$7,530 raised by 60 donors
75% complete
$10,000 Goal
Fraser Valley Community Media operates KFFR 88.3FM in Winter Park, Colorado. It is the only local, over-the-air community radio service in the county. By broadcasting diverse music that appeals to an array of different audiences, the station is able to reach a large group of individuals including residents, tourists, and second home owners who value community radio and want to stay connected to the region.
The station currently serves community members in the Fraser and Winter Park area through 88.3FM; however, this signal bleeds throughout the county and can reach as far as trough road outside of Kremmling. With its online stream, KFFR is able to extend its reach even further. In 2022, KFFR’s online stream reached 14,807 unique listeners. As of October 2023, the station has been streamed by 17,838 unique listeners.
KFFR has trained 126 volunteer DJs since 2017 ranging from middle school students to senior citizens. With these individuals at the helm, KFFR provides timely announcements, supports local non-profits by spotlighting their work through interviews, and produces a weekly community calendar that informs residents and visitors in Grand County about key events each week.
Within the core mission of Fraser Valley Community Media (FVCM), there is a profound dedication to nurturing the arts and culture, recognizing their pivotal role in fostering connections and supporting mental well-being within the community. Collaboration stands as a fundamental pillar of the organization's approach, striving to provide a platform for every organization in the county to showcase their invaluable work.
From underwriting initiatives, on-air interviews, non-profit spotlights, to their student internship program, FVCM serves as a vital conduit, allowing every organization to shine. These partnerships extend far beyond the realms of arts and culture, weaving into the fabric of mental health and fostering resilient community connections.
The mission of Fraser Valley Community Media/KFFR is to support local culture and public safety through independent community access radio that connects Grand County residents and visitors to one another and the world.The mission of Fraser Valley Community Media/KFFR is to support local culture and public safety through independent community access radio that connects Grand County residents and visitors to one another and the world. Within this mission, FVCM has identified the following organizational goals and processes that achieve this mission:
KFFR supports the local economy by serving local artistic groups, artists, non-profits, educational institutions and businesses. The station airs a robust weekly community calendar and interviews people involved with local music and cultural events. KFFR partners with municipalities and organizations to offer live, remote broadcasts from concerts and events. KFFR provides affordable outreach opportunities to local businesses and groups through on-air underwriting and social media support.
KFFR empowers local youth through internships, classroom partnerships and broadcast training.
KFFR connects the local community to each other and the world by airing the news program Democracy Now on weekdays, and providing emergency response information, avalanche reports, weather, road conditions and breaking news every day.
KFFR seeks every opportunity to put underserved voices on-air through its volunteer DJ program, youth internships, and recruitment in its board of directors and community advisory board.
Fraser Valley Community Media (FVCM) was founded in 2007 to apply for a full-power, noncommercial educational (NCE) FM radio license by Denis Moynihan. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) announced an application window for NCE radio licenses in early 2007, and this was described as a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity. The application process was competitive, and the FCC determined that FVCM's application was the strongest among a group of four from the region.
FVCM became operational with full-power transmission on a temporary tower in April, 2015, and sought a Special Use Permit (SUP) from Grand County to erect a broadcast tower that would support KFFR's transmission in Winter Park. The Grand County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved FVCM's SUP application on February 6, 2018 and KFFR started to serve Winter Park and the Fraser Valley.
From 2018 to 2022, FVCM operated with a small staff that included contracting with Steve Skinner, organizing a substantial amount of volunteer labor, and the work of Denis Moynihan and Sam Brewer as the chief operating officers. In May 2019, KFFR invited local residents to an information meeting to join the radio station to become volunteer DJs. By August, there were 10 regular announcers on the air every week. By the Fall of 2019, construction began on the current studio space upstairs from Julio's Mexican Cantina. By April 2020, KFFR shut its doors to volunteers due to the pandemic, and Steve Skinner went on voluntary furlough as a result of limited operations. By Fall of 2021, KFFR began broadcasting from its new studio with newly trained announcers and a new studio room. In July 2022, KFFR hired Ryan Wilson as an Underwriting Specialist, and he was promoted to Executive Director in January 2023. Today, FVCM operates with 1.5 full time equivalent staff members, over 50 volunteers, and a 5 person board, which will be expanded to 7 in 2025.
Organization name
Fraser Valley Community Media
other names
KFFR 88.3FM
2007
Tax id (EIN)
26-1250067
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities, Public & Societal Benefit, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Youth Development, Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
PO BOX 2227Grand County, CO, US