguse a chance to talk with constituents about their needs and concern in changing times.

Addressing an eager crowd of community leaders, local officials and residents, Neguse encouraged them to “share their stories with the public.”

When residents share what matters to Grand County, it helps representatives advocate for them in Washington D.C. by leveraging funding for local projects and championing popular legislation, Neguse said. He explained that many previous bills he’s passed were actually inspired by his constituents’ ideas.

However, he conceded that as a Democrat, at least at the moment, his hands are politically tied at the federal level.

“It’s a tumultuous time in our country, in my view,” he said. “We have a lot of challenges.”  

For example, some funds for Western Slope projects are on hold because they are part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 which President Trump paused by executive order on Jan. 20 during his first day in office.

“I would be lying to you if I told you that we’re not facing some real choppy waters with respect to federal funding opportunities,” he said. ” … But of course, we’re always happy to be helpful. We’ll write letters of support for raise grants, build grants.”

He added that his office has requested that 15 community projects in the district receive funding, which would ideally be dispersed this fiscal year. These projects are “are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams,” according his website. Two projects in Grand County are aimed at water infrastructure in Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs.

“Not withstanding the perhaps negative take I’ve provided on grant opportunities, I always encourage y’all to apply,” he clarified. “I’m just less optimistic in light of what’s happening at the federal level.”

Neguse also fielded questions and comments from the audience. Those who spoke included Tyler Campbell, the division chief of special operations for Grand Fire and Grand Lake Fire; Katy Hale, executive director of Grand Beginnings; Anna Drexler-Dreis, administrator of Open Lands, Rivers and Trails Advisory Committee; Virginia Harman, CEO of Mountain Parks Electric, and others.

Conversations concerned a variety of topics. Residents discussed lack of federal funding for wildland firefighting, which has decreased over the past decade; the future of the childcare development block grant, which provides childcare subsidies to families; and possible cuts to Medicaid brought by the recently passed House budget resolution.

According to Neguse, cutting Medicaid impacts “working-class Coloradans, children and devastates rural communities.”

The Trump administration recently stated it plans to preserve Medicaid funding, though congressional Republicans have proposed significant cuts.

After the meeting in Granby concluded, Neguse left for Walden to meet his Jackson County constituents, before heading to Steamboat Springs and Edwards later that evening.

He said that Grand County is a unique place to represent. Compared to the 11 counties in his district, Grand is almost equally divided between Democrat and Republican voters.

This near 50/50 split is a “reason why I love representing this county,” he added. “I get the full spectrum of views when I’m here.”

Neguse has served as representative for Colorado’s 2nd District since 2018. He has also served as House Assistant Minority Leader since 2024.

“My view has always remained the same, to try to find ways to deliver to the people that I’m privileged to represent in western and northern Colorado,” he said. “I’ve had the opportunity now to serve with Republican presidents and Democratic presidents … my team and I have developed a knack for getting things done irrespective of where the political winds are.”