Thirty-four businesses in Grand Lake, Granby secure massive grants
Thirty-four downtown businesses across Grand Lake and Granby were awarded more than $1.7 million from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs' Main Street Program for improvement projects. This work could entail new paint jobs, replacing old roofs, installing energy-efficiency doors and windows, redoing heating and cooling systems, and more. Needless to say, town officials and business owners are expecting a busy spring.
The Department of Local Affairs is responsible for the Colorado Main Street program and its grants, designed to support local empowerment and rebuild central business districts based on each community’s unique architecture, character and local ownership. For its application, Grand Lake enlisted a town-wide effort and lumped two dozen downtown businesses’ needs into a single request. Altogether, DOLA approved funding for 23 of them. “It’s pretty amazing; I still can’t believe that,” said Mike Tompkins, who was key in helping organize the Grand Lake businesses’ joint application. He added that with the owners kicking in 20% of the projects’ costs, Grand Lake’s award will actually amount to more than $1.2 million worth of improvements across the downtown area.
Granby took a similar approach in collaboration with Destination Granby covering 11 businesses in the town’s application. The $757,140 grant will cover 80% of costs, with businesses contributing 10% and the town providing the remaining 10%. Along with exterior improvements, two Granby businesses will be getting HVAC replacements, quite a few will get window upgrades, one will add an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant ramp and two will build back patios.
“It’s going to look good,” Tompkins said. “Of course, I always think Grand Lake looks good, but it’s going to look better than it does.” Read full story from the Ski-Hi News here.
