Colorado company sues after being disadvantaged for COVID-19 relief because of race

Denver; October 7, 2021: Today, an Alma-based event planning company filed a lawsuit to stop Colorado from using racial preferences to distribute COVID-relief funds.

Like so many other small businesses, Resort Meeting Source, an event-planning business, has suffered revenue losses stemming from the pandemic. Owner Steve Collins applied for a grant under Colorado’s Disproportionately Impacted Business Grant program, which is meant to help small businesses like Resort Meeting Source. But Mr. Collins is less likely to obtain that relief because the program establishes a preference for minority-owned businesses, and he is white.

Now, Mr. Collins and Resort Meeting Source are suing the state to restore equal protection before the law in Colorado.

“Colorado cannot use racial preferences to grant COVID-19 relief,” said PLF attorney Wen Fa. “Equality before the law is a vital part of the Constitution and discriminating against individuals based on arbitrary classifications like race is always wrong.”

The case is Collins v. Meyers, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.